AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Here you go,” she said, a little too brightly, as she placed the mug down in front of him. Why couldn’t she keep her cool around this man?
“Thank you.” He gave her a sincere smile back and took a sip, never breaking eye contact. Kate simultaneously wanted the ground to swallow her up and to preen in front of him.
“Thank fuck. That’s a good cup of coffee.” He sighed as he placed the cup back down.
“So I’ve been told.”
He gave her a wry grin and she blushed again, walking back over to the counter as if she was walking on air. Suddenly, the day didn’t feel quite as calamitous as it had started.
CHAPTER6
KATE
To Kate’s relief, the rest of the day was a lot calmer than the lunchtime rush. She even had a moment to make herself a snack and use the restroom, which was a rarity when it was just her running the place.
Her mind was still whirring, even as she wiped down the tables and spoke with suppliers on the phone and poured more coffee. Except, when she should have been thinking about what to do about her current business predicament, she found herself spending more time wondering about the stranger who’d made himself at home in her cafe. He’d drunk his coffee and refused a second cup, asking if he could sit there a while longer since it was no longer as busy.
“Who’s the hottie at table twelve?” her friend Laura whispered as she picked up her usual afternoon latte.
“I wish I knew. He’s just been sitting there all afternoon.”
The two women looked over to where the man was sitting, bathed in the golden light coming through the window and looking like an actual supermodel as he circled something in the local paper. Kate felt her heart kick at the sight of him. She’d been sneaking glances all afternoon, unable to fully keep her eyes away from him.
“They don’t make them like that in Miller Springs.”
“They certainly don’t.”
Their giggles caused him to look up, and Kate and Laura whipped their heads back around, embarrassed to have been caught staring.
“He’s got bags with him, though?” Laura commented, raising an eyebrow.
“He seems to.”
“Maybe he’s staying in town somewhere?”
“I wish I knew, but all we’ve talked about is coffee.”
“Shame.” Laura sighed theatrically.
“Aren’t you, ahem, married?” Kate couldn’t help but laugh.
“I may be wed, my friend, but I’m not dead. I like to look at pretty boys as much as the next woman.”
“More, some would say.” Laura gave her a wink and then blew her a kiss as she headed out of the door.
The day continued much in the same vein. There wasn’t a lot of news to be had in a town like Miller Springs, and so the arrival of a handsome stranger was enough to send the town gossips atwitter, and they were all keen to grill Kate for information. Kate found herself shushing them almost constantly all afternoon, conscious that, if she were said handsome stranger, she wouldn’t want people gawping at her while she was just minding her business.
Her own curiosity was piqued, however, and it was frustrating her to not be able to answer any of the questions that were thrown her way throughout the day. He’d just been sitting there all afternoon, bags piled next to him, studying the local paper intently and occasionally circling things with a pen that he’d asked to borrow from her. Was he looking for apartments? Jobs? Reading the personal ads? Did they even still do personal ads in newspapers? It had never occurred to her to look.
When a lull descended, leaving the two of them alone in the cafe, Kate picked up her coffee pot and sidled over to his table.
“Refills are free.”
Her words jolted him out of his reverie and he shook his head, as if he’d been deep in thought. “They are?”
“Yes, it’s on the house.”
“Well, then, how could I refuse?”
