AllFreeNovel
Share Us
It was early Friday morning. Luna was unlocking the doors to the café when she spotted Ziggy and Marley coming over to greet Wiley. Luna was thrilled that Wiley had others to play with during the day. The dog-park idea was genius, and made working at the center especially convenient. Luna looked at the calendar. They had been open for a week, and she was checking her inventory. She was pleasantly surprised to discover that she had sold out of most of the espresso blend. She wasn’t sure if such a robust cup of coffee would be popular, but it was. People especially liked the lattes, so she was sure to have more milk on hand as well. Good thing Cullen had a refrigerator in his shop. She might have to take up some of the space with her supplies. It was a good problem to have.
Luna checked the calendar again. It had been almost two full weeks since she and Gaines had communicated. She wasn’t sure how to take it. Was he interested in her? Or was he not?Shake it off, girl.She stood still for a moment and put her thumbs and middle fingers together to form a small circle with each hand. She closed her eyes and took a long, deep breath and released it slowly. When she opened her eyes, it occurred to her Cullen still hadn’t moved the table. That was going to be next on her list. The past couple of weeks had gone by so quickly that she hadn’t had time to bug him about it.
After she finished her list, she walked over to the Flakey Tart to place her order for the next day. “Hello, Heidi! Looks like everyone has been busy this week.”
“You ain’t kiddin’,” Heidi called back from behind the counter. “What can I do for you?”
“I’m going to need more scones for tomorrow. At least two dozen, a dozen blueberry muffins, and a dozen crumb-cake muffins.” Luna smiled at Heidi.
“Can you believe it?” Heidi checked off the items on her pad. “I’m going to have to rethink my menu. Have a few different things but have a daily special. The oven is getting a workout!” They both chuckled.
“I’m still amazed at how Ellie pulled off this Herculean task,” Luna said with admiration.
“Right. And it was really smart to have a small selection of food. Keeps people here longer.”
“Good thinkin’,” Luna replied. “I’ll be by to pick everything up around eight thirty. Thanks for offering to bring it with you. Saves me a trip.”
“I have to come here anyway, plus I borrowed a van, so I don’t have to make more than one trip. Unless we sell out, in which case I’m going to have to wing it!” Heidi laughed.
“Do you have backup in your kitchen?” Luna had never thought to ask before.
“I keep some of the cakes in the freezer, but I don’t like to sell them. I usually save those for my son and his friends. They’re not very fussy. You know how adolescents can be,” Heidi noted.
Luna thought back for a second. “Sure do. My brother, Cullen, would bring a bunch of guys over after practice, and they would scour the kitchen for anything edible.”
“Must be in their genes,” Heidi joked.
“For sure. Gotta run. Have a groovy day.” Luna smiled.
“Groovy. Cool, man.” Heidi laughed at her own response.
Luna checked the time. Cullen should be opening his shop shortly. She was preparing to pounce on him about the table when he walked in with his hands in the air. “I know, I know, I know.”
Luna snickered. “You promised, and I have been a very good sister not nagging you about it.” She pouted in fun.
“You are correct.” Cullen gave her a kiss on the cheek. Luna returned the gesture they had long established since they were in college. “Want to give a look now?”
“We have about an hour before the center opens. Let’s do it!” Luna clapped her hands in excitement. “I’ll go turn on the coffee machine and be right back.”
Luna buzzed into the café and checked the machine. Full. Clicked the switches to the ON position. Everything was ready for the first customer. But just in case someone came looking for her while she was next door, she put up a tie-dyed sign with an arrow pointing to Cullen’s shop. The café was also on the honor system.
Luna scurried back to Cullen’s workshop. She was excited and anxious at the same time. She knew there was something about that table, and now she was about to prove it. She began to slip on a pair of cotton gloves.
Cullen gave her an odd look. “What are those for?”
“I don’t want to leave any fingerprints,” she said slyly.
“You’re kidding, right?” Cullen gave her another odd look.
“Kinda. I was hoping I could get one more week out of this manicure. I get them so rarely.” Luna held up her fingers. “See? Pretty, eh?”
“Very.” Cullen never noticed things like that on his sister. Other women, yes. Luna, not so much. He figured if she wanted him to notice something, she would be quick to bring it to his attention. Not that he wasn’t aware of his sister’s good looks. But it was more her aura that he appreciated and took notice of. He had to admit she had looked stunning the night of the opening. Maybe it was the marshal who had inspired that glow. He smiled.
“What?” Luna eyed him.
“Nothing.”
“Yeah. Right. Spill.” Luna nudged him.
