HAPPY PANTS CAFE (THE HAPPY PANTS SERIES) Read Online Free PDF

you played.”
    “Never met the woman,” said Ms. Luci. She extended her arm, gesturing toward the door. “Now, if you’ll excuse me. I have cookies to bake.”
    Austin glanced at Harper, then back at the woman. “Of course, Ms. Luci. Sorry to bother you. I had really come in just to check out the place and see if you’d be open to talking when you’re not so busy. So if you change your mind…” He reached for his back pocket.
    Harper quickly grabbed a card from her purse and shoved it into Ms. Luci’s hand. “Call me. I would love to tell the world about your establishment.”
    Ms. Luci smirked, but didn’t accept the card. “That is what I’m trying to avoid. Good day.”
    That’s strange. Why would she want to avoid publicity?
    Harper and Austin walked outside, where she was determined not to have a massive mumbling fit. Thankfully, it looked like Austin wasn’t going to pursue this story, so he’d be in his car and out of her life as soon as they made it back to the sidewalk.
    Harper silently wove her way through the crowded, sunny patio, with Austin trailing behind her.
    Okay. Be confident. Say good-bye. Come back first thing tomorrow morning . Once back out on the main sidewalk, Harper turned and held out her hand. “Well, Austin, it was a pleasure kissing—I mean, meeting you again. Have a nice drive back to Oakland.”
    “I live in the city, but thanks.” He shook her hand, and it was, hands down, the nicest handshake Harper had ever experienced. His palm was rough, warm, and all manly firmness.
    “Same to you, Marie. You are heading home, too, correct?”
    “Uh, yeah. Sure. I’m just going to grab a bite, but I’ll be off.”
    “Funny. Me, too.” Although he smiled, those stunning hazel eyes flickered with suspicion. “Why don’t I buy? Bury the hatchet?”
    Oh no. She was a terrible liar, and keeping up a charade through an entire meal would be difficult. Add that Austin was a rival, and she felt really unsettled all of a sudden—without any rhyme or reason—breaking bread would be a bad choice.
    “Hello?” Austin snapped his fingers.
    Why was everyone doing that to her today? Did she look like she needed snaps? No, she needed tequila. Perhaps the one with the worm so she’d think about something other than the fact that Austin was standing right in front of her in all his snappy gorgeousness.
    God, he really is handsome. How did that happen?
    “Sure,” she suddenly blurted out, wondering what had come over her, “I’d love some linner.”
    “Linner?”
    “Yeah. It’s like brunch, but the dinner version.”
    “I thought that was called early dinner.”
    She chuckled nervously. “Yeah.”
    “Are you sure you’re all right?”
    “Yes, I’m great. Why wouldn’t I be?”
    “You looked like you were about to pass out back there.”
    “My medication is wearing off.” Crap. Why did I say that? What’s wrong with me today?
    He smiled down at her, and she fully understood why Christina Bass-Andrews had given in to his charms. So how had Austin ended up in the same profession, working for a paper just on the other side of the bridge? And what happened to him after she moved away?
    “So, what are you in the mood for?” he asked.
    “Alcohol.”
    “I thought you were driving home,” he pointed out.
    Damn. “Right you are.”
    “There’s the wine bar across the street,” he said. “They have great sandwiches and a decent wine-tasting menu. We can have one glass.”
    “Um…okay.” Harper’s mind bounced back and forth between running away and satisfying her curiosity. She really was interested to find out what he’d been up to all these years.
    Well, one salad and I’ll never see him again. Done. Like it never happened.
    “Shall we?” Austin gestured toward the crosswalk at the corner.
    Harper smiled, but avoided those hazel eyes like she avoided cauliflower. (She hated that vegetable. Looked like giant warts.) But what was she getting so worked up about? The guy