“And they stole my favorite lipstick out of my top desk drawer and wrote ‘A’s for everyone’ all over the windows in the classroom,” Miss Sarah added.

“Wow, I was so tame in school,” Piper said.

“We could go on, but as he’s already squirming we’ll leave him be.”

“If I say sorry, will that help?”

“Dylan, we had a lot worse, believe me.”

“Thanks, Miss Marla.”

Piper listened to Mandy arriving. She knew it was her because there were no heels clicking.

“Mandy, this is Dylan Howard. I’m not sure you remember him from school, dear.”

“Hello.” Mandy spoke softly. Unlike her aunts, she was gentle and usually didn’t offer up conversation unless she was ready. The sisters were incredibly protective of their niece; Piper had never gotten to the bottom of why.

“We still on for the movies, Mandy?” Pip, Bailey, and Maggs often included the woman in their outings. Usually she didn’t come, but they kept trying.

“Sure, thanks, Piper.”

“Here’s your tea now. Careful, it’s hot.”

She took the cup between her hands and inhaled the scent wafting up into her nostrils.

“Is she any good?” Dylan asked.

“No, but her big cousin is the best in town.”

“Really... we’ll just have to see if he still has the crown after I’m done.”

Piper tried to shut out the deep voice and concentrate. Surely it couldn’t be that hard if Joe could do it. She took a small sip.

“I taste lemon and berry, and maybe ginger?”

“Not bad, dear.”

“You’re being nice, which means I got it wrong. Plus I can hear the crowing in your voice, Miss Marla,” Piper said, handing her the cup.

“Lime blossom, cinnamon, and verbena.”

“What is verbena?” she said, taking off her blindfold.

“A plant. It’s good for sore throats and respiratory disorders.”

As he’d supplied the information, she had to look at him.

“Not sure how you know that, but thanks.”

He sat at one of the tables. The morning sun was streaming in the window surrounding him, but somehow he still managed to look large and dangerous. He was dressed in jeans, and on his feet were lace-up tan boots. His navy long sleeved T-shirt had FBI across the front. He was giving her a look out of those ice-blue eyes that made her toes curl inside her boots.

“So you’re not good at this tea tasting is my guess?”

“Nope,” she said around the dryness in her throat. This man was a lethal combination, of hot, smart, and downright dangerous. Plus, he had the smoldering “I don’t give a shit what you think of me,” hotness that had always appealed to Piper.