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“Well…” I pick up my mug and tip it in her direction. “Glad we cleared that up.”
Whimsical laughter floats through the early morning air. A few people look our way then turn their attention back to their table.
“So long as I own this place, my life will always be busy. Comes with the territory.” Her hands lift from the table then drop. “But each year, business is better. Income exceeds expenses more and more. I’m able to hire more staff and lighten my workload.”
In this moment, I want to be selfish. I want to ask what this might mean for us. If there is a chance at anus. Gabby may have made me swear off commitment because ofherdoubts, but with Alessandra… I am willing to put my heart on the line again.
This time around, it feels different. Less scary.
Maybe it is the fact I walked the path that led to heartbreak. Maybe it’s that we are both mature and have solid ground beneath our feet—well, in everything except relationships. Whatever the reason, this ache in my chest… I don’t feel it when she is near. When she is near, life feels right. Serene. Stable. Complete.
I don’t want to let her go. So I dip my toes in the shallow end of the selfish pool.
“Would you be willing to try?” I ask and her brows tug at the middle. “A relationship.”
She rolls her lips between her teeth. “I, uh…”
I hold up a hand. “You don’t have to answer right now.” I spin the mug on the table, my eyes homed in on the action. “Just think about it. It’d obviously be semi–long distance. Your life is here and I live in Seattle.”For now, I want to add but don’t. We barely know each other, best not to jump the gun.
“Yeah, I’ll think about it.” Wood scrapes concrete as she rises from the chair. “Probably should get back. Will you be here a while?”
My eyes roam the street. Men and women trail the sidewalks, pausing at storefronts to peek through windows. Some with bags on their arms, others with frozen confections or pastries. Children skip ahead while parents walk hand in hand. It is the perfect backdrop to stir my creative juices. Sitting in the middle of town while I write, the words should flow without trouble. And if I get stuck, I simply need to take in the sights.
“If that’s okay.”
“Of course it is.” Her fingers fumble with her apron strings. “Talk to you later?”
“Later.”
And with that, she tucks the chair in and walks off.
Coming back to Lake Lavender was the right move. I should send Dad a quick thank you. Without his and Shawn’s push, I wouldn’t be here. I wouldn’t have seen Alessandra again. And I wouldn’t have another opportunity at whatever this is building between us.
Try as we might, there is no denying our connection. If I am lucky, she will say yes. Give the long-distance thing a shot. See if our chemistry is equally strong outside the bedroom. She may be reluctant to say yes, but her eyes tell another story—as does her body—and she wants more too. Fingers crossed, she will take the leap.
CHAPTER23
ALESSANDRA
“What the hell?”
I throw the car into park, shoulder my purse, and exit the vehicle. Eyes glued to the building, I press the lock button on my fob as I walk toward the end of the building. I shield my eyes from the security light on the top corner of the building as I near the corner. Squinting to get a better look, my jaw falls open at the bright-yellow spray paint on the brick.
The construction crew left a little more than an hour ago, but nothing they are doing in the café involves yellow paint. This isn’t them.
When I reach the spot, I lean in closer. The paint appears to still be wet.Maybe one of the workers saw something before they left.
I pull my phone from my purse and scroll through my contacts. Landing on the general contractor's name for the project, I hit call and hold the phone to my ear. As the phone rings, I pace toward the patch of grass and garden between Java and Teas Me and the next building.
Years ago, this was a side service alley. To beautify Main Street, the town changed how delivery vehicles accessed the backs of the stores. Many of these offshoot service alleys were turned into gardens or outdoor seating. Between Java and Teas Me and Harvey’s Homemade Candies, the town planted two evergreens and an array of flowers. The old crosswalk was now a wide sidewalk. And with the closing of the service alley, I was able to add a little more space to my outdoor seating—the small extension housed an additional four tables. During the construction, this section of the patio is expanding and more than half the seating will be enclosed. Large windows will give the feel of being outside, but customers will be protected from the elements.
On the third ring, the call connects. “Hey, Lessa. What’s up?” Sheila answers, voice thick with sleep.
“Hey, sorry to call so early.” I pivot and turn back toward the building. As I do, my eyes go wide. “Oh my god,” I mutter as I lift my hand to my mouth.
Rustling sounds on the other end of the phone. “Lessa, what’s wrong?”
I rotate my head. Look left then right. Look for any sign someone may still linger nearby. But there isn’t a soul in sight. Most people aren’t awake at dark-thirty in the morning. My gaze drifts back to the building, eyes examining the mass of yellow spray paint on the brick.
