What was with Annie today? Did she believe that because Jane wasn’t in full control of her power to write down words, she had also lost the ability to speak them? “Jane doesn’t like to discuss her work in progress.” Maybe Jane had made Annie speak for her one too many times over the years they’d been together.

“I’m hoping Mia’s coffee will help,” Jane said.

“And here I am to the rescue.” Mia sidled up to them, holding a deliciously-smelling, steaming mug in her hands.

“You’re a life-saver,” Jane said. “I didn’t mean to disturb your meeting.”

“You’ve come down early.” Mia said, echoing Annie’s words.

“I didn’t realize my schedule was under such scrutiny,” Jane joked.

“If I keep reading your books the way I’ve been doing lately, I will need a brand new Jane Quinn book soon,” Mia said. “So forgive me for cracking that whip and keeping an eye on you.” She shot Jane a smile that was so disarming, Jane could only reciprocate.

“Just keep on supplying me with excellent coffee,” Jane said.

“Of course. Imagine how that will look on my resume later: personal barista to Jane Quinn.”

“Depends where you’re applying for a job,” Jane said.

“Not anytime soon, I hope,” Kristin said.

“It was just a manner of speaking, boss. I’d be a fool to leave this gig.”

“Good.” Only Kristin could make a simple word sound so full of meaning—and perhaps a hint of threat.

“I’d best get back to it,” Jane said, hope swelling in her voice and in her heart. “Some people are waiting for my next book.”

Chapter Three

Annie closed the shop at six these days—an hour earlier than she used to. Mia left at five and Annie used the hour alone to put things in order for the next day and remember how it felt before the Pink Bean had descended on her little book shop. The hour of personal time she gained, she used to relieve Jane of cooking duty a couple of times per week, and to simply be with her wife.

“Guess how many Jane Quinn books I sold today?” she asked Jane as they sat down to dinner, which they had naturally started eating earlier as the shop’s schedule had changed.

“Zero point zero,” Jane said, in typical fashion.

Annie shook her head. “Three. Two in the Broken Hearts series to the same person. And one copy of Under a Streetlight.”

“That’s not too bad.”

“I would say so.” Annie took a moment to look her wife in the eye. “Especially because they are direct sales and there’s no middle man to give any money to.”

“Yes, yes, I know. I should be grateful to Mia. And I am,” Jane said.

“You should see her and Lou together. It really warms my heart.” Annie remembered their kiss in the shop that morning.