No Vacancy (The Aveline Series Book 2)

Chapter 21

DARCY

I wokeup the next morning with a mild headache and a craving for bacon, so I stopped in the Aveline Café before work. I sat down at the counter, sipping on my coffee and contemplating what Peyton and I had talked about the night before. I hadn’t quite worked out how to make Penn despise me yet, but after rewatching How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days and googling “ways to be clingy and annoying,” I had enough of an idea to start.

I was going to have Penn Murphy running for the hills.

“Your bacon is almost ready, darlin’,” Jonie said as she came around the counter and headed to the kitchen.

“Thanks, Jonie.” I smiled. “Can I grab a refill?” I asked her, looking at the pot of coffee just on the other side of the counter.

“Help yourself, Love Bug.”

I stepped around the counter and poured myself another cup of coffee. Just as I was placing the carafe back, a familiar low voice spoke.

“Mind pouring me one?”

I looked up and saw Penn sitting at the counter, his coffee mug turned over.

I sighed. “I guess.” I poured him some coffee when Jimmy from down the counter hollered.

“How ‘bout me, Darce? I could use a refill.”

I turned my eyes to Penn. “See what you did?”

I filled up three more coffee mugs and handed Mrs. Pratt an extra napkin before I was able to go back to my seat. I noticed my bacon sitting on a plate and wondered when Jonie had snuck by me to deliver it.

“Have you ever dipped your bacon in syrup?” Penn asked.

I sipped my coffee slowly before turning to face him. This was the beginning. This was the first chance to rewrite our relationship and take him down. I forced a smile—not too big, just enough to show that I was safe. “I love it with syrup.”

Penn nodded, his lips curled into a grin. “Me too.”

We stared at each other for a moment, and I tried not to roll my eyes—something that was very difficult for me to do when looking at this man. Instead, I kept my face and eyes soft.

“How long do you plan to be in town?” I asked him.

He clasped his hands together over the counter. “I’m heading back to the city today.”

I perked up, thinking maybe I wouldn’t need to do anything at all, that maybe Penn had seen he had no chance here in Aveline and would leave us alone, exactly the way we had always been. “Really? So soon?”

Penn licked his lips. “I need to talk with my partner, sort some things out. See what he thinks.”

I took another sip from my cup. “You don’t say?”

Maybe his partner would be able to knock some sense into him.

“Yeah, we’ll see,” he replied as Jonie came out and handed him a bag. “See ya, Darcy.” He winked and stepped out the door.

Jonie looked after him, her eyes glazed over. “Mr. Murphy is the most handsome man I have ever seen. Don’t you think, Darcy? I don’t speak for everyone here in Aveline, but I sure do speak for a lot of us when I say I hope he sticks around for a while.”

I rolled my eyes. Good Lord. It’s like they’d never seen a pretty face before.