“Anytime,” I reply, surprised to find I mean it. “Good luck with the rest of the setup. Thanks for the latte.”
“Nate?” I turn back to find him fidgeting with a coffee filter. “The Winter Wishes Festival is coming up. Olivia suggested I should have a coffee booth. She said it’s the perfect way to meet everyone in Maplewood, you know? Apparently, half the town shows up for it.” He lets out a small laugh. “I’m thinking of some special winter drinks, maybe those muffins you seemed to like—though hopefully better than the ones I brought over.
“Olivia is helping me get a spot near the center, close to where they’re setting up the Wishing Tree. I was wondering… If I get it…maybe you could stop by? If you’re going, that is. No pressure though,” he adds quickly, those dark eyes hopeful despite his casual tone.
The automatic no dies on my lips. “Maybe,” I say instead.
His whole face lights up again. That smile should be classified as a dangerous weapon. It makes me want to say yes to anything he suggests. As I head into the cold evening air, I can’t help thinking that I’m going to be in so much trouble with my beautiful neighbor. The kind of trouble that starts with winter spice lattes and ends with my carefully constructed walls crumbling around me.
CHAPTER 8
CASPIAN
I can’t wipe the smile off my face as I unlock my front door, still riding high from today’s accomplishments at Special Blend. Every surface gleams, ready for customers, and I can already picture the comfortable buzz of conversation filling the space. The espresso machine shines like new, and the display case stands empty but spotless, waiting for pastries.
I’ve arranged the mismatched mugs—all carefully selected from thrift stores—in neat rows behind the counter, but I still need a bookcase along the back wall for my bookstore corner.
Even the exposed brick walls sparkle after a thorough washing, and the wooden floors glow warmly under the pendant lights I installed last week. The cozy reading nooks with their plush armchairs are perfectly positioned, just waiting for readers to sink into them with their lattes and novels.
The only cloud in my perfect sky is the vacant baker position, but theHelp Wantedsign in the window gives me hope. I might need to hire another barista too, especially once the bookstore section is up and running.
Kicking off my shoes, I flop onto the couch, but relaxation eludes me. My mind keeps drifting back to New Year’s Eve, to heated kisses and strong hands in the dark. I groan, pressing the heels of my hands against my eyes. That mysterious stranger has taken up permanent residence in my thoughts, and my body hasn’t forgotten him either.
“Get it together,” I mutter, standing to pace. Back in Phoenix, I’d know exactly where to go to blow off some steam, but Maplewood is still uncharted territory. I’m not even sure if there’s a gay bar nearby, and there’s no way I’m driving all the way to Burlington. Although the idea has some merit. Maybe before I open Special Blend for good, I should drive back to Burlington, grab a hotel room for the night, and hit up that same club.
Not that I’m hoping to meet my secret maple-leaf beauty spot guy. That would be a silly expectation.
A knock at the door startles me from my thoughts. When I open it, Nate fills the doorframe, looking unfairly attractive in a thick sweater that hugs his broad shoulders.
“Hey,” he says, offering that slight smile that makes his eyes crinkle. “You free?”
“Oh! Hi! Yes, totally free. Like, completely and utterly free. Just sitting here being free,” I babble, then cringe at my overenthusiastic response. But can anyone blame me when he’s standing there looking like that?
“Want to go ice skating on the lake?”
I bark out a laugh before I can stop myself. “You want me to strap knives to my feet and walk on frozen water? That’s a hard pass.”
Nate’s laugh is rich and warm. “It’s fun, I promise. I won’t let you fall.”
“I don’t know…” I hesitate, my traitorous mind immediately conjuring images of his strong arms catching me, holding me close.
“Come on, city boy. Live a little,” he says with that subtle half-smile that makes my stomach do backflips.
“Fine,” I concede, already reaching for my warmest jacket. “But if I die, I’m coming back to haunt you.”
Nate eyes my jacket with disapproval. “That’s not going to cut it. You got anything warmer?”
“Shopping’s been pretty low on my priority list lately.”
“Come with me,” Nate says, gesturing toward his house. I grab my keys and pull the door closed behind me, following him next door to his place.
Inside his entryway, Nate reaches behind his door, where several coats hang on wooden pegs. He pulls down a thick winter coat and holds it out to me. “Here, you need something warmer than that lightweight jacket you’ve got on. Can’t have you freezing out there on the ice.”
The moment I slip it on, I’m enveloped in Nate’s scent—something woodsy and a hint of something familiar that makes my pulse quicken. Thank god the coat is long enough to hide my body’s immediate response.
Stop having thoughts about your potentially straight neighbor who maybe has a girlfriend. And she’s really nice too.Bad Caspian.
“So, um, how’s Addy doing?” I ask as we drive to the lake, trying to make conversation and remind myself why this attraction is pointless. “Is she busy tonight?” She must be if he asked me to come ice skating with him.
