As far as Cassie was concerned, everything about the kiss was exactly as it should be.
Because it was with Luke.
* * *
Luke tried to concentrate as they served pancakes and sausage links at The Forgotten Heroes Homeless Shelter. But in truth, he was still reeling from kissing Cassie. She turned him inside out, satisfying his soul, yet making him crave more. Even now, dressed in a hairnet and latex gloves, she set his pulse on edge.
“Luke.” Cassie turned to him, a teasing smile tugging at her lips. “Bert claims the coffee here is the best in the city.”
“That’s a pretty lofty claim.” Luke turned his attention to the scruffy veteran who’d returned for a second serving of flapjacks. “Are you sure about that, Bert?”
“I’d stake my life on it.” The old man placed his hand over his heart.
“In that case, I’ll have to give it a try.” Cassie grabbed a small paper cup from the stack, and pumped a thimble-sized amount from the air pot.
“Come on. You gotta have more than that,” Bert insisted. “I promise. Best coffee on the west coast.”
“Whoa! The entire west coast, huh? We’re really raising the bar.” Luke laughed as Cassie filled her cup to the brim.
Luke watched with a fond smile as Cassie brought the rim to her lips, recalling the very first moment he saw her—the moment that changed everything. Amused, he wondered if she’d spit this coffee out, too.
Cassie’s eyebrows lowered in hesitancy as she took a sip. But as the liquid touched the tip of her tongue, her head jerked up in surprise.
“See?” Bert nodded, a grin stretched across his weather-worn face. “I told you.”
“It’s that good, Cass?” Luke asked, still a bit skeptical.
“Not only that…” Cassie said slowly, taking another sip. Her eyes met Luke’s with a look of confusion. “It’s familiar.”
“What do you mean ‘familiar’?”
Cassie stared into the cup as though studying its contents for a clue. “I… I think I roasted this coffee.”
Luke frowned. “How is that possible?”
Cassie handed him the paper cup. “I don’t know, but taste it. It’s my blend. The first one I made with Frank.”
“Are you sure?” Luke tasted the sultry liquid, rolling it around in his mouth before swallowing. His palate wasn’t nearly as refined as Cassie’s, but it did taste vaguely familiar. And unbelievably delicious.
“Bert,” Cassie smiled at the old man, “do you know where this coffee comes from?”
He shrugged. “No idea. It’s here every morning, that’s all I know.”
“Will you excuse us for a minute?” she asked, grabbing Luke’s hand.
Bert nodded, apparently content to return to his breakfast before it got cold.
Excitement illuminating her face, Cassie tugged Luke toward the kitchen.
* * *
Breathless, Cassie pushed through the swinging double doors leading into the kitchen.
“You don’t really think it could be…” Luke trailed off, following close behind her.
Cassie’s eyes dazzled with the possibilities as she glanced over her shoulder. “I’m not sure. But it would make sense, wouldn’t it? Frank never did tell me what he does with all the coffee he roasts.”
Luke seemed to consider this as they paused in the chaos of the breakfast cleanup.
