“Back already?”she asked.
“Told you I’d be,” I said, and set the coffee down on the counter.“Hazelnut latte.Extra foam.”
Her eyes widened.“How did you—”
“I called,” I said.“Your girl clued me in.”
“Marcy,” Belle hissed.
Marcy grinned from the prep table.“You’re welcome.”
Belle laughed, the sound softer than it’d been the first time I’d heard it.“Thank you.”She took a sip, closed her eyes briefly, and sighed.“Okay.You’re officially my favorite customer.”
I leaned in a little.“High honor.”
Her cheeks pinked.“Um, did you need something, or were you just wanting to bring me a coffee?”she asked.
I shrugged.“Don’t need anything.”
“Um, okay?”she laughed nervously.
“Belle,” a young guy called.“I need your help with this gingerbread house.I can’t get the windows to open.”
Belle took a quick sip of her drink, then set it down beside the cash register.“Uh, I need to help Owen.”
I held up my hands.“I don’t want to keep you from your work, doll.”
The gray dog let out a bark.
“Pepper,” Belle scolded.“You know there’s no talking when we’re open.”
I walked over to Pepper and scratched his ear.“He’s just excited to see me again.”I glanced at the other dog.“Not too sure he feels the same.”
“Salt is a little more guarded than Pepper, but he’s just as sweet.”
The red and white Aussie looked at me timidly, but I could tell he was interested in getting some attention like Pepper was getting.
“Belle,” the guy called again.
“Better go help him, doll, before your next rush comes in.”I stood and grabbed my coffee off the counter.
She gave me a soft smile, then headed to the long prep table filled with gingerbread pieces and bags of icing.
I stayed—not hovering or in the way, though.Just… there.I took up residence at one of the small round tables in the corner and just watched what Cookie Haven was all about.Pepper lay right at my feet, while Salt moved closer but still kept some distance between us.
It was busy as hell.Belle was back and forth between the display cases and building gingerbread and icing cookies.
At one point, I got up to grab a napkin, and Belle brushed past me in the narrow space next to the counter to hand a customer their order, and her arm brushed against mine.
It was electric.
She froze too—just for a second.
Then she moved on like nothing had happened, but I could tell she felt exactly what I did.
The way her hands shook when she handed the customer their order.Her eyes darted toward me, then away.She was trying her best to act like I wasn’t there, but she was very much aware.
I could also tell she was tired.I had only been watching her for a little bit, but I was tired just watching her.
