Page 16 of Unspoken Love

She removed her rain coat and hung it on the hook, then set her umbrella and purse inside.

“If you want to bring food, we have an empty bin.” He opened the fridge.

Inside, there were clear containers with small chalk stickers on them. “You can write your name on the empty one. Rule is, if it’s not in your bin, it’s free game.” He smiled.

“Something tells me you’ve gotten a lot of free food that way.” She laughed along with him.

“Come on, I’ll show you around the rest of the place.”

Nate led her out of the break room and into the main space. He quickly pointed out the different book sections as they passed them and was getting the cash register all turned on just as the first few customers filed in.

“Okay,” he said, rubbing his hands together. “First thing to know—everyone thinks this is the best spot to hang out when it rains. Be patient, smile, and keep the coffee flowing.”

Faye gave him a mock salute. “Got it. Smiles and caffeine.”

He showed her the touchscreen register first, walking her through how to take drink orders, add modifiers, and ring up pastries, which had been delivered by the bakery down the street.

She caught on to everything quickly, and after she took her first order all by herself, she was able to pick up the rhythm without a problem.

“You’ve done this before,” he said, watching her.

“I worked part-time at a coffee shop in high school,” she said, handing a receipt to a customer. “It was less techy than this, but close enough.”

She moved easily behind the counter, asking questions and taking mental notes. He showed her how to grind espresso, how to steam oat milk without foaming it into oblivion, and how to fix the milk steamer when it inevitably gave attitude.

By mid-morning, the place was packed. A group of drenched tourists huddled near the fireplace, a mom and her three kids made a beeline for the children’s section, and a line snaked from the counter to the door. Rain pelted the windows like it had something to prove, and Nate was running on adrenaline and caffeine.

“Hey, want to help that mom out?” he asked, motioning with his elbow. “Show her the kids section—there’s a couple bean bags and crayons over there.”

“On it,” she said, already stepping out from behind the counter.

He watched her crouch down and talk gently to one of the kids, pointing them toward a shelf of brightly colored books. The mom mouthed a grateful “thank you” as her toddler started flipping pages like it was Christmas morning.

Nate watched her as she worked and had to admit that she fit in perfectly.

A little while later, he handed her a towel to wipe down tables and caught her laughing with a couple of high school girls browsing the YA shelf. She was light and open—approachable in a way that drew people in.

When the main rush finally slowed after lunch, he ran down the street to pick up another order of pastries from Sarah’s Nook and then walked her through restocking the pastry case.

“You’re a natural,” he said as she rang up a couple of lattes and a lemon scone. “And you didn’t even spill anything today.”

“Yet,” she said, grinning. “Don’t jinx it.”

They both looked toward the door as another group came in, umbrellas dripping and jackets soaked.

Faye smiled. “Rainy days are insane.”

“You’re surviving,” he said with a grin, handing her a fresh towel. “I’ll get this one. You clear the tables.”

Finally, the rain eased and the rush died down. The sky outside had turned a soft silver-blue, and the floor was dotted with muddy boot prints, which Nate was wiping up with a mop. Faye leaned against the counter, sipping a hot tea.

“Still gotta love a rainy day,” he said over the mop.

She smiled at him over the rim of her cup. “Are sunny days this busy too.”

“Depends on the season.” He dumped the mop in the bucket and rolled it behind the counter. “And if we have new books in stock.”

“Who doesn’t love new books,” she said, and her gaze held his for a second longer than it needed to.