Chapter 1
Aubrey
My morning shiftat The Cozy Corner is always the same. The neon “OPEN” sign buzzing like it’s about to short-circuit and fry us all, sunlight coming through dusty blinds, oldies coming from the jukebox because nobody but Mrs. Ethan ever remembers to change the playlist.
The coffee smells and even tastes burned, no matter how fresh it is, and I’m starting to think that stupid machine personally hates me. I run my hands through my hair, tucking some loose strands under my headband, and paste on the same fake smile I wear every damn day for the regulars. Handing out menus nobody actually looks at, pouring cups of black sludge we are pretending is coffee, writing down orders I already know by heart.
Mr. Halpern is already in his spot at the counter, newspaper spread out, with his glasses halfway down his nose. He gives me a small nod, one you would expect from your grandpa. “You got a hot date tonight, Miss Aubrey?” His tone was warm. It’s the same question he’s asked every Friday for a year.
I roll my eyes, grinning. “If you count me, Netflix, and a bag of extra-butter popcorn, then yeah, I’m beating the boys off witha stick.” He laughs, the sound rough but real. I give him a playful wink, refilling his coffee, and sliding in a slice of cherry pie.
In Crystal Falls, pie for breakfast is practically a religion. We don’t judge.
Across the diner, Mrs. Ethan is wrestling her twin boys into a booth. One screeches, while the other shoves a wad of napkins in his mouth. “Sorry, Aubrey, they’re running wild today!” she calls out, cheeks flushed.
“It’s cool, Mrs. E. I can handle wild.” Grabbing two hot chocolates and setting them down before the twins can start a food fight.
“No more snacking on napkins, all right, boys?” They start to giggle, and for a second, it’s just another morning…predictable, slightly chaotic, but safe.
The kitchen door swings open, and Gina, my favorite line cook, walks out. “Hey, Gi, your mom called, said to remind you not to forget to bring home milk and to tell you she’s sorry about last night.” Gina raises an eyebrow, lips twitching, knowing I’m aware of the fight she had with her mom. Just like everything in this damn town is everyone’s business.
“If she calls back, tell her I’ll survive,” she mutters, shoving her phone into her apron pocket.
Sometimes I think I’ll spend the rest of my life in this town…die here, buried under a pile of pie crusts and broken dreams. Then the bell above the door rings, cutting through the chatter of the crowd. I glance up, and it’s like time stands still, and the air gets stuck in my lungs.
He walks in. Leather jacket. Messy dark hair. Broad shoulders, muscles straining, tattoos peeking from the collar of his shirt. He moves with confidence but is hyper-aware of his surroundings, eyeing every corner, every window, taking in the exits. The whole vibe of the diner shifts. Gina pops her head out of the kitchen, eyeing him, and mouths, “Whoa.”
Even Mrs. E stops mid-sentence, eyes wide. Nobody who looks like that ever comes through Crystal Falls unless they’re lost or running from something. He’s definitely not from around here. But there’s something about him… Why does he look so familiar?
Then it hits me…hard, like a gut punch. Garrett and Annie’s wedding. My almost-wedding day. The day I drank too much champagne and pretended I wasn’t supposed to be the bride. The barn out back, behind the inn. Fairy lights, the smell of hay and spilled beer. I remember this man’s mouth on mine, pushing me up against the rough wood, desperate to forget everything I’d lost for one night. His hands on my hips, the way he looked at me like I was worth something.
Fuck. My face goes hot, and I know I’m blushing so hard everyone can see it. I nearly drop the coffee pot. He picks a booth in the back of the diner…of course he does. With his back to the wall, and eyes facing the door. The regulars whisper, stealing glances, but he ignores them. My heart is pounding, my hands shaking. I try to play it cool, grab a menu, and head over to his table. Each step feels like a dare. I wonder if he’ll even remember me, or if I’m just another girl from a one-night stand, he’s already forgotten.
He glances up, gaze landing on me full force…gray eyes—sharp, unreadable. He gives me a little smirk, and I swear my legs almost give out.
“Hey,” I say, my voice somehow steadier than my insides. “Welcome to The Cozy Corner. Are you new to town, or just passing through?”
He lets that cocky smirk linger. “Just needed a place to land for a minute.”
There’s something dangerous about him, in the way he looks at me, like he can break me or save me and doesn’t care which. The kind of danger that makes you want to lean in and run allat once. “Do you want coffee?” I ask because it’s safe, and I need something to do with my hands. “Warning: it tastes like shit, but it’ll do the job.”
His laugh is deep and rough, slides right down my spine, lighting me up in all the wrong places. “Sure. Surprise me.”
I pour his coffee, noticing how unsteady my hands are, thank you, muscle memory…and bring it over. When I set it down, his fingers brush mine. It’s only for a second, but it’s like a spark that goes straight to my core. My breath catches. He sees it. He knows.
“So,” I say, fidgeting with my apron string. “What brings you to Crystal Falls? Not much here unless you’re into deer, fishing, or gossip.”
He shrugs, eyes never leaving me. “Just looking for a little peace and quiet.”
There’s something in his voice…something that says he’s lying or at least hiding something. But then again, who isn’t? I know I should walk away. Run as far away from him as I can. Instead, I stand there like an idiot, letting the energy between us burn. It’s reckless, raw…a little fucked up. And I like it more than I should. He takes a slow sip of coffee, eyes still on mine. “Do you work here every day?”
“Pretty much,” I admit. “Family business. Someone’s got to keep the lights on and the coffee terrible.”
He continues to study me, his gaze slow and hungry, his dark eyes sliding down my body, lingering where my neckline plunges just enough to show the swell of my perky D cups. Heat flares low in my belly, making this whole situation seem dangerous, thrilling, and embarrassing. All at the same time.
It’s fucking crazy to feel this way, over a guy I spent one night with. That’s all it was supposed to be. Something we both needed, no strings attached, no promises. But here I am, wanting to slap him, kiss him, or maybe both, just to feelsomething besides the dull ache he left behind. The bell rings again, letting me know someone else is coming in, and my chance to escape before I say something I regret.
“Let me know if you need anything else,” I say over my shoulder, almost tripping over my own feet as I hurry away.
