Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 57216 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 286(@200wpm)___ 229(@250wpm)___ 191(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57216 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 286(@200wpm)___ 229(@250wpm)___ 191(@300wpm)
“I’m not, am I?” he asked, voice a little softer. “Something big is up.”
“I—“ I started to speak, but then the door flew open, making Junior drop my wrist. I was so surprised that my hand fell heavy to the counter top as I looked over to see a group of women coming in, all pulsing energy, smiles, and little praises about the cafe’s interior.
Junior passed me cash, and I took it without saying anything, looking at him, or even giving him his change.
He moved away like we hadn’t just been having a moment, going to take his usual table, making me worry that he was going to be doing all that digging into my personal life.
There wasn’t a lot of time to worry about that, though, as the group of middle-to-later-aged women came bustling up to the counter, all bundled up in their winter coats and scarves, and carrying big purses.
“Well, honey!” the first woman said, all short black hair, and dramatic eye makeup, with an easy smile, like we were the oldest of friends. “I’m so glad Margie here noticed your sign the other day!” she said, waving toward a gray-haired woman with a brilliantly colored granny square scarf. “Or we never would have known you existed! You need a bigger sign or something!” she said.
“She didn’t ask for your advice, Barb,” one of the other women said, giving me an apologetic head shake.
“Anyway, we have been racking our brains trying to figure out a place to have our weekly book club meeting since it’s impossible to get a table at that other coffee place anymore. And we’d be so happy to give you some business if your coffee is as good as it smells!”
With that, I was taking eight separate very intricate drink orders, and passing out plates of pastries.
The women took all their drinks over to the seating area, pushing several tables together just a few feet away from Junior.
I could tell from the women’s eyebrow wiggles and wicked smiles that whatever book they’d chosen this week was of the hot-and-heavy sort.
Junior’s pained look only confirmed this while they got louder as their conversation went on.
“Hey, Barb,” I said as the woman came back up. “Can I get you a refill?”
“Yes, please,” she said, passing me her cup. “Honey, that man over there, does he come in regularly?” she asked.
“Pretty regularly, yeah.”
“I think we should coincide our book club meetings with his schedule. If I was just twenty years younger…” she said, sighing dreamily. “I was such a looker,” she added with a hint of wistfulness.
“You’re still a looker,” I insisted as I passed her mug back to her.
“Oh, you’re a sweetheart,” she said, giving me a warm smile. “I can’t make a move on him, but a little advice from me to you, you should. I’ve never regretted the lovers I’ve taken,” she added. “Only the ones I haven’t. There was this handyman once,” she said, letting out a deep sigh. “Anywho, we love your little shop,” she told me. “You’ve made a bunch of new customers. And don’t you worry, honey. We are going to get the word out. Between the lot of us, we know just about everyone in town!”
She patted my hand before walking back to her group.
And all I could think was… This was the worst possible timing for the best possible news.
I had no doubt that these women would be able to make a difference in my cafe’s success. But what good was that now, when there was a, you know, big chance that I was about to be strung up by my toenails and tortured.
Well, I mean, I didn’t know exactly how cartels tortured people.
But I imagined there would be some sort of intolerable pain involved.
Before they eventually dispatched of me.
Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Junior getting up and making his way over to me.
“Your eye is twitching,” I said, pressing my lips together to keep a chuckle in.
“Ever hear a bunch of ladies old enough to be your ma or grandma talking about their favorite sex toys?” he asked, looking pained.
“No, but now I have to know. What is the consensus?” I asked.
“They’re torn,” he told me as I started to pour him another coffee.
“Between?”
“The rose,” he said, making me look over. “And the wand one. But only the one that plugs in. It’s more powerful.”
“As a proud owner of the rose, I have to concur that it is worth its weight in gold.”
“Oh, yeah?” he asked, and I couldn’t be certain, but I thought there was a bit of heat in his light eyes.
“Zero to O in less than three minutes,” I told him, passing his cup across the counter.
“How’s it compare to being with an actual person?” he asked.
“Well, you know, that depends.”