Page 149 of Let Me Keep You

“Good morning,” he says with a smirk as he gets into the car.

“Hey.” He’s dressed in another nice button-up, and I stop trying to imagine how I’d strip that shirt right off him. “Wanna grab coffee first? It’s about an hour away.”

“Sure. Want me to drive?”

“I can since you don’t know how to get there, and then you can drive us back.”

Tyler buckles, then surprises me when he takes my hand. “Deal.” He brings it to his lips and presses a gentle kiss on my knuckles. “I’ll buy the coffee since we’re taking your car.”

I’m so focused on his mouth that I nearly forget where we are. Sighing, I put the car in reverse, then drive us to the Coffee Palace, a newer hip café that opened last summer. They serve fun theme drinks, and I can’t wait for Tyler to try it.

“Happy Sunday!” Marjorie exclaims the moment we enter. She has her hair parted and put up into two messy buns that look adorable.

“Hey!” I reply, and when my hand brushes Tyler’s, he grabs it and interlocks our fingers. I try to hold back how giddy I am, but when I glance at him, I can’t stop the stupid smile that fills my face.

We step up to the counter and browse the menu. “Y’all gotta try one of my new seasonal lattes for fall!”

“Ooh, which ones?” I ask, excited. I love all the tasty drinks she creates.

“Pumpkin cream, apple butter spice, and harvest caramel.”

“I literally can’t imagine what those would taste like,” Tyler blurts, and I giggle.

“Oh, darlin’. You can’t go wrong with any of them. Trust me,” Marjorie gloats.

I snort at Tyler’s wide-eyed expression. “Can I get a regular coffee with cream?”

“What flavor?” she asks, typing on her cashier’s screen.

“Just black.”

“There are different types,” I explain, then point at the options.

“Uhh…a dark roast?”

“I have Southern blaze and sunshine rain.”

Tyler looks at me, and I hold back a laugh. Marjorie roasts her own beans and makes her own unique blends.

“Surprise me,” Tyler finally says.

“I’ll take a pumpkin cream with almond milk,” I confirm.

“Comin’ right up.” Marjorie tells us the total. Tyler lets go of my hand and grabs his wallet, and I immediately miss his touch.

After he’s paid, she pours a plain coffee and directs Tyler to the cream and sugar on the other side.

“That’s Tyler Blackwood, right?” she asks when he’s out of earshot.

“Yep,” I respond, waiting for her inevitable question of whether we’re dating.

“Wow.” She smirks. “Talk about a glow-up, amiright?” Marjorie waggles her brows, and it causes me to snort.

“Definitely.” I nod. Though Tyler was always handsome, he’s definitely bulked up and matured over the years.

“One pumpkin cream latte with almond milk,” she calls and hands it over.

Tyler and I thank her, then head to the car.