AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I gave him the spiel, watching his eyes widen with interest. Soon, he had a sleeve-wrapped cup in hand, blowing the rising steam before taking a cautious sip.
“Wow,” he said, eyebrows shooting up. “This is really good!”
My chest swelled. As more people gathered around, delight spread through the crowd. We were onto something special here.
***
I watched through the window as the last customer left, the little bell above the door tinkling behind them. Finally, it was just Caleb and I left amidst Pebble’s Brew’s cozy warmth.
Caleb released a tired but satisfied sigh as he sank into a plush armchair in the corner. I couldn’t help but smile. Seeing the usually buttoned-up CEO relax like this gave me a flutter in my chest.
“We make a pretty good team, don’t we?” I said, handing him a steaming mug of the new blend.
Caleb accepted it with a nod. “We do. At first, I wasn’t sure about this whole ‘community’ thing, but... I think I’m starting to get it.”
“Oh, yeah?” I raised an eyebrow as I settled into the chair opposite him. “The great Caleb Masters is admitting he was wrong?”
“Don’t let it go to your head,” Caleb smirked, then grew thoughtful. “But really... you’ve shown me what it means to bring people together. How a business can be so much more than transactions and profit margins.”
I smiled softly, touched by his words. We sipped our coffee in a comfortable silence as the last of the sunset’s rays faded from the windows.
Chapter 23
Calebhadsomepaperworkto finish back at his office, so he left me to flip the sign to ‘Closed’ and clicked the lock shut on the front door of Pebble’s Brew. The day had been long and bustling, but it was over now, and I relished the quiet that settled around me. My little sanctuary, filled with the aroma of freshly ground coffee beans and baked goods, was even more inviting when the sun dipped below the horizon.
“Time to call it a night,” I muttered, stretching my arms overhead and arching my back to work out the kinks from being on my feet all day. As I turned off the last of the lights, a sudden knock on the glass door startled me. Blinking in surprise, I peered through the dimly lit interior to see Caleb standing outside, a sheepish grin on his face and a bottle of wine cradled in his arm.
“Zoe!” he called, tapping on the glass again. “Can I come in?”
I rolled my eyes for show, though my heart warmed at the sight of him. “Most people would wait until morning to get their caffeine fix.”
“Ah, but I’m not here for coffee,” he said, holding up the wine. “May I?”
“Fine,” I sighed dramatically, unlocking the door and stepping aside to let him in. As soon as he crossed the threshold, I locked the door again and couldn’t help the smile that tugged at the corners of my mouth. “So, what brings you here this late, bearing gifts?”
“Is it a crime to want to spend a little more time with my favorite barista?” he asked, his stormy blue eyes twinkling with mischief. “Besides, I thought we both deserved a little celebration after our hard work today.”
I raised an eyebrow in mock irritation, opening the door just enough for Caleb to slip inside. “Alright, but only because you clearly can’t take a hint,” I teased.
Caleb’s grin widened as he presented the wine bottle like a master sommelier. “In my defense, subtlety has never been my strong suit.”
“Clearly,” I said, taking the bottle from him. The label boasted a fancy script that I couldn’t decipher in the dim lighting, but the weight of it spoke of quality. “Well, come on,” I beckoned, leading him toward the back booth where a single candle flickered, casting warm shadows across the walls.
As we settled into the booth, I deliberately fetched two coffee mugs from behind the counter, pretending they were the only available vessels. I filled them with the rich, red wine, giving Caleb an innocent look as if to say, What else would you expect?
“Really?” he asked, amused. “Mugs?”
“Here at Pebble’s Brew, we keep it grounded,” I quipped, giving Caleb a playful shrug as I settled into the booth next to him. The candle’s flickering flame cast a warm glow on our faces, creating a cozy atmosphere that softened the edges of our past animosity.
“Grounded, huh?” Caleb chuckled, holding up his coffee mug filled with wine. “I’ll drink to that.”
The sound of our mugs clinking together was oddly comforting in the quiet café, like the echo of laughter shared between old friends. I took a sip, savoring the rich flavor that danced upon my tongue, before glancing over at Caleb’s watchful eyes.
“Are you trying to impress me with your fancy wine?” I teased, raising an eyebrow.
“Is it working?” he shot back, a mischievous grin playing on his lips.
“Maybe just a little,” I admitted, a smile tugging at the corner of my mouth.
