Tough Cookies (New Year New Me 1)

“Oh, what are you filming?” a petite brunette asks with a smile.

“Graham Gems.”

“What are those?” she asks.

“You’ll have to tune in to find out.” I wink.

“I see what you did there.” The brunette wags her finger at me. “I’m Maureen, by the way.”

“Hi, Maureen, I’m Anders, and this is Matilda.”

Maureen turns her attention to my silent partner. “I really wanted to say thank you.”

“Me?” Matilda presses her hand to her chest.

“Yes.” Maureen nods. Her face lights up, and she begins to talk with her hands. “It takes courage to get on to social media after something like the fire. And everything else.” Her polite way of bringing up the not-so-private divorce. “We need more women like you out there, reminding us to live our best life.”

“Thank you for saying that,” Matilda says softly.

“It’s true. You inspired me to take the spin class I’d been too scared to take before. Life’s too short to worry about what anyone else will think or if you’ll be good at it. The experience is what matters. When you took that sugar cookie out, the joy on your face was felt around the net. Keep it up. Also, the chemistry between the two of you is off the charts. You might want to investigate that.” She winks.

“Vanilla soy latte for Maureen,” a barista yells.

“That’s me.” Maureen gives us a wave before walking away like she didn’t just put us both in an awkward position.

“That was interesting,” Matilda says, clearing her throat.

“Life with you around seems to be.”

“I could say the same about you, sir.” For once, it doesn’t sound like an insult.

“Do you know what you want for lunch?” I steer us toward neutral waters.

“Not yet.”

We busy ourselves with the business of choosing food, grabbing our order, and finding a table in the corner. Eating keeps us from having to talk, but my eyes refuse to obey me as I drink her in. Even the way she eats captivates me. Her eyes drift shut, and she hums her approval as she chews on the cheese-laden panini. What else would get her to make those noises? No. I shut the door on those thoughts and take a bite of my own sub. Focusing on chewing, I look away from the sweet-smelling goddess across from me. Notes of jasmine and sandalwood float across the table. Don’t make this situation more complicated than it needs to be, Rivera. My mind understands, but my heart doesn’t seem too interested in common sense.

Win walks in the door, and I nearly jump out of my seat to wave him down. He nods and walks up toward her.

“Finally, I get to meet the infamous Cookie Woman,” Win drawls.

Matilda glances up at him and holds her

hand in front of her mouth to finish her food. “Hi?”

“You’re even more beautiful in person than you are online,” Win says smoothly.

Her laughter is a bell tinkling, and I want it to be directed at my words. My teeth grind together.

“Oh, you’re good,” Matilda says, obviously delighted. Him she smiles at.

Win grins wolfishly. “Just honest.”

“I didn’t realize your brother would be so charming, Anders.”

“He’s not.” I frown.

“That gene must’ve skipped you.”