“It looks beautiful in here, Lily,” Jules said in awe as she looked around at the decor. “I love what you did with the hanging ornaments.”
Right before December started, I spent an evening decorating the café and turning it into a magical and festive holiday oasis.
Red, green, and white sparkly ornaments hung from the ceiling on clear string, looking like they were floating in the air. Balsam and eucalyptus garland was intertwined with string lights along the edge of the main counter. Each table had a mason jar centerpiece with fairy lights, mini ornaments, and Christmas florals inside.
That was in addition to my normal decor, which included chalkboards behind the register that I updated in cursive writing to detail what drinks were available. I had paintings and drawings from local artists of cats, local views, and abstract art on the walls.
Customers could also take their drinks into the adjoining room, where four to five cats roamed, slept, and waited for cuddles. All the cats were available for adoption through the Golden Falls Animal Shelter. There were places for customers to sit, as well as toys, cat trees, and window perches to keep the cats busy.
“And this”—Jules pointed to the gingerbread loaf I set in front of her and Eliza—“looks incredible. Pretty sure I smelled it all the way from Wes’s house.”
“It’s your house now, too,” I pointed out with a smile. “And I couldn’t have done the decorations without your brainstorming.” I owed a lot to her for how the café looked today. Not only did we talk through holiday decor, but Jules was an interior designer who helped me revamp my café over the summer. We rearranged the tables, painted the walls, and got new furniture, giving the café a refreshed feel on a limited budget.
I knew our friendship would have survived even if she had moved back to Chicago, but I couldn’t express how excited I was that she stayed in Golden Falls. Jules and my brother were perfect together, and I’d never seen him happier. He was smiling more than scowling these days.
I got to working on Eliza and Jules’s drinks while they browsed on their laptops.
“So, a lot of the articles about Nelson Group are what we already know,” Eliza said, tilting her head. “Lots of luxury housing, bringing in big chains to the commercial spaces, controversy over them pricing out small businesses, whichthey, of course, deny. Hal’s son Ron is one of the country’s most regarded real estate developers. They’re really successful, like almost crazy to believe how much they’ve grown. They’re incredibly profitable and worth a fuck-ton.”
I shook my head in disbelief. I couldn’t wrap my mind around having afuck-tonof money. And if I did, I’d like to think I’d use it for good—for helping people get housing, for creating development that benefited everyone—instead of only catering to the wealthy.
Gabriel and Nelson Group could say what they wanted, but I was convinced they would take this building and turn it into something our town didn’t need. They would run my business into the ground or price me out. The mere thought made my palms sweaty and my stomach nauseous.
“Let’s see. What about Gabriel…” Jules trailed off. “Gabriel Nelson.” She said his name slowly while typing.
I finished making two peppermint mochas—also known as Peppermint Paws on my holiday menu—and set them in front of Eliza and Jules.
I wiped my hands on a light-blue rag and draped it over the side of the sink.
Eliza and Jules had been silent during this whole time. Not a good sign.
“What—what are you finding?” I asked, leaning over the counter and trying to peer at the laptop screen.
Eliza and Jules looked at each other first and then back at me. This was only getting worse.
“He’s worse than we thought, isn’t he?” I asked.
“Depends on what you mean…” Jules trailed off. “He’s…”
“Yeah, he’s…” Eliza paused and waved me over. “Here, come see for yourself.”
Curious, I rounded the counter and stepped behind them to see what they were staring at. My lips parted slightly, and my jaw dropped. I quickly realized why they were speechless.
Calling Gabriel Nelson handsome didn’t do him justice. Even in the casual photos on his social media, he looked like he just wrapped up a GQ photoshoot.
Jules clicked on his most recent photo. He had a strong jawline, high cheekbones, and slightly tousled chocolate-brown hair. He was smiling softly, and his honey-brown eyes were focused on the camera.
This didn’t mean anything. So what if he looked like a model? He was getting in the way of plans I’d had for months. He was trying to take over my café—or worse, run it out of business. I didn’t know that for sure…but I couldn’t imagine based on Nelson Group’s reputation that he’d be in favor of keeping the building as it was. All of that mattered a hell of a lot more than how he looked. He could be the hottest guy on the planet, and I wouldn’t care. My business was way too important.
I closed my mouth, steeled my spine, and shook my head. “This changes nothing.” I pointed to the laptop. “I’m not going to get distracted by his good looks. That’s probably how he usually gets his way. I want nothing to do with him.”
“That’s good.” Eliza paused, chewing on her bottom lip before adding, “Because he’s exactly your type, Lil. Physically, at least.”
I scoffed, shaking my head. “No way. I don’t have a type.”
That was true—I really didn’t. I also didn’t really have a dating life, but that was beside the point. When you grew up in a small town, and then lived in said small town, your dating options were very,veryslim. Practically nonexistent, if I was being honest.
Most of the men in town I’d either known forever, had already gone on a date with and it didn’t work out, or theydisliked cats. I’d said it once, and I’d say it again, that last one was a major deal breaker. Over my dead body was I going to choose a man over two fluffy creatures who were the reason for my existence and well-being.
