“Damn. Too bad. I was just starting to get excited about the idea.” He leaned back in his chair and grinned back at her.
To be honest, so had she. But there was no way she was going to admit that. Besides, they had something a lot more important to discuss. “Listen, there’s something else I need to tell you.”
His smile vanished, and his expression turned serious. “Okay. What’s wrong?”
She glanced down at her hands, noticing that she’d unknowingly balled them into fists. Hope flattened her hands out on the table and looked back up at him. “I heard someone thinking that your business would be the perfect place to use to run drugs. It sounded like they were scoping you and your place out.”
Lucas’s frown deepened. “Drugs? That’s… not possible. You know I’m not involved with anything to do with drugs. Hell, it’s been over twenty years since I even lit up a joint.”
“I didn’t say you were involved. I said they wanted to use your store, and I wanted to tell you so you’d know someone you’d met tonight doesn’t have your best interests at heart.”
He made a face and waved a hand dismissing her concerns. “You know I’d never get involved in anything like that. And no one is going to be able to move drugs through my shop without me being in on it, right?”
“I guess so. I just feel terrible for inviting someone like that here.”
“Hope,” he said gently. “You put out a press release, just as you should. You can’t help who showed up. Do you have any idea who it was?”
She shook her head. “No, but I’m going to keep an ear out and see if I can figure it out before they become a problem. You know, since I can hear thoughts now, I should be able to find something out.”
“And then do what with that information?” he asked, narrowing his eyes.
“I don’t know. Alert the Premonition Pointe police? Let you know so you don’t end up in business with them? That kind of thing.”
“That’s a noble thing to do,” he said. “But, Hope, I think it’s best if you don’t go looking for trouble. I really just don’t want you to end up in some drug kingpin’s crosshairs.”
“I’m not looking for trouble. I’m just—”
“You’re not?” He chuckled and shook his head. “Getting in the way of drug dealers is the definition of trouble.” He stood and held out his hand to her.
She sighed, hating both that he was telling her what to do and that he was right. What did she know about drug dealers other than what she’d seen on television? Hope took his hand and let him help her up.
“Want to go for a cup of coffee or… a walk on the beach maybe?” he asked.
She gave him a soft smile. “I would love to do both, but I don’t think so.”
He pulled her closer to him and stared down at her. “Why not?”
“You know why.” She pushed up on her tiptoes, gave him a light kiss on the cheek, and then patted his chest. “Now, I’m going to take you up on that offer to finish cleaning up, and I’m going to take off.”
“All right,” he said softly and pulled her in, giving her a tight hug.
She held on with everything she had for a few seconds, and then she pulled away and walked out without looking back.
Chapter Six
“More coffee?” Hope asked Grace and Joy as she rose from the table in Pointe of View Café.
Joy groaned and shook her head. “Better make mine decaf.”
“Decaf? Seriously?” Grace asked her, looking like someone had just suggested she throw out her favorite designer heels. “Since when do you drink decaf?”
“Since too much caffeine started making my boobs hurt.” She pressed her hands to her chest and grimaced. “I can have one cup, but any more than that and they just ache. My doctor told me this sometimes happens when you get older.”
Hope blinked at her. Caffeine was like her life’s blood and the only thing that got her through some days. “You’re kidding right? Please tell me you’re messing with us.”
“I wish I was.” Joy lowered her hands and pressed them against the table. “Getting older sucks donkey shlong.”
“Jeez, Joy. I’m so sorry,” Grace said then looked up at Hope. “Get me another. Large. I’ll drink Joy’s share.”
“Gee thanks.” Joy rolled her eyes.
Hope made her way up to the bar, order two more coffees from Jackson, the recent college grad who was working as a barista while trying to figure out his next move, and then retreated back to the table. After handing the coffee to Grace, Hope made a face and dug into her oversized cinnamon roll.
“Hey, just be glad you’re not suffering tendonitis in your right hip and ankle,” Grace said dramatically. “The other night when Owen and I were in bed—”
“That’s quite enough.” Joy held her hand up, stopping her friend. “I do not want to hear about your sexual escapades right now. It’s too depressing. I can’t even get Paul to give me a back rub these days. I swear, if I didn’t know better, I’d think the man was having an affair.”
Grace and Hope shared a look.
“Stop,” Joy said with a sigh. “I know what you’re thinking, but I really don’t think that’s it. He’s just… not into it for some reason.”
“You really don’t think it’s because he’s into it with someone else?” Hope asked gently.
“No. He works a lot, but he comes home exhausted and frustrated with work. There’s a lot of tension. I just really don’t think it’s an affair. Besides, he’s terrified of STDs. And if someone was willing to have an affair with a married man, he’d never trust them.” She shrugged. “I keep asking him to go to therapy, but he refuses.”
“I’m sorry, honey,” Grace said, squeezing Joy’s hand. Grace had recently been through her own divorce, but in her case, her husband had been sticking it to the office receptionist. There hadn’t been a relationship to work on after he’d walked in one day and said it was over and he was marrying his side piece. “We’re here if you want to talk about it.”
“She’s right. And I won’t even tell you to dump his sorry ass, even if it is what I’m thinking,” Hope said, giving her friend a sympathetic smile, wanting to make sure she knew that, no matter what, she was on Joy’s side.
Joy’s clear blue eyes clouded with tears, but she blinked them back and nodded. “I know. I love you both, but right now I’d rather talk about literally anything other than Paul. I’m just so sick of whining about my relationship.”
“It’s not whining. If you can’t talk to us, who can you talk to?” Hope asked.
“Ditto,” Grace added.
“Thanks.” Joy sniffed. “Now, make me feel better by telling me I’m not the only one with weird perimenopause symptoms.
They both laughed.
“I had inch long face hairs that seem to pop up overnight,” Grace said. “And my hair is starting to turn gray.”
“Your dye job is doing a great job of covering that up,” Hope said.