Chapter One
Brooke
Coffee is the most important part of my day.
Actually, that should be a blanket statement for every living person.
I’m a book editor, and working from home is a good fit for me, especially since I’ve turned into a hermit. After leaving a toxic marriage, I choose to spend my time alone, in my house. Most days, answering work emails, and phone calls from the office are the highlights of my social life.
Kind of pathetic, I know.
Spending so much time by myself probably isn’t healthy, but at this point, I don’t give a shit.
Every morning, I make my way toThe Grindfor my unrelenting caffeine fix. I could make coffee at home, but the drive gets me out of the house for a bit.
Grabbing my purse and keys, I lock the door behind me as I head to my car.
The long stretch of road ahead of me is a nice distraction. It’s a gorgeous day, the sun shining brightly, the grass in the fields sparkling with morning dew. Horses and cattle come into view,and I grin, always loving animals more than humans. I may be a bit bitter, but I can’t deny how beautiful my little town is.
At twenty-eight years old, life isn’t what I expected it to be. I didn’t see divorce in the cards. The signs were there, but I turned a blind eye because I was in love. Rapidly approaching thirty, I wonder where I’ll go from here. My career is exactly what I want. My home is perfect. The only thing missing is someone to share it with.
I feel like that ship has sailed, but maybe life will throw a wild curveball at me next time.
As I pull into the parking lot, I clear my head from the pity party.
The Grindis a popular coffee shop that’s nestled in the middle of town. The building is surrounded by large oak trees and an incredible landscape of flowers, giving the outdoor seating area an Eden feel. As I approach the door, the scent of fresh coffee flows into my lungs, and my mouth waters.
Walking inside, there’s a line of people waiting to get their morning caffeine. Looking around, I take in the brown and white color scheme of the walls. I glance at the tumblers lining the shelves, along with the different types of coffee they sell. My eyes roam to the display case where they keep their sweets. I had a strawberry danish yesterday, maybe I should skip it today.
The line moves quickly and within a few minutes, I’m at the counter, placing my order.
Mocha frappe.
The love of my life.
Stepping aside to wait for my drink, the little hairs on the nape of my neck stand up. I scan the room, feeling as if I’m being watched.
My breath catches as I lock eyes withhim.
I’ve seen him a few times before. He’s sinfully good looking, leaning on the counter, waiting for his coffee. He’s well over six-foot tall, a broad chest, dark unruly hair, and piercing blue eyes that are currently locked on mine. My gaze shamelessly roams down his body. His gray t-shirt strains over bulging tattooed arms. Dark jeans hug his thick thighs, cupping his groin, leaving little to the imagination.
As my eyes find his face again, his full lips tip up in a grin.
Busted.
His dark goatee is full, and my fingers twitch, wondering what it would feel like on my skin.
Arousal pools between my legs, and I count my breaths slowly, trying to calm my sex deprived body. My reaction must’ve been obvious because he winks at me, making my body temperature skyrocket.
I’m truly grateful I dressed to go in public today. It’d be easy to stay in pajamas all day since I work from home. Luckily, I threw on some make-up and tamed my hair into waves before leaving the house. I’d be mortified if this gorgeous man was staring at me while I was wearingSnoopysleep pants and an oversized t-shirt.
“Brooke, your order is ready!” I blink, my name being called slowly registering in my brain. Taking my coffee from the barista, I mumble a distracted “thank you” in the process.
Turning to leave, the beautiful stranger walks towards me, his eyes never leaving mine. As he stops in front of me, I breathe in his masculine scent. Sandalwood overpowers the smell of coffee, and I sway on my feet a little.
“I saw you looking at the pastries earlier. Can I get you one?” His smile is ridiculously sexy and distracting as hell.
“O-oh, thank you, but I had one yesterday.” I grin and he tilts his head. “That’s a lot of sugar, so I try to space them out.”
