Abby:What?How do you know?
Sadie:*laughing emoji* Because we drove past the coffeeshop a little while ago.I think you like him more than you’ll admit.
Was Sadie right?Nope.Not at all.
“Abby, let’s try again.”Brad’s voice drew her from her thoughts.
Abby:You’re wrong!Gotta go.
Slipping the phone into her back pocket, she walked over to the counter.Just then Brad moved, and they bumped into each other.
She lost her balance, and he reached out to her.He drew her to him with more force than she was expecting.They ended up chest to chest.She craned her neck to look into his eyes.But she wasn’t expecting him to look at her like she was a sugary-sweet marshmallow that he couldn’t wait to savor.
His gaze dipped to her lips.He was going to kiss her.She should do something—should move out of his embrace—but her legs and feet were unwilling to cooperate.
And then, as if it were happening in slow motion, his head lowered toward her.His eyes closed.Her heart stuttered to a stop as it launched itself into her throat, cutting off her breath.
This was really going to happen.Oh my!
She couldn’t think clearly.Every cell in her body anticipated his touch.And then his lips touched hers.His kiss was tentative, as though he was unsure if she would be receptive.
Her heart resumed beating.In fact, it pounded against her ribs.The sound echoed in her ears.Perhaps that was what caused common sense to flee her.
Needing to show him that she very much wanted his kiss, her arms slid up over his shoulders.Her hands wrapped around his neck, pulling him closer—
Knock-knock-knock.
They sprang apart like leftover New Year’s fireworks had gone off between them.She drew in a much-needed breath as she pressed a hand to her pounding chest.Thankfully they were standing out of sight of the door.
As the knocking sounded again, she ran her fingers over her tingling lips, as though to assure herself that no one would know she had just been kissing Brad.She didn’t want to imagine the gossip it would stir up.
She walked over and could see through the glass that it was Mia.Abby unlocked the door and pushed it open.“What are you doing back here?”
“I was driving by on my way home and saw the lights on.I got worried that something was wrong.”
Abby shook her head.“We were just trying to get the espresso machine to work.”
“We?”Mia moved past her and gazed at Brad.She sent Abby a knowing smile.“Oh.I see.”
Abby inwardly groaned at her choice of wording.“Uh… Yes, Brad is having a look at it.”
“Abby,” Brad’s voice called out.“Come see this.”
Both Abby and Mia followed his voice over to the espresso machine.While Brad smiled proudly, they watched it produce a steaming hot cup of espresso.
“You did it.”Abby couldn’t help but grin.He had no idea what a relief this was for her.“Thank you.”
“This is great,” Mia said.Then she turned to Brad.“Any chance you need a job?We have plenty around here that you could work on.”Then realizing what she’d said, Mia got a sheepish look on her face.She looked at Abby.“Sorry.”
Abby wanted to be insulted by Mia’s words, but she couldn’t be.It was the truth.She’d gotten all of her equipment second-hand, and it was past time to replace most of it.
“By the way, I’m Mia.”She stuck her hand out to Brad.
When he introduced himself, Abby realized she should have made the introductions, but that kiss—oh my!That kiss had steamed up her thoughts and then scattered them.How did she let things go that far?
“I should be going,” Mia said.She sent Brad a warm smile.“It was nice to meet you.”
“It was nice to meet you too.”
