Page 34 of One Bossy Date
“He blew into my store like the hurricane himself, thinking it was still the old coffee shop he used to go to, and right away ordered coffee without even looking around at what store he was in. Isn’t thatthe truth?” I looked at Anders who was playing his part with a smile in my direction.
He had insisted that the truth was always best. So here I went.
“He didnot.” Lou-Ann’s mouth dropped open.
“He did,” I said.
“So, what did you say?”
I thought for a moment. Of course, I’d never throw him under the bus. But observing his face when I relayed how things had truly happened was amusing.
“Why don’tItake it from here, baby?” Anders intercepted.
OMG. He called me “baby.”I’m going to die. Blissfully happily!
“She very kindly informed me that the store no longer sold coffee, while I was trying to figure out how to close a stuck umbrella.”
People chuckled.
“But it’strue.” He stressed the word. “I had no idea it was a cat grooming boutique.”
By now, my gran had joined us at the table as well, and was smiling at his statement. She sat on my right, between Lou-Ann and me, while Anders remained close to my left. With the table becoming fuller, some of my relatives stood on the outskirts, leaning against the backs of their wives’ seats.
“Although,” I explained, “he probably would have guessed eventually since he’s allergic to cats, and his sinuses acted up almost immediately.”
“She did end up serving coffee, anyway,” Anders said smoothly.
“Did you like it?” my gran asked.
Just when Anders was about to open his mouth to reply, I simply said, “No. He told me that my coffee wasn’t any good.”
Lou-Ann gasped. My gran and my cousins laughed. My uncle nodded in sympathy. I had to hide a smile behind my hand. Poking the beast was so much fun!That’ll teach him.Thetruthwasn’t always best.
“You didnot.” Lou-Ann stared at him, her mouth dropping open.
“Idid. Maybe notquitelike that.” He gave me an “I’m going to get you back for that” look.
“True. Not quite like that,” I agreed. “But in the end, it gave us the chance to start talking.” I lifted a shoulder, smiling happily. I had put him on the spot long enough—but I didn’t intend on feeding him to the lions. He didn’t know that Granny and my uncle weren’t big fans of my coffee either. Neither was Jim, by the way. Most likely, they were going to bond over how bad my coffee tasted.
But heavens, how smoothly Anders had handled the pressure. So admirable! He had no problem being the center of attention.
“Well, I can’t blame you there, buddy,” my uncle said, patting Anders’s shoulder. “Not a big fan of organic coffee myself. But I appreciate an honest fella.”
“Thank God for that bad coffee then, hey?” my granny commented, resulting in more laughter. She beamed at him and then at me. “You lucky man, and now you’ve won her heart!”
I noticed Brody had waltzed up, drink in hand, to find out what the commotion was about.
“Yes, I was lucky,” Anders said.
“Lucky she didn’t kick you out!” my uncle chuckled.
“She almost did. But instead, she started raving on about cats, becausetruth be told,” he glanced at me mischievously while putting special emphasis on those last three words, “she simply couldn’t take her eyes off of me.”
I smacked his arm playfully. “I did not!”
His smile widened in response, and it was dazzling.
“Did she have her long yellow nails?” another uncle of mine asked.