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I spend the rest of the morning researching the business, the property… the owner. From the little I could find, her grandparents opened the coffeehouse fifty years ago, and after they both passed away, she inherited it. She also lives in the building, which means she’s not only the business owner but the damn tenant—a fact I missed when I initially researched her. Her apartment lease is up in six months, so that’s not the issue. It’s the forty-nine-year lease on the business that’s the problem. By the time I’m done and ready to head back to Heart’s, my head is back on straight, and I have my priorities in order. Nothing will stand in the way of my future—not even a gorgeous, blue-eyed, twin-dimpled woman.
The second I step into the coffeehouse, Aubree greets me with those damn blue eyes and dimples. I quickly glance around and see that the shop is empty, which is what I was hoping for by showing up ten minutes before they closed.
“Hey, you came in this morning, right? Coffee and cupcakes. Were they so good you’re back for seconds?” She winks playfully as she wipes down the counter, and my dick, like the traitor it is, stretches behind my slacks.
“Actually, I was hoping I could talk to you.” I step toward her and reach out my hand. “My name is Hayden—” I begin, but before I can finish what I’m trying to say, a woman flies around the corner, moaning like she’s being fucked. Only instead of a man between her legs, there’s a brownie between her fingers.
“Oh my God, Bree. These brownies are seriously the best thing I’ve ever had.” When she realizes Bree isn’t alone, she laughs. “Sorry, but seriously, these are so good. Want to try one?” She grabs one from the case and puts it on a napkin. “They’re Bree’s new recipe.” She hands it to me over the counter. “Prepare to be blown away.”
I take the brownie and tear a piece off, popping it into my mouth, and holy fuck, she isn’t wrong. The chocolatey goodness practically melts in my mouth.
“Right?” the woman says knowingly. “I’m going to bring some home for my husband. One bite of this, and I’m soooo getting laid.” She waggles her brows, and Aubree slaps her playfully.
“Sorry about her,” Aubree says, her cheeks tinting an adorable shade of pink. “We try to keep her hidden in the back, but sometimes, she escapes.”
I chuckle at their banter. “It’s all good.”
“So are you back for another coffee?” she asks after a beat. “We’re about to close, but I can whip you up something.”
“Actually, I was wondering if you’d go out with me,” I blurt out, shocking the hell out of myself.
Aubree’s eyes go wide, and her friend chokes on the brownie she’s inhaling. I consider backtracking since that’s not why I came here. Instead, I find myself waiting for her answer, telling myself by going out with her, I can get close to her and see where her head’s at.
“That’s very sweet,” Aubree says, yet I can already tell by her tone that there’s a but coming. “But,” she continues, smiling sadly, “no.” She shakes her head. “You seem very nice.” Since she doesn’t know me, she can’t possibly know whether I’m actually nice, so I know she’s only saying that to let me down gently. I consider pushing the issue, but when I notice her eyes are a bit glassy, filled with what looks like genuine sadness, I nod and bow out.
“No worries,” I tell her, and then to save face, I add, “Could I get a couple of coffees and brownies to go? They really are good.”
She nods and then goes about getting my order ready while her friend rings me up. Once I have the drinks and food, I give her one last smile, then head out, wondering, not for the first time since I met this woman, what the hell has gotten into me. Until now, I’ve never had an issue separating work from my personal life, but something about this woman fucks with my head.
It’s for the best. Had she agreed to go out with me, it would’ve blurred the lines. I need to keep my head on straight and figure out how to convince her to let us buy her out of this ridiculous lease, so my dad will appoint me the new CEO. That’s been my goal since I was old enough to go work with him. It kept me motivated through four years of college and getting my real estate license. It’s what’s driven me the past eight years since I’ve graduated, and I have been working my way up, proving I’m capable of running Shea Real Estate Investments. Every day when I deal with my dad’s shit, I remind myself there’s a light at the end of the tunnel. I have a goal.
