Page 16 of The P*ssy Next Door

After a flurry of begging on George's part with promises of an exotic destination wedding and an unusual number of meows from Seven, I escaped to my room.

If there was anyone in the world I'd play shopkeeper for the better part of a year, it would be Liam and George. What I needed was someone else to talk me into it, and I knew just who would. But instead of calling my mother, I messaged Xan.

Me: Should I really stay and run Cool Beans?

Xan: Duh.

Me: But I'd have to quit my job.

I'd be putting my whole life on hold. But it wasn't like it would be hard to get it all back. There were always a million schools that needed enthusiastic teachers. With the credentials I'd gotten over the last three years, I had my choice of jobs and locations.

Xan: Willa, your life is wherever you are. This is something you need to do. It's only temporary.

I sighed. He had a point. It wasn't like I was signing away my future. Just taking a little detour.

A pair of earnest blue eyes popped into my head, and I bit back a smile. A detour with some appealing scenery.

I definitely wasn't ready to tell my brother about my... whatever-it-was with Hayes. He'd flip out at me dating his arch nemesis. Not that he would have approved of me dating Hayes when they'd been friends either.

I went to bed with thoughts of Hayes in my mind, which did not help me go to sleep. I opted for a little one-handed reading to help me get my mind off him, but all I did was picture him in place of the dragon-shifter hero in the book I was reading. The combination had me moaning Hayes’s name with my unicorn tongue vibrator between my legs.

Since I'd volunteered for the afternoon shift at the coffee shop, I got to sleep in and was surprised that I was adjusting back to Denver time so easily. That was going to be murder when I got back to Asia.

If I went back. Ugh.

The afternoon shift was super slow, and I was glad I'd shoved my Kindle into my bag to pass the time. I was just getting to a good part, by which I mean sexy times, in the storywhen the bell above the door jingled. I glanced up from the story and got some butterflies in my stomach for my trouble. I'd know that broad-shouldered silhouette anywhere.

Hayes stepped inside, a pretty brunette trailing behind him. Her bright blue eyes, so like his, darted around the cozy interior of the café with undisguised curiosity.

“Hey, you,” I called out, shoving my Kindle into the apron pocket. “I was hoping I'd get to see you again today.”

Hayes's eyebrows went up and surprise flashed across his face, but he shut that down real fast. He probably thought I'd ignore him after last night. “Me too.”

“And you brought us a customer?” I gestured to the girl, who was now openly grinning at me.

“This is my little sister, Jules.”

“The infamous Willa.” Jules bounded over to the counter, thrusting out a hand for me to shake. “I'm sure you don't remember me. I was three years behind you guys in school and thoroughly ignored by my older brothers back then. But I've heard so much about you.”

I raised an eyebrow at Hayes as I took her hand. “Oh, have you now?”

He coughed, suddenly fascinated by the chalkboard menu. “Just, you know... that we had a nice time last night.”

Jules snorted. “Please. He hasn't shut up about you all afternoon. It's been Willa this, Willa that. I finally told him to put up or shut up and bring me to meet this goddess among women.”

I bit back a laugh at Hayes's mortified expression. “Well, I don't know about goddess, but it's nice to see you again, Jules.”

“You too. I've been dying for Hayes to find a girl who can keep him on his toes. Lord knows he needs it. With all those awards and accolades and touchdowns, he's getting a big head.”

“Jules,” Hayes groaned, but I could tell he was fighting a smile.

She elbowed him in the ribs and stage whispered out of the side of her mouth. “Shut up. I'm making you look good.”

Then she smiled back at me again. “But also, it's all true. He's a literal genius and always gets whatever it is he puts his mind to. Like beating the Rebels yesterday, and if he's real lucky, getting you to go out on another date with him.”

I pressed my lips together trying not to burst out laughing because Hayes was about to combust on the spot.

Hayes might be dying, but I was charmed by their easy sibling rapport. It reminded me of Xander and I when we were younger, before life and expectations had sent us on very different paths in life.