Too Distracting (The Lewis Cousins 3)

“Thanks,” Laurel said, smiling sweetly.

Reardon mimed tipping his hat to me, then I walked in behind him, shaking my head.

“Any available table,” Dolores called out when she saw us, so Laurel led us to one of the clean middle booths.

She sat on one side, Reardon sat on the other, and after a second, I slid in next to Laurel.

“Fran called in, so I’m on my own. Do you know what you want, or need a minute?” Dolores asked, her breath labored.

“Do you know what you want?” I asked Laurel, because Reardon and I were always ready to order.

“Yes,” Laurel said, smiling at Dolores. “I’ll have the Philly and a water with lemon.”

“Wedges, string, or curly?”

“Wedges.”

“And the usual for you two?”

“Yes, ma’am,” Reardon asked, doing the fake hat tipping thing again.

“Is that gonna be a new thing with you?” I asked when she walked away, pointing at Reardon’s head.

“I was trying it on for size, what do you think?” he asked.

“Hate it,” I replied, grinning when he scowled.

“So, I got a text from Zoey, and she and I are meeting up tomorrow night to talk bridal/baby/bachelor party,” Laurel told Reardon, who clapped his hands together excitedly.

“There you go,” he told me. “You should meet up with them.”

Laurel turned to me expectantly and I said, “As the Best Man, I should join you guys to help plan … that is, if you want my help. If not, no worries, I’m happy to pony up the money and leave the planning to the experts.”

“Oh, no, you should come, we’d love your input. After all, you know Zoey knows Chloe best, and you know Reardon best, and since you’re both standing up for them in the wedding, it only makes sense,” Laurel said, resting her hand on my leg underneath the table. She did it while talking, so I don’t think she even realized she did it, but Reardon sure did.

I knew this because I could see him wiggling his eyebrows out of the corner of my eye.

I kicked him under the table and said, “Just tell me where and when, and I’ll be there.”

“Zoey’s supposed to text me back to let me know, so I’ll tell you tonight.”

“What’s tonight?” Reardon asked.

Laurel blushed and looked at me, her face conveying her uncertainty.

“I was thinking Laurel could come over and meet Copper and Penny. It’s been awhile since she’s been out to the house.”

I spoke to Reardon, but I was looking at Laurel, so I saw her lips turn up and her cheeks flush with pleasure as she squeezed my leg under the table.

God, I couldn’t wait to get her alone again.

30

Laurel

“You know what it’s like when you have that first spark? That new passion that burns and burns. When you miss each other after five minutes, and smile every time you hear his voice?” I asked, leaning on the counter in the front of the flower shop, my voice annoyingly lovesick, even to my own ears.

“No,” Serena answered.