Page 21 of The Birthday List (Maysen Jar 1)

My belly dipped as I took him in. His aviator sunglasses were perched on top of his chocolate-brown hair. A black polo stretched across his broad shoulders and pulled tight across his muscled arms. His pale-blue jeans molded to his Herculean thighs before draping down to his black, square-toed boots. The leather belt on Cole’s trim waist held both a shining badge and a holstered gun.

Cole smiled and locked his light-green eyes on mine as he crossed the room.

His straight, white teeth made my breath hitch—something that had happened last night more times than I wanted to admit.

Molly, who had turned around from her seat to greet our customer, spun around so her back was to Cole. Her cheeks flushed as she whispered, “Wow.”

Wow was right.

Cole Goodman was—simply put—gorgeous.

He could give a woman a speeding ticket and get a thank-you in return. He inspired women to attempt push-ups in a karate class just for the chance to watch him sweat through his gi. Cole made grown women blush like teenagers and giggle in corners, like those girls at the dojo last night.

Besides Jamie, I’d never seen a man so handsome. And if I were being honest with myself, Cole had even Jamie beat.

The blush in my cheeks paled as a knot of guilt settled in my stomach. I loved Jamie. Jamie had been a gorgeous man too. And as his wife, I shouldn’t be attracted to another man.

My smile turned to a frown the moment Cole stepped up to our table.

“Hey, Poppy.”

“Hi, Cole.”

His smile fell. “You don’t look happy to see me again.”

“Again?” Molly asked.

Cole looked down to my friend and held out his hand. “Cole Goodman. I ran into Poppy at the karate school last night.”

“Oh!” She stood and took his hand. “I’m Molly Alcott. Nice to meet you. Poppy was just telling me about your karate class.” She turned to me. “But she didn’t tell me she’d been bragging up the restaurant.”

“I wasn’t—”

“Actually, I heard about this place online,” Cole said. “I saw Poppy’s name and decided to check it out.” He looked my way. “I hope you don’t mind.”

“No. Not at all.” I stood, shaking off my strange feelings. I couldn’t afford to turn away customers, even if they were handsome and made me feel uncomfortable things.

“I tried to get in earlier but I had something come up at work. I don’t suppose you’ve got any dinner left?”

“Just barely. We had more of a rush than I expected and we’re down to just a few things. Sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry. That’s a good problem to have on opening day.”

“You know,” Molly said, standing too, “I was just telling Poppy she should eat. She’s been running around like crazy all day. Why don’t you eat together?”

My eyes snapped to my friend. “It’s late and I’m sure Cole just wants to take something to—”

“I’d like that.” He grinned at Molly.

She smiled back.

I looked from one to the other and back again. I held up a finger to Cole. “Would you excuse us for just a minute?”

He chuckled and pulled out a chair at our table, taking a seat. “Take all the time you need.”

I grabbed Molly’s elbow, then yanked her away from the table and back to the kitchen. When the door swung closed behind us, I let her go and planted my hands on my hips. “What do you think you’re doing?”

“You like him.”