"Please. We're professionals. We have exact calculations for how late we can be while still appearing fashionably unbothered."
Liam chuckled, a genuine laugh transforming his entire face.Damn, I was in trouble.
"Coffee?" He nodded toward the mug already in front of him.
As if summoned, the waitress appeared with a fresh pot of coffee. "You must be the architect? I'm Marlene. I run this place," she said, filling the empty mug on the table.
"Gisselle. How did you?—"
"Chile, it's Goodwin Grove. News travels faster than the internet. Are you ready to order, or do you need a minute? She winked at Liam, who grinned widely.
"I hear the pancakes are the best in town," I answered, meeting Liam's eyes over my coffee mug.
"Yes, ma'am," Marlene replied.
"I'll take blueberry pancakes with a side of bacon, and maybe some fruit if you have it," I decided.
"Short stack, eggs over easy, turkey bacon," Liam added.
"Coming right up. And Lieutenant, try not to scowl so much. You'll scare her off."
I bit my lip to keep from laughing as Marlene walked away.
"How did you sleep?" Liam asked, clearing his throat.
The unexpected thoughtfulness of the question, referencing our text conversation last night, caught me off guard. "Yeah, my first night without smoke dreams since the fire."
"Good." He nodded, adding more cream to his coffee.
"How about you? Did you sleep well?"
"Better than usual. Though my sister kept texting me ridiculous dating advice until midnight."
I raised an eyebrow. "Dating advice. I wondered if this was an official date," I noted, grinning.
"Yeah, if that's okay with you."
"More than okay. Though I should warn you, I haven't been on a proper breakfast date since college."
"What constitutes an improper breakfast date?" he asked, eyebrow raised.
I giggled. "Wouldn't you like to know?" I teased as heat spread through my core.
We enjoyed more small talk before the arrival of our food broke the moment, plates piled high with food. We fell into an easy conversation as we ate.
"How's the community center design coming along?" Liam asked, reaching for the syrup at the same time I did, but he let me take it first.
"It's challenging. The building has great bones, which is a plus."
"Your vision is what this town needs."
I looked up. "You sound pretty sure about that."
Liam shrugged, cutting into his eggs. "I've seen what happens when a town refuses to evolve. It dies slowly. Goodwin Grove needs new energy and fresh ideas. People like you."
"People like me, huh?" I smiled.
"Yeah, people who see possibility here, where others only see what used to be."
