Call Her Mine (Harmony Pointe #1)- Melissa Foster Page 0,52
in the stroller. Aurelia shouldn’t be surprised by his behavior, because she’d been just as bad, double-checking the backpack and gazing into the stroller every few seconds to make sure B was okay. It was strange not seeing her in the arms of one of them.
La Love was bustling with customers. Music played in the background as Heaven helped customers and Echo called out orders. Colorful lights hung over dark orange tables surrounded by brown chairs. As they made their way to the line, Aurelia admired Echo’s abstract paintings hanging on the mustard-colored walls. Each piece of art was for sale. The jewelry Heaven made was also for sale, displayed in glass cabinets and hung from decorative trees at both ends of the counter.
“What are you hungry for?” Aurelia asked Ben, eyeing the bagels, pastries, and other delicious treats behind the glass.
A coy smile crept across his handsome face as he leaned closer and said, “You, Rels. Always you.”
Heat flared inside her, and the air between them sizzled with desire. It was crazy how hot he could make her with just a look or a few simple words.
“Oh my goodness! Ben? Aurelia? And baby makes three?” Heaven exclaimed as she came around the counter despite the line of people Echo was dealing with.
Heaven was a pretty brunette with amber eyes. She wore a pair of purple batik pants, a lavender shirt that stopped two inches above her navel, and leather, beaded sandals. She was petite but curvy, like Aurelia.
“I thought Everly was kidding!” Heaven bent over the stroller, agog with instant adoration. “Isn’t she just the sweetest thing?”
“Thank you,” Ben said, holding Aurelia a little tighter and beaming like the proud papa he was.
Heaven’s eyes moved between Aurelia and Ben. “And you two are an item now, huh?” She smiled and gave a happy little shrug-wiggle as she said, “It’s about time!”
Ben laughed and pressed a kiss to Aurelia’s temple. Oh, how she loved when he did that! As if he just couldn’t hold back.
“I can’t believe someone left this darling little baby on your doorstep,” Heaven said. “That’s like something out of a mystery novel. People are nuts! But she’s a lucky girl, Ben. I know you’ll take good care of her. What’s her name?”
“B,” he and Aurelia said at once.
“Baby Bea. Talk about adorable,” Heaven exclaimed.
“Hey, sis,” Echo called over the counter. “These orders aren’t going to fill themselves.”
Heaven did her signature shrug-wiggle again, smiling happily, and said, “If you get a chance, check out my new bookish jewelry. I know you’ll love it! I made some really cool new charms.” She lowered her voice and said, “Did you notice all the yoga-clad women?” She nodded toward the line at a group of women dressed in yoga pants, then whispered, “They’re here every time Echo works. I swear he must put a flyer up in the yoga studio around the corner that says, Tall, dark, and single right around the corner!”
She returned to the other side of the counter, and they went back to waiting in line.
Half an hour later, after they’d finished eating, Aurelia went to check out Heaven’s new pieces. Heaven’s family owned an orchard in Sweetwater, and her father also made furniture and jewelry. He’d taught Heaven to make jewelry when she was in middle school. Heaven was a book lover, like Aurelia, and she also wrote poetry. They’d both attended Boyer University in Port Hudson, New York, and joined the Ladies Who Write sorority, a group of women who’d bonded over their love of the written word. In college, Heaven had written a weekly poetry column in the school newspaper, and Aurelia had written a column called “Book Chat,” talking up the hottest books.
As she looked over the charms of open books and quills, she thought about that column and considered trying to do something like that again. But she’d rather spend any extra time she had with Ben and B.
The baby started fussing, and Aurelia glanced at Ben, who waved her off as he put B on his shoulder and patted her back. She went to the other end of the counter to look at the necklaces, but when she got halfway there, B’s cries escalated—and Ben looked a little panicked. She hurried over, noticing other customers looking at them.
Ben hiked the backpack over his shoulder and said, “I’m going to try changing her.”
“Okay. I’ll clean off the table.” She began clearing their trash, trying to ignore the stares of the other customers,