“That is so sweet.” She leaned over to sniff the steam. And groaned in ecstasy. “Fifty Shades of Chocolate? My favorite.”
“I know,” he said, kicking that Baudouin grin up a few notches. “Which is why I made it a large.”
She didn’t say thank you, didn’t acknowledge that anytime worked in today’s agenda, didn’t reach for the cup—or him. Instead she sat poised behind the counter. And that weird vibe Emerson was giving off was in full effect here too.
“So what can I do for you?” Although there was genuine warmth to her voice, there wasn’t the usual heat-laced undertones he was used to with women.
“I’m looking to throw a party and am in need of a partner.”
“We already had our party,” she reminded him sweetly, and images of New Year’s popped into his mind.
“That was more of a pre-party,” he clarified. “But I was hoping you could help me with this.” He set both cups on the counter and held up the binder.
“Beat the Heat isn’t just a party, it’s the party of the summer,” she said, taking the binder.
Every page she flipped relieved some of the weight Adam had been carrying. He’d flipped through those same pages over a dozen times and was no closer to figuring out how to plan something of this magnitude than when Roman had drafted him. But Megan, flirty and sexy Megan, looked as if she understood everything and knew exactly what steps needed to be taken.
“Are you planning it?”
“Long story short, yeah,” he sighed. “And I need your help.”
“I helped plan Beat the Heat a few years back, when I was first getting started, and gained a lot of new clients from it.”
He rested his elbows on the counter, slid the latte a little closer. “Think of how much more you’ll gain planning it with me.”
He winked.
She looked at the cup as though it were common drip from the convenience store.
Adam tapped his cup to hers and gifted her with his best Mr. July grin—and waited.
It took longer than expected, but he knew the second he had her. Two cute pink spots appeared on her cheeks and she placed her hand around the cup, batting those long lashes his way. Then she—slid it back toward him?
“This is weird, right?” she said in a hushed tone. “The coffee, you here, wanting to plan this event with me?”
“I don’t think so,” Adam said, not sure if she was mad that he hadn’t taken her up on her anytime offer sooner. Or maybe something in the air was making women weird-sensitive. “It’s great exposure for you, and you would be helping me out big-time. That’s what friends do, right?”
She looked around the store, and even though it was empty she lowered her voice. “We’re more of friends waiting for something to happen.”
“Is that a problem?” When she looked as if, yeah, it was a big freaking problem, he changed tactics. “This is a real job offer, Megan. One that comes with a paycheck. Not a big one—it’s probably what you received last time—but a legit check.”
“I want to help you out. I do. But you know how people talk in this town.” She rolled her eyes, then went serious. Dead serious. “I mean, that new pole dancing teacher just wore your jacket to class and all the biddies at the studio were sending her the stink eye. Not that I ever would have shipped you two.”
“Shipped?” he asked, because obviously this was one of those Mars versus Venus moments—and he didn’t even want to think about that jacket.
“You know ship, short for relationships, couples to get behind,” she said, as if that clarified things. “At first, when I heard whispers about Hadam, I didn’t get it—”
“Hadam?”
“Your ship name,” Megan said, clearly unaware that Adam’s understanding of this conversation was out to sea. “I mean you two are so different. Like never happen in a million years with you being strictly a friends-with-benefits kind of guy. A total BBD,” Megan said, and it didn’t sound like a compliment.
“BBD?”
“Bigger better deal, always looking for the next thing.”
Wow, was that how people saw him? As a guy who was unable to focus on something long enough to see it through to the end? Because if that was the case, then he had a whole lot more to prove than being lieutenant quality.
“And she’s that all around awesome, super sweet, best friend who guys want to marry,” she said, and Adam choked at the last word. “So I, like everyone else by the way, thought there was no way it would work, but then I read on Facebook this morning about the whole ‘Hadam at hello’ and I have to admit”—she reached across the counter and patted his hand, as if he were her gay best friend—“I’m totally Team Hadam.”