Starlight in Her Eyes by Joann Durgin Page A

hair is up.”
    “Serena, love.” Straightening in the chair, Colin leaned close, his eyes filled with warmth and affection. “Humor me. Allow me to take you for a cup of coffee and leave your hair down. Not that it’s a prerequisite for my offer.”
    She tilted her head, considering his invitation. “Glasses or not?” Did I really just ask him that question? She wanted to groan.
    He chuckled. “Completely up to you, but thanks for asking.”
    “I’ll leave them off. You’re a bad influence on me, but I’m due for an afternoon break.”
    “From what I know, you rarely take them.” He lifted out of the chair. “Let me go get my coat and I’ll come back to get you in five minutes.”
    “Let’s meet downstairs in the lobby. We should discuss the plans for the mission.”
    “You know what?” Colin stopped in the doorway. “Let’s not. We can discuss that when we return. This afternoon respite is about Serena and Colin, two friends sharing coffee and personal conversation. No television business or otherwise. Agreed?”
    Serena nodded. “All right, then. I’ll see you soon.”
    He tapped the doorframe with an irresistible smile. “Count on it.”
    ~*~
    “I trust Lily is feeling better.” Colin placed Serena’s cup of peppermint mocha coffee on the table and then set down his gingerbread latte. “Forgive me. I was remiss in not asking after her earlier.”
    The rich aromas from their drinks smelled divine as he sat in the chair opposite her.
    Shoppers and business types bustled in, bringing a burst of cold air inside with them whenever the door opened.
    For that reason, and because he wanted as much privacy as possible, Colin had located a table as far away from the door as he could find.
    “Lily’s much better, thanks. Her fever’s gone and she’s left with only a lingering, annoying cough. My daughter attributes the soup and muffins from Mr. Colin as the miracle cure for her cold, and she’s been singing your praises ever since.”
    Colin sat back in his chair, pleased by the comment. “The resilience of youth. I’m glad she’s better. And even with only a brief introduction, I’m very fond of Lily.”
    “Well, she wasn’t too happy with me when I told her she’d watched Annie one time too many,” Serena said. “So we compromised.”
    “With another kid-friendly musical?” Colin grinned. “I hear Oliver! has street urchins.”
    “I only wish I’d thought of it,” Serena said. “Believe it or not, she talked me into yet another version of the same movie. My child has fairly strong powers of persuasion, which can be both good and bad, depending on my state of mind.”
    “Ah, so the sun will continue to come out, eh?” Colin chuckled. “They only have a hundred or so versions of Annie .” Using his coffee stirrer, he swirled his drink. “I understand customers either love this drink or hate it. Let’s see, shall we?” As he lightly tapped his cup against hers and they both took a drink, Colin eyed her as he sampled his latte. Scrunching his face, he pretended not to like it when, in fact, he found it quite tasty.
    Serena’s lips twisted as she lowered her cup. “When I was watching that tape, I was thinking you could be an actor, but I should probably re-evaluate. Your performance just now was shameful. Really…dreadful.”
    Colin took another sip and narrowed his eyes. “You’re getting to know me too well, Serena.”
    “That could be a scary thing.”
    Or a wonderful thing. If he didn’t know better, Colin would think Serena was flirting. Her voice had dipped an octave and her gaze never left his as she took another sip of her coffee.
    “This is delicious,” she said, licking her lips. “Would you like a taste?”
    “Certainly, although I should warn you peppermint’s not a favorite. Especially since dear Marla carries the scent of peppermint when she attacks me with that detestable hair spray. Guilt by association, perhaps. Unfair or not.”
    They traded, sampled,