I tapped her shoulder.
She jumped and swung around with the shears in her hand pointing out.
Only my quick reflexes saved my shirt. I jumped back. “Whoa.”
She tugged out her earbud and pocketed it, then came two more steps toward me with the shears still in hand. “What are you doing here?”
“Nice to see you too, Ry.”
“Rylee.” The blond woman’s gasp made Rylee take two steps back.
“Sorry. He scared me.” She dropped the wicked-looking scissors and pasted on a fake smile. “Nice to see you again, Gage.”
“I don’t really believe you.” I glanced at the blond, whose gaze was bouncing eagerly between us. I’d run far and fast from that invasive gossipy, glee-filled smile. I didn’t know this woman, but I’d known plenty like her growing up.
My parents had a pizza place here in Crescent Cove, but they’d opened that after I left home. My original hometown of Laurel was similar, if a little more run-down than this homespun place. But they were all the same under the charm.
“Think I could steal Rylee for lunch?”
“It’s not time—”
“Sure. It’s slow right now.”
Rylee pressed her lips together. I remembered her doing that in the bar just before she blew my damn mind with a kiss.
Somehow I didn’t think I was going to be that lucky today.
“But I have to finish the baskets for the Perkins party.” Rylee didn’t sound petulant, but it was a close thing.
Since pissing her off was my favorite thing to do, I grinned at the older woman. “Thirty minutes won’t matter much.”
Rylee huffed out a breath. “You don’t need to listen to him, Kathy.”
“It’s not every day that family is in town, right?”
“No. Definitely not.” I smirked at Rylee. “We should definitely catch up.”
I turned back to Kathy. “I’d love a big, sunny arrangement for my mother. You know, the kind to brighten her spirits on a gray day.”
“Oh, that’s lovely. Isn’t that sweet, Rylee?” Kathy hurried around the counter for a little pad.
“Super sweet.” Her voice was deadpan and I had to strangle a laugh.
“I’ll write that up and do that myself. I’ll have it ready when you guys come back from lunch.” Kathy gave me a sunny smile. “I’m assuming money is no object?”
Oh, I was going to pay for this one. “Not when it when it comes to my mom.”
“Wonderful. Now you two have a nice lunch to catch up.”
Rylee pulled out her other earbud and jammed it into the case in her pocket. “Oh, we will.” She stepped over to where she’d been working and picked up a massive bag off the floor. She hooked it over her shoulder and headed for the door without another word.
“She missed me, I can tell.”
Kathy tapped her pencil against her palm. “So I see.”
I slipped through the door with a grin. Man, I hadn’t realized how much I’d missed this woman until I saw her again.
Now I just had to remind her she’d missed me too.