He chuckled softly. “Of course you do. Everyone in this town works for a family business. It’s practically the law. But you’re a Comfort? You mean your branch of the Comforts still work at the hotel?”
She popped one shoulder in a shrug. “That’s Clear Creek for you.”
“Which Comfort line are you descended from?”
She grinned. “If you’re going all the way back, Rosie and Zachary Comfort.”
“Oh wow.”
“Let me guess: Seth and Eloise?” she said.
“Nope.”
“Constance and Ryder?” she guessed this time.
He pointed at her. “Bingo.
“That explains the accent.”
Tristan chuckled again.
“How long have you been away?” Lila asked.
“Forever, it seems. Eight years.”
“That’s a long time.”
“It is,” he said. “First time back.”
“Your mom must be thrilled.”
“‘Thrilled’ might not be the word,” he said dryly. “Exhaustingly delighted, maybe.”
Lila laughed and gestured to the empty tables. “So that’s why you’re hiding in a corner?”
He pressed his lips together then cringed. “Something like that.”
She leaned against a chair. “Well, if you’re here for quiet, you picked the wrong coffee shop. The people running this place aren’t exactly… how do I put it… mechanically inclined.”
He arched a brow. “Oh?”
“They refuse to use the espresso machine,” she said, exasperated. “They’re brewing coffee in old percolators in the back. I’m trying to teach them to use the equipment, but you’d think I was explaining rocket science.”
His eyebrows shot up. “You’re kidding.”
“I wish.” She lowered her voice. “I’m the only one who can manage the cappuccinos and lattes, and I barely know what I’m doing myself. But people love the coffee, so I can’t exactly complain.”
He laughed outright, warm and amused. “That’s different. I like it.”
She tried to laugh with him, then stopped mid-chuckle, as if realizing it really wasn’t funny. “For me, maybe not so much.”
“Well,” he said, still smiling, “I’m sure you’ll whip them into shape. Someone’s got to.”
“I hope so. After we close, I’m giving them a crash course in espresso basics. Maybe pour-overs if they don’t rebel first.”
He nodded. “Pour-overs I can understand. Tea’s more my speed these days. Living in England will do that to you.”
She wrinkled her nose playfully. “So you’re one of those now. The tea people.”
