Rushed (Adventures in Love 1)

“Are you having breakfast?” Tanner asks.

“That was the plan, but the tables filled up, so I’m getting something to go.”

“You should eat with us,” I offer, motioning to the empty seats across from us.

“Oh, I don’t—” he starts, shaking his head.

“Cybil’s right. Join us,” Tanner says, cutting him off.

“All right.” He takes a seat and motions between us. “So how did this happen? The last time I saw you two in the same space, Cybil didn’t seem to like you much.”

“I spent a week convincing her that I wasn’t a thief,” Tanner says, and I laugh while elbowing him in the ribs.

“I’m sure there’s a story there.” Mason smiles; then his eyes move over Tanner’s shoulder, and something in the look he has on his face has me turning to see what’s captured his attention. When I see Margret with her head back, laughing at something, I turn back to Mason and notice his jaw clenching.

“So, Mason, have you known Tanner long?” I ask, and he blinks as he focuses on me.

“Since he started coming to town years ago.”

“Mason and Blake grew up together,” Tanner tells me.

“That’s cool. This town is starting to feel like where I grew up, everyone knowing everyone.”

“Small towns tend to be like that,” Mason says. “How long are you in town for?”

“Six more days.” I chew the inside of my cheek as the reminder makes my skin itch.

“Are you really going to be the third wheel on Tanner’s first-ever date with a woman?” Margret breaks into the moment as she stops at the side of the table to pass Tanner and me the coffees she’s holding.

“Yep.” Mason shrugs; then his eyes drop to her stomach. “How’s Little Miss Orange doing today?”

“She graduated. She’s now the size of a grapefruit,” she tells him, resting her hand on her stomach.

“Just three months left.”

“I know.” She blows out a long breath. “And I still have to take that birthing class.”

“Is Hank going with you?” Mason asks, and Tanner’s muscle tightens under my palm.

“I don’t know—maybe, maybe not.”

“I’ll go if he doesn’t show,” he tells her, and I wonder who Hank is and why the air around us seems to have thickened with tension.

“Mason.” She shakes her head.

“If he bails, I’m taking you, Margret.” His tone brooks no argument, and she nods before looking over her shoulder when his name is called.

“Your to-go order is ready. Do you want me to change it to stay?”

“Nah.” He pushes up to stand. “I have some stuff to take care of.” He leans down and places a kiss on her cheek that causes her face to turn a pretty shade of pink; then he looks at Tanner and me. “Come to the bar for a drink before you head out of town.”

“Sure.” I nod before saying goodbye and turning to watch Margret and him chat near the door.

“Never gonna happen,” Tanner says quietly, and I turn my head to meet his gaze.

“Pardon?”

“Margret and Mason are never gonna happen.”

“Oh.” My heart sinks. “They like each other, though, don’t they?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, you never know what might happen.”

“I wouldn’t get my hopes up about that situation, sunshine. He’s one of Blake’s best friends, so he won’t go there, and she’s still fucked up over her ex and praying he pulls his head out of his ass before their daughter comes screaming into the world.”

“Her ex is a jerk?”

“Her ex is a dick,” he says, and my nose scrunches.

“So how was everything?” Margret asks when we stop to pay at the register near the front door after eating.

“Delicious.” I don’t even hesitate to answer. Like Tanner promised, the coffee was a whole lot better than at the place down the street, and I don’t even think I paused to take a breath between bites of pancakes because they were so good.

“So you’ll be back.” She grins at me, then looks at Tanner. “Mom said you two are coming to dinner this week.”

“That’s the plan.”

“Good.” She smiles at me. “And just so you know, Cybil, if you ever need a break from this Neanderthal, I’ll give you my number. We can get lunch and putter around some of the shops down Main Street.”

“I might just take you up on that. A few of the places we drove by on the way here looked cute, and I doubt Tanner would be fond of me dragging him around a dozen shops.” I nudge his shoulder with mine.

“I’m going to have to veto you taking Cybil anywhere alone, since the last time you were out in town without supervision, you broke out the windows in Hank’s truck and poured sugar in his gas tank.”

“Wow, you really have no faith in me.” She bats her lashes. “I’ll have you know the cops said there wasn’t proof that I had anything to do with that incident. Also, that entire situation could have been avoided if Hank was at work where he was supposed to be, instead of taking a woman out on a date.”