In my peripheral, I was delighted to see a couple of younger guys had taken up residence in the chairs in the corner. They were engaged in a chess game—just as I’d envisioned.
I heard the kitchen door behind me open and assumed it was my employee bringing new supplies from the back.
“Gloria, can you—” I broke off and covered my mouth as I laughed.
Standing in front of me was Brutus wearing a Cup of Joy apron. The apron in and of itself wasn’t so funny, as it was the exact black and brown apron with the shop’s logo of a coffee cup pouring into a smile onto a woman’s face. The hilarity was that the apron was about three sizes too small for my man’s colossal frame.
Yet, Brutus wore it with pride. “This was the only available one you had in the back.” He frowned. “I should’ve gotten one specialty made for me.”
I swallowed. “What are you doing here?” I asked as he came to stand at the register next to me. I looked over him again. Underneath the apron he wore a light gray button-up and black suit pants. Apparently, he’d removed his suit jacket to put on the apron.
He’d rolled the sleeves to the elbow, showing off his solid and veiny forearms. I had to look away because why did even his forearms turn me on?
“I came to work,” he answered, casually.
“Work? Here?”
He grinned at me sideways. “Where else?”
“Your job,” I replied like it should’ve been obvious.
He leaned in and kissed my temple. “Today, this is my job. It’s the first day of your dream. You didn’t think I’d miss it, did you?”
“Yes,” I blurted out honestly. “You went to work this morning.”
He gave me a slight shake of his head. “I had to do a couple of things at the office this morning. Went in early to make sure the staff was on top of it all.” He paused and faced me, turning up the wattage on his smile. “But from here on out, I’m all yours.”
Brutus spread his arms wide as if to sayuse me however you want. My body heated at the images my mind started to conjure up. When I met Brutus’ eyes again, I could see my exact thoughts mirrored in his scorching gaze.
Someone cleared their throat, making me jump. I turned to a man standing in front of the register.
“I’d like to order a latte.”
I opened my mouth to greet him and take his order, but Brutus cut me off. “I’ll help you out.”
With the proficiency of a seasoned barista, Brutus took the man’s order. I stood there, watching him, slightly dumbfounded. This man never ceased to amaze me. How could I have ever doubted how important I was to him?
“Show rather than tell.”
My dad’s words echoed in my head. Brutus wasn’t much of a talker outside of people he didn’t feel comfortable around. But he showed his feelings in his actions.
“You can go talk to your customers,” Brutus said, once he completed the man’s order. He gestured toward the broader part of the shop, where a handful of customers lingered. “I know you want to speak to them. Go,” he insisted. “Gloria and I can handle the orders. Right, Gloria?”
“Right,” she answered without hesitation.
I popped up on my tiptoes and pressed a kiss to Brutus’ cheek, unable to stop myself. I started to move around the counter, but stopped. “Did you tell all of the Townsend wives to show up this morning?”
Truthfully, I knew the answer, but had to ask.
He wrinkled his forehead. “Tell?” He shook his head. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. Besides, didn’t you mention opening the shop at the gala?”
I had, but I don’t think I mentioned the exact date of my grand opening. I didn’t want to come across as if I were using Brutus or his connections to drum up customers. I was a saleswoman, yes, but I also understood the importance of relationships over business.
“Thank you,” I said anyway. There was no doubt in my mind that Brutus had at least mentioned that today was the opening day of Cup of Joy to the family.
With a lump in my throat, I moved from behind the counter into the main area of the shop. I spent the next hour or so talking with customers, getting to know them, and even playing a few rounds of chess with some patrons.
By the end of the day, my heart felt like it would explode from how full it felt. And as I closed up the shop for the first time, with Brutus right beside me, I wondered what, if anything, could stand in the way of this happiness.
