“She thinks I’m crazy.” Jules laughed again. “But then, she tells me I’m crazy at least once a day, so that’s nothing new.”
He parked but hesitated turning off the engine. It was all too easy to step back to the last time they’d been in his truck cab and the trouble he’d let them get into. Adam gripped the steering wheel, reminding himself for the dozenth time that he sure as hell could not kiss Jules again.
She took the decision right out of his hands. “See you later.” She dashed a quick kiss against his cheek and bounced away, opening the door and sliding out of the truck before he could respond.
Adam watched her bound to her door and let herself in, her enthusiasm infectious even over the distance. He finally shook his head and threw his truck into reverse.
Aubry was right—Jules was bat-shit crazy.
And he loved it.
Shit.
…
Five days passed with only a few texts from Adam, but Jules told herself she didn’t care. He had his own life to attend to, just like she did. She couldn’t expect him to drop everything to spend every minute of every day by her side on the off chance that Grant would wander in and see them.
Coincidentally, her ex had made a habit of waltzing through the door at least once a day to make comments about her boyfriend in such a tone that she knew he still didn’t believe she was with Adam.
She took the plate of sandwiches Jamie had made up special and brought them over to where Lenora and Amelia were sitting at a table by the window. Lenora smiled in thanks, but Jules couldn’t help noticing that Adam’s mom had lost weight. “These are on the house.”
“Oh, Jules, you shouldn’t have.” Amelia sipped her tea, petting Rick.
Lenora sent her a look of thanks. “I know you just said you’re not hungry, but you can’t let this go to waste,” she said to Amelia.
“Let me know if you need anything else.”
She headed back to the counter, leaving the ladies in peace.
But they were apparently the only ones going to be left in peace today. As if her wishing him ill conjured him up, the bell above the door jingled and Grant strode through. “Jules!” He stopped just inside the door and examined the floor at his feet. He had this nasty habit of looking around him like he expected to step in cat shit, which made Jules grind her teeth every time she saw it.
“Grant.”
“Douchecanoe,” Aubry muttered from her usual place in the corner. Jules shot her a sharp look, but she appeared engrossed in whatever she was doing on her computer.
Grant came up and leaned on the counter but immediately backpedaled when Cujo hissed at him. “That thing’s rabid.”
“He doesn’t like people.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “Are you buying something today?”
“Nope. There’s a double Frappuccino down the street with my name on it. I was just stopping in to see if you and your boyfriend were going to the swimming hole tomorrow for the Fourth?”
“For fuck’s sake, you can’t be serious.” Aubry leaned back, stretching her arms over her head. “Going to the swimming hole is something high school kids who can’t legally drink do. I’m pretty sure that’d look great on your future law résumé.”
Grant’s mouth tightened, his gray eyes going flinty. But then he turned back to Jules, the expression melting into a charming smile she used to believe was real. “There will be a bunch of people from our class there. You should come. Bring Adam.” He jerked a thumb over his shoulder at Aubry. “You can even bring her.”
“She has a name.”
His smile never wavered. “Of course. I’d be delighted if you’d come and bring your boyfriend and Aubry.” He made a show of looking around. “Unless Adam’s already blown out of town? It’s been over a week, and word has it that he’s more tumbleweed than man.”
She opened her mouth to deny it, but that would be a lie. Fake relationship or not, she couldn’t pretend like Adam was staying for the long term. “Actually—”
“Hey, there, sugar.”
Jules nearly jumped out of her skin when Adam walked in from the door to the kitchen, his damned eyebrow inching up.
Grant frowned. “Speak of the devil.”
“Grant. Aubry.” He slipped an arm around Jules’s waist. “Jules.” He kissed her forehead, the innocent touch doing some very noninnocent things to her lower stomach area.
“Hey.” She turned in his arms and wrapped hers around his neck. “I’ve missed you.”