Page 20 of Yours, Forever

The sun shone bright, a rare sight in Laguna Island just like all over the West coast. By the time I made it back to rEvalution around noon, I carried my suit jacket folded over my arm.

"Darling, this town is adorable." I rounded the counter and gave Eva a kiss on the temple like we'd agreed. "I went for a walk. I got into some of the local businesses and gave them my card. We'll talk about me investing."

I leaned against the door frame leading to the backroom, to stay out of her way. I crossed a foot over my ankle and put my hands in my pockets. My jacket hung loosely around my forearm.

Eva busied herself making coffee for a patron I hadn't met yet. She didn't say anything and continued working.

I scratched my eyebrow. "I wish you could have gone for a walk with me. It's a beautiful day outside."

Sunlight cast a golden glow on the shop, bright rays coming in an angle through the windows. It made the painting on the back wall shine. Little bursts of light sparkled off a few chrome surfaces. I sighed.

"Sweetheart," Eva said. The word dripped with sarcasm and I smiled. "I can't go for a walk. I have to work."

"Maybe one day after closing. We could go then, and end the night with dinner somewhere. The town is so picturesque— or maybe it's the vision I can already see for what it could become. I've heard about the tiny island and its mansion on the bay. I have yet to see it."

Having given away the latest cup to a customer, she leaned on the counter, crossed her arms, and stared at me. "My favorite spots, huh?"

We faced each other. She arched an eyebrow my way, and I smirked.

"You grew up here," I said. "I want to see the town through your eyes. Spending quality time with you doesn't sound half bad, either."

She squinted at me, but a tiny smile appeared at the corner of her lips. "Sorry, honey. You'll have to wait until I can hire help around here."

The tiny smile pulled at me. Could I get her to give me a full grin? The only time I could remember her grinning at me was the video of our wedding. Never again since I found her.

I spoke before I could give the thought a complete study. "Come on. Show me what you like. Show me your Laguna Island erogenous zones."

The sound she made was half chuckle, half snort. A constricted laugh that only managed to make me want to keep at it, until she let go and shook with mirth.

She gazed at me, restraint and humor on her lips. "Unbelievable. This is my workplace, but you're talking about erogenous zones?"

"Lots of people like to get playful at the office." I got up from my place by the door and approached her.

One step, another. She lifted her head to keep a level look on me.

"I gather you're one of them, but—" she waved a hand around the counter, sink, and food displays— "the amount of regulations I'd be breaking are too high to count."

"There's always the backroom—" I started, but someone entered the coffee shop.

Eva and I gazed at the newcomer in unison.

"Hi, Eduardo." She stepped sideways to tend to him, her body brushing against mine. "The usual?"

"Yes, please. Hi, Max. Sorry to interrupt."

I nodded in Eduardo's direction. "Hi there."

Eva punched the details onto the POS screen. "Honeybuns, if you're going to hover, do you mind making yourself useful? If you don't mind risking that suit, of course."

And back to it we went. Our routine. Perhaps it was a good thing we were interrupted; flirting happened without planning and, even though it was okay here in the safe, public grounds of rEvalution—where we could say it was for show— I'd rather not tempt fate.

Yes, going back to normal was the better idea.

"Anything you want." I left my suit jacket on the backroom working table for the moment, and returned to grab the cleaning supplies she kept under the counter. "Even if I end up sacrificing a few suits... until I can get someone to open a dry-cleaning service."

"Or, you could wear more casual clothes." She moved to the coffee machine like nothing had happened between us, and started on the coffee.

"Never. That wouldn't be me." I scrubbed the counter next to the machine. "Instead, we may get a few deliveries soon. I'll clean up my suits myself in the meantime. Do you need anything? I'm in the middle of an order."