The Coffee Cove was crowded wall-to-wall for a Saturday morning, with familiar faces filling every table and a line of locals stretching out the door. Word of the kiss had spread quickly through town, drawing curious residents eager for gossip.
I tamped grounds with perhaps more force than necessary and pulled another shot of espresso. Sleep had evaded me most of the night, leaving me with dark circles under my eyes and a mind that wouldn’t stop replaying the events at Barnacle Brews the previous evening.
My lips still tingled with the phantom sensation of Jack’s mouth against mine. The memory of his kiss—firm but gentle, hesitant yet somehow confident—ambushed me at random moments and sent an unexpected flutter through my stomach. No kiss had ever left me so completely disoriented.
It was the unexpectedness, I told myself. The public setting. The adrenaline of the confrontation with Brad. It had nothing to do with the fact that it was Jack—my best friend, my rock, the one person who’d been a constant in my life for over a decade. Of course it didn’t.
And yet…I couldn’t deny how my hand had moved of its own accord to the back of his neck and kept him there for just a moment longer than necessary. How the taste of him—hops from the IPA mixed with something distinctly Jack—had made me forget we were in a crowded brewpub with half the town watching.
“Earth to Cooper.” Jessica waved a hand in front of my face. “That milk is done.”
I blinked, suddenly aware of the pitcher in my hand, steam billowing out as the milk threatened to overflow. “Right. Thanks.”
I finished the decaf vanilla latte I was making for Mrs. Abernathy and slid it across the counter. She accepted it with an astute smile.
“You seem distracted this morning.” Her eyes twinkled behind her bifocals. “Though I suppose that’s understandable, given the excitement last night.”
My cheeks warmed. “News sure travels fast.”
“Oh, honey.” She patted my hand. “When Seacliff Cove’s most eligible bachelor finally gets himself a boyfriend—and it’s his best friend who’s been mooning over him for months—people are going to talk.”
“Jack hasn’t been…” Had he been secretly yearning for me all this time? Could that explain his enigmatic glances, laden with meaning I couldn’t decipher? Was I that oblivious?
“You two make a lovely couple.” She gave my hand another pat before she took her latte and book to her usual table in the back.
I busied myself with the next order and tried not to let my gaze drift to the corner by the windows where Jack sat concentrating on his phone. He’d arrived an hour after opening. He’d looked as sleepless as I felt and ordered an Americano with an extra shot. We’d exchanged awkward pleasantries. Neither ofus mentioned the kiss or Isabelle’s enthusiastic drafting of us as the event’s “cutest couple.”
The bell above the door jingled, and Garrett Walker entered with his five-year-old son, Noah, in tow. His boyfriend, the bestselling author Ethan Quinn brought up the rear. As a deputy sheriff, Garrett had his finger on the pulse of the community.
“Cooper!” Garrett’s voice carried across the shop. “There’s the man of the hour!”
I suppressed a groan and plastered on my customer service smile. “Morning, Garrett.” I nodded. “Noah. Ethan.”
“Dad told Mr. Ethan that you and Mr. Jack are dating,” Noah announced with the bluntness only children could get away with. “Does that mean Mr. Jack gets free coffee?”
“Noah,” Garrett admonished, though he was clearly fighting a smile.
“That’s a good question, bud.” I stalled for time. “What can I get you this morning?”
“The usual, please. Large black coffee for me, hot chocolate for Noah, and a large pumpkin spice latte for Ethan.” Garrett leaned across the counter and lowered his voice. “And seriously, Cooper, it’s about time. The tension between you two was getting ridiculous.”
“We weren’t?—”
“Save it.” Garrett winked. “Ethan and I had a bet going. He said you’d hold out until Valentine’s Day, but I knew it would happen sooner.”
I turned to make their drinks, grateful for the momentary escape. What was going on? Had the entire town been speculating about Jack and me? And why hadn’t I noticed? I shook my head. I reallywasdense.
As I worked, I couldn't help glancing toward Jack’s corner again, where he was talking to Ethan. Jack’s hands moved animatedly as he spoke. I stared at the way his fingers flexedand remembered how they’d felt against my shoulders last night, steady and reassuring.
I tore my gaze away, unsettled by the direction of my thoughts.
A few minutes later, I announced, “Garrett. Order’s up.” I set the drinks on the counter.
“Thanks, Coop.” Garrett paid and dropped a generous tip in the jar. “By the way, Isabelle’s already talking about you two being the kings of the Valentine’s Day dance. Better you than Ethan and me.” He gave a dramatic shiver. He lowered his voice and leaned in. “Mason and Caleb feel the same way—they’re going to stuff the ballot box with your names.”
“Great,” I muttered, not even attempting enthusiasm.
“If you win, just smile, wave, and try not to trip during your solo dance.” He chuckled, his grin smug.
