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“In the dentist’s chair getting a root canal.”
“Ouch.” Instinctively Nell sucked air between her teeth.
“Reminds me to get a local dentist.”
“Are you working a double? Couldn’t you get anyone to cover?”
“Charlene’s kid’s home sick. Rob has two classes today and finals coming up, so I didn’t want to pull him in. I’d have tried Becs but she worked a double yesterday because Charlene has a sick kid. The Lodge has a private event so it didn’t make sense to tap them when I could come in. It’s fine. I’ve got it.”
“How sick? Which kid? Jack or Lilah?”
“Jack, and his fever broke this morning. He’s better.” And it mattered, Morgan thought, that Nell had asked, and knew the names of Charlene’s children.
“Okay then. My brothers are coming in. We’re having a meeting, grabbing some food.” She glanced at her watch. “I’m early. Miles will be on time. Liam will be late.” Sliding onto a stool, she tapped the sign placed in front of sprigs of lavender in a bud vase. “So?”
“Moving nicely. Group of five—spa packages, annual repeaters—ordered two rounds. Want to try one?”
“Not yet. My mother said the one you had delivered to her wasdelicious. That was cagey of you, pinning her location, sending her one. I respect cagey.”
“I’m glad she liked it.”
“She did. Actually, I could use a latte.”
“How about a lavender latte?”
The look that crossed Nell’s face combined fascination with horror. “Are you joking?”
“I’m not. You game?”
“If I say no, I’m a weenie. And that’s more cagey.”
“You’re no weenie.” Morgan walked to the coffee machine. “If you don’t like it, I’ll make you a regular. I heard about the new summer event—the Picnic by the Lake.”
“Really?” Shifting, Nell watched Morgan work. “Word travels.”
“It does if you listen. It’s a great idea. Yours?”
“Something my mother and I came up with brainstorming.”
“Good brains. I’m going to have staff fighting duels to work it. And it’s a way to keep things fresh and new. Like a lavender latte,” she said as she set the oversize cup in front of Nell.
“We’ll see about that. Have you heard about the ropes course?”
“No. I’m obviously not listening hard enough. You’re adding a ropes course?”
“It’s Liam’s baby, and why we’re meeting today, or mostly.” She paused to take a cautious sip of coffee. Then another. “And okay, this is really good. Who the hell thinks of things like this?”
“I think it got its jump start in Asia.”
“Wherever.” She sipped again. “I’ll have my assistant make up another sign. Which, from the smug look on your face, you hoped for.”
“Is this my smug look?” Morgan patted her hands on her face. “I thought I put on my quietly satisfied look. Something like this wouldn’t have gone over at the Next Round, but with your clientele, it’ll work. Keep it priced for the season the same as a standard latte—the cost in additional ingredients and labor is minimal—and we’ll move it.”
“Done. Miles.” Nell shifted again as her brother walked in. “Taste this.”
He shook his head, looked at Morgan. “Black coffee. Did you shift to days?”
“Root canal,” Nell began, “sick kid, finals. She’s pulling a double. One taste.”
