Page 73 of A Tempting Seduction

As I placed the blueberry muffins on the pretty platters I thought about the way Ford had looked at me when I'd opened my apartment door. The heat in his brown eyes when I'd suggested he come back after tucking in JR and Suzy. The feel of his mouth on mine, gentle at first, then demanding in a way that made my toes curl just thinking about it.

My lips tingled as I remembered Ford kissed like a man who knew exactly what he wanted and wasn't afraid to take it. He kissed like he meant every second of it. He kissed like he was staking a claim.

The back door buzzer rang, interrupting my very pleasant daydream. I went back and let Jordan in. He had a grin that could have powered the entire coffee shop.

“Well, look who's bright and cheerful this morning,” I said, surprised by his mood. Jordan was usually about as talkative as a tree stump before ten AM. “Did you win the lottery or something?”

“Better.” He hung his jacket on the hook behind the counter and started tying on his apron. “Remember that Apex Legends tournament I've been training for? I placed second last night. Two grand prize money.”

I felt genuinely happy for him. Jordan was completely obsessed with gaming when he wasn't working, and I knew he'd been practicing for this tournament for months.

“That's amazing, Jordan. Congratulations.”

“Thanks. I'm thinking about upgrading my whole setup with the prize money. Maybe get that new graphics card I've been eyeing and upgrading my chair.” He moved to check the coffee brewing behind me, already lost in thoughts of his gaming rig.

I went to the front and turned over the sign to say we were open. In walked Mrs. Riley, for a large black coffee and a blueberry muffin. Jordan and I fell into our familiar rhythm, and the morning rush began in earnest.

By nine-thirty, the initial wave had died down, leaving just a handful of customers scattered at tables throughout the shop. Florence was holding court at her usual spot by the window. She'd been nursing the same latte for forty-five minutes while keeping a steady eye on everything happening on Main Street.

Florence was Jasper Creek's unofficial information network. If something happened in town, she knew about it within hours. If something was about to happen, she usually knew about that too. She was also harmless as a kitten and had one of the biggest hearts of anyone I'd ever met.

“Ruby, honey,” she called from her table. “Come sit with me for a minute. Jordan can handle things.”

I glanced over at Jordan, who waved me away with a smile. The morning crowd had thinned to just a few customers, and he could easily manage on his own. Dang, I hoped he kept on winning tournaments, I was loving this attitude shift.

I poured myself a cup of coffee and walked over to Florence's table. She patted the chair beside her with the enthusiasm of someone who had news to share.

“I hear congratulations are in order,” she said, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

“Congratulations for what?”

“Don't play coy with me, sugar. The whole town's talking about how Ford Larson babysat with you the other night.”

I nearly choked on my coffee. “The whole town?”

“Well, maybe not the whole town. But Eunice Reston saw you two on her evening walk, and she mentioned it to her sister Carol, who told the quilting circle this morning. You know how Patsy and Evelyn are about spreading news, and then Evelyn told her husband Pete, who was having coffee with Bernie Faulkes.” Florence waved her hand dismissively. “You know how it goes.”

I did know how it went. News traveled faster than lightning in Jasper Creek, especially news about people's love lives.

“Things are going well,” I admitted, feeling that familiar warmth spread through my chest. “Really well.”

“I'm so happy for you, honey. Ford's one of the good ones, and Lord knows you deserve some happiness after everything you've been through.”

Florence didn't know the details of my past, but she'd picked up enough from Little Grandma and Miss Gladiola to understand that I'd come to Jasper Creek looking for a fresh start. It was one of the things I loved about this town. People might be curious, but they respected privacy when it mattered.

“Speaking of happiness,” I said, eager to change the subject away from my love life, “I have some news that might interest you. Miss Gladiola and Little Grandma are throwing a party next week.”

Florence's eyes immediately brightened. “A party? What's the occasion?”

“Just a celebration. Ford's been out of town working on a project in Nashville, and Miss Gladiola and Little Grandma have been waiting for him to get back so they could do their big cooking and baking day. They want to test out some family recipes on a friendly crowd.” I thought about how thoughtful the two ladies were, putting off their plans just so Ford could be part of it. “It's going to be at the ladies’ house next Saturday at two o'clock.” I really wanted to tell her about my mother’s recipe box, but that would lead to questions that were best left unanswered.

“Oh, how wonderful! I love their gatherings. Little Grandma always makes the best cornbread, and Miss Gladiola has a way with desserts that should be illegal.” Florence was practically bouncing in her chair. “What can I bring? I make a mean potato salad, or I could do my famous green bean casserole.”

“You don't need to bring anything. They've got it covered.”

Florence gave me a look that suggested I'd just told her the sky was purple. “Ruby Miller, I was not raised in a barn. You don't show up to a party empty-handed, especially not one thrown by two ladies who've been feeding this town for decades. I'm bringing my green bean casserole, and that's final.”

I laughed, knowing better than to argue with Florence when she'd made up her mind. “Fine. Green bean casserole it is. And make sure you spread the word, will you? They want to make sure anyone who's interested knows they're invited.”