He opened the door for me. “Goodnight, Coffee Elf,” he said, both teasing and quiet, like a promise.
I couldn’t help but laugh at the nickname Tilly had given me, the sound bubbling up warm and easy.
I flashed him a mischievous smile and teased, “Goodnight, Diner Dad.”
His laughter was soft and inviting, making me want to lean in closer. When I did, I pressed a gentle kiss to his cheek, feeling his skin beneath my lips and the way my grin widened against him. The moment felt lighter, sweeter—just us, wrapped in a quiet goodnight and possibility.
Chapter 11
Nate
It had been almost a week since I kissed Eliza on her porch, and I still hadn’t figured out how to think straight around her. Every time her name popped up on my phone, my stomach did that weird little drop that made me feel like a teenager again. Our texts had turned flirty—soft banter, quiet check-ins, the occasional emoji that said more than either of us wanted to admit out loud.
This morning, I wasn’t working a breakfast shift, and Tilly was happily settled at school, after a drop-off drive filled with chattering about construction paper hearts and glitter glue. Grandma and Grandpa were on Lois duty for the day, which meant I had exactly one window to swing by the Coffee Cabin and see Eliza in person—without a four-year-old running interference.
The winter air was crisp, the sun spilling pale light over the town, making the snow piles glitter. There was a nervous energy thrumming in my veins as I parked outside the Coffee Cabin. I caught my reflection in the car window—hair a little messy and in need of a trim, shirt maybe not as crisp as it could be, but my grin was impossible to hide. I took a deep breath, trying to play it cool while my heart beat faster than it had in ages.
The place was already busy, the drive-thru was packed, and the walk-up window was seeing a steady stream. Still, Eliza was all I could focus on.
She was behind the window in a burnt orange sweater under her apron, hair up in one of those messy knots that made me think about how easily it would come undone. She moved fast—efficient, focused—but every so often she paused to laugh with a customer or shoot a sarcastic grin at someone she knew. Her whole face lit up when she smiled, and I wasn’t the only one who noticed. The guy in front of the line nearly forgot to grab his latte because he was too busy staring.
I almost told him to keep walking and stop staring.
Bypassing the line, I stepped up to the window. She saw me and gave me a look that made my pulse jump. Not a smile exactly—but something warmer. Quieter. Like maybe she’d been waiting for me. “I’m just saying hi,” I assured everyone in line.
“Hey, stranger,” she said, wiping her hands on a towel. “Thought you were avoiding me.”
I leaned an elbow on the counter. “Nah. Just working. You know, trying to make sure the town has pancakes and pie and all that.”
Her mouth curved. “I’d hate to get in the way of your civic duty.”
“I missed seeing you.” The words came out easier than I expected. “I figured I’d try my luck this morning. Maybe get some coffee, see a pretty girl. Start my day off right.”
She rolled her eyes but didn’t look away. “Flattery before caffeine? Bold move.”
I grinned. “It’s part of my charm. Anyway, I’m going to get to the end of the line before I cause a riot.”
Before she could answer, a familiar voice cut through the moment.
“Eliza.”
Graham.
I hadn’t even seen him walk up, but there he was—hands in his pockets, hair perfect, jacket expensive-looking and tailored within an inch of its life.
Eliza stiffened as I stepped into line, not wanting to start anything with him.
“Morning,” she said, a little too bright. “Didn’t expect you.”
He stepped up to the walk-up window without a care, as if there wasn’t an entire line of people waiting for coffee. “Thought I’d grab a cappuccino and let you know we’re finishing the trim work today. The grand opening is imminent, and you will be invited.”
“That’s fast,” Eliza said, glancing pointedly at the crowd of customers. “Congrats.”
“Thanks.” He smiled at her, totally ignoring everyone. “You’ll come, won’t you? I want you to see what I’ve built. Maybe even give me some notes.”
I clenched my jaw.
“Wouldn’t miss it,” Eliza replied, a little too smoothly. Her voice held enough hesitation that I caught it—and apparently, so did Graham.
