The Wrong Man Read Online Free PDF

knowingly and gave me a funny air “high five” when Jake turned his back to him.
    “I got his order, sweetheart. Can I get you boys any pastries this morning?” Juan fluttered his eyes playfully.
    Damn it. I was going to have to make my own coffee starting tomorrow if my favorite barista was going to question me about Jake.
    “No, thank you. The usual will do.”
    Juan muttered something under his breath in Spanish but was his professional self as he rang up our order and handed us our drinks.
    I followed Jake to a high bar near the front window where the milks, sugars, and napkins were placed for those interested. I grabbed a napkin from the dispenser and watched with amusement as Jake removed the lid from his cup and doctored his drink liberally with cream and a ton of sugar.
    “Are you sure you wanted a coffee, honey? You just turned that poor unsuspecting cup of java into something most five-year-olds would happily drink.”
    Jake’s grin was wide and full of easy humor. He laughed merrily as he stirred his coffee and refastened the lid.
    “Some things never change. I’m glad.” He observed, holding the door open for me.
    I bristled at the cryptic remark but stopped short at the exuberant greeting of welcome from Mack, who was tied to a bench outside the shop. His tail wagged profusely, and I swear he talked. It was dog-speak but the meaning was clear even to a canine novice like me. I’m so happy to see you. When he nuzzled his snout in Jake’s direction and then mine, I giggled helplessly. It was hard not to like the furry fellow. I patted him affectionately behind his ears and spoke to him in the syrupy tone he seemed to like.
    “Hello, Macky. How are you this morning? You missed me, didn’t you? You’re such a good boy.”
    I’m sure I kept going. Mack ate up the attention like he would a biscuit. He wouldn’t stop taking the love until I stopped giving it. Jake smiled as I made a fool of myself, then undid the leash and looked over at me quizzically.
    “Can you sit for a minute? There’s an empty table over there or this ben—”
    “No. Thank you. I have to get to my store.” I felt like I’d popped a kid’s balloon or something equally awful when I saw Jake’s disappointment and heard Mack’s plaintive mewl. He probably was ready to get moving but, either way, my brisk tone sounded harsh. I smiled slightly to soften my words. “Thank you for the coffee, Jake. See you around.”
    “Wait.” He pulled at Mack’s leash. “Hey, um… can we walk you to work?”
    I immediately caught his use of the pronoun “we,” not “I.” It was terribly clever of him. He probably knew I’d have a hard time turning Mack down. Even if he was tethered to a somewhat insistent owner with ties to my past. I stared at him for a long moment. What was he up to? I decided there was no harm in walking a block together.
    “All right.” I shrugged, trying to convey a nonchalant “if you feel like it” vibe.
    Jake smiled brightly. I took a sip of my coffee to hide my answering grin and immediately winced in pain.
    “Ow! Fuck.” I wrinkled my nose. Shit, that was hot.
    Jake chuckled beside me. “It might be a little warm.”
    “You’re a riot,” I scowled.
    “It helps if you add a little milk and sugar,” he said with a wink.
    “A little? You drowned your drink! Sometimes less is more, sugar.”
    “Less sugar? Nah. That’s boring. I like sweet things.”
    The unexpected flirtation made me smile. It was on the tip of my tongue to make an offhand comment about him staying away from boys like me, but I caught the words in time. I had a tendency to casually flirt with… well, everyone. But one did not flirt with an ex. One made polite conversation only, I sharply reminded myself.
    “Yeah, so I gather.” Safe enough.
    I walked in front of him for a moment to let a mother with a double-wide stroller pass by. She smiled her thanks, and then stopped me with a hand on my arm. She recognized me from a yoga