Layla St. John parked her late model, compact car in the expanded parking lot of Ms. Anna's Soul Food and Sweet & Savory Pies. It was the best place in town to get down-home soul food. Sweet & Savory Pies had been owned by the Hazelton family for decades. A few years ago, they'd sold the place to Ms. Anna Williams and she'd added a wide range of soul food to the sweet and savory pies that already made the restaurant a town favorite for both tourists and natives.

"It's cold as hell today," Nia, Layla's younger sister complained as she zipped her parka and pulled the hood over her head. "I hope Ms. Anna still has some chicken pot pies left. That would hit the spot right now."

"I'm trying to decide between that and the shepherd's pie," Layla said as they headed toward the restaurant.

A man stood at the counter laughing with Ms. Anna. He was tall with warm brown skin and short, thick hair cut into a fade. The leather jacket and distressed jeans fit his toned body just right. She could only see his face in profile, but there was something about his brilliant, genuine smile that was incredibly appealing.

Her sister’s laughter pulled Layla out of her brief daze.

"Are you ogling that man's ass, Elle?" Nia used the nickname that Layla’s family and friends called her. "I haven't seen you look at anybody like that in a minute. I was starting to think I needed to check your pulse." Her sister studied the man for a minute. "Damn. Bruh is fine. I see why he's got you all hot and bothered."

"Shh!" Layla held a gloved finger up to her lips. She'd been shushing her sister—nearly fifteen years her junior—for as long as Nia had been alive. "That glass isn't soundproof, you know."

"I'm sure he would appreciate the admiration." Nia winked, then swung the front door open before Layla had time to plead with her little sister not to pull any of her cutesy antics.

From what she could see, the man was handsome. And he had a heart-melting smile. Still, she wasn't into hook-ups.

Layla's fortieth birthday was just a couple of months away. If she was going to get involved with someone, it needed to be something real. Something with promise. The man talking to Ms. Anna was fine. And he had a body that reminded her that hers hadn't been...attended to by anyone with a pulse in quite some time. But he definitely gave off a hook-ups only kind of vibe.

Not what she was looking for.

Nia rushed inside, several steps ahead of her, just out of Layla's reach.

If she embarrasses me, I'm going to strangle her.

"Good evening, Ms. Anna." Nia waved innocently, drawing the attention of both the older woman who now owned the restaurant and the younger man she was chatting with.

"Nia, Layla. Good to see you both," Ms. Anna said. "And you both remember—"

"Quincy Johnston?" Layla froze where she stood as she studied the man's face.

He was much older now than when she'd last seen him as a shy teenage boy. He'd certainly matured. But those kind eyes and that signature smile were just as she remembered.

Why didn't I recognize him sooner?

"God, Layla." A slow smile spread across his handsome face as he ran a hand over his head. "I haven't seen you since—"

"You and Nolan's high school graduation." She grinned. "It's great to see you, Q."

Layla and Quincy exchanged a hug that felt awkward now that she realized that the full-grown, fine-ass man whose behind she'd been studying like it was the night before a finals exam was the childhood best friend of her little brother, Nolan. And a full ten years younger than her.

The fact that his strong arms and hard, toned body felt like her personal heaven and smelled like leather, sin, and something woodsy—a panty-obliterating combination if ever she'd smelled one—didn't help.

Layla's face was suddenly hot and her body tingled in places it definitely shouldn't. After all, Ms. Anna's was a family restaurant, not the strip joint at the edge of town. She extracted herself from his lingering hug, but not before she inhaled one final whiff of his cologne.

Maybe that made her a pathetic cougar, but she honestly couldn't help herself. At least she'd fought off the overwhelming urge to accidentally graze that round bottom with her fingertips.

"I see your body finally grew into that melon head." Nia folded her arms, one hip cocked. "Congratulations."

"Nia." Quincy chuckled, his voice so much deeper and sexier than it had been before—even after the awkward voice change of puberty. He gave her sister a quick hug.

Definitely nothing like the lingering, intimate hug he'd just given her. Not that it mattered or that she'd counted.

One Mississippi. Two Mississippi. Three Missi—

"Are you here for dinner?" Nia asked as soon as he'd released her.

"Yeah, I haven't had anything but coffee since breakfast this morning." He patted his belly. The sound drawing attention to his hard abs.

Layla sank her teeth into her lower lip and held back a quiet sigh. What the hell was going on with her tonight? She needed to get away from this man.

Right now.

"Well, Q, it was great to see you again," Layla was saying when her sister interrupted.

"It certainly is. You know, we were just about to sit down for a little Valentine’s Day dinner, too. Why don't you join us?" Nia said. "Unless you already have plans. Are you meeting somebody? Your parents? Your siblings? A girlfriend? I assume there's no Mrs. Quincy since there's no ring on your finger."

"Nia," Layla hissed, elbowing her zero-filter little sister in the side gently. "Maybe Q would just like a little peace and solitude. Or maybe he has a Valentine’s Day date he'd prefer not to tell your nosy behind about."

"I'd love to have dinner with you," Quincy's voice dipped lower when he responded to Nia's invitation. But his eyes were locked with hers.

Layla loosened the scarf around her neck and fanned herself with the collar of her shirt. Q, Nia, and Ms. Anna regarded her with knowing smiles.

"It's hot in here with the ovens in the back, and I'm wearing a lot of layers right now." Layla’s voice sounded way too defensive—even to her own ears.

Nia cackled and Ms. Anna could barely hide her grin. At least Q made the effort to hold back his smirk.

"Then let's grab a seat and get you out of all those clothes..." He cringed, and it reminded Layla of the shy little boy who’d often stumbled over his words. "I mean...your coat...obviously." Q cleared his throat. "Why don't you ladies grab a booth? I'll catch up with you. I just need to talk to Ms. Anna about something."

"Sounds good," Nia said, looping her arm through Layla's. "See you later, Ms. Anna!" she called over her shoulder.

"Nia Monique St. John what are you doing right now?" Layla whispered loudly as they headed for a booth.

"What you wouldn't," she replied matter-of-factly. "And you're welcome."