He frowned, his gaze so focused on her that she wanted to squirm. “I was wondering if you wanted to get a coffee?”
“Coffee?”
His lips twitched. “You know, the stuff you used to drink like there was about to be a world shortage?”
“I know what coffee is. I’m just surprised you want to.”
“Why are you surprised?”
For so many reasons. But the main one being, according to town gossip, he was dating someone. How would Nel feel about him having coffee with an ex? Unless Nel thought they’d been nothing serious?
She opened her mouth, not sure what was about to come out, but stopped at Polly’s gasp.
“What did you say?”
She looked up to see Joel raising his hands. “Hey, I didn’t mean any offense. I meant you have a low-maintenance, high-quality vibe going on here.”
“That describes a car.”
Maggie rose to her feet, but Joel was still talking. “Why do you take offense to everything I say?”
“Say something non-offensive and I won’t.”
Okay, that was enough.
Maggie pinched Polly’s side before she could say anything else.
“Ow!”
Payback. Maggie smiled at Joel. “What would you like?”
“I was going to order a coffee and a chocolate croissant, but?—”
“Done. For here or to go?”
Joel opened his mouth, but Connor, always the peacekeeper, responded first. “We’ll take it to go.”
That sounded safer.
Maggie helped Polly serve behind the counter.
When Maggie handed Ethan his croissant, their hands grazed and a shudder rolled down her spine.
And that washercue to go.
Once each of them had their food and drink, she pulled her bag over her shoulder before tugging Polly into a hug. “I’m going to go for a walk. I’ll see you later.” Then she whispered, “No more arguing with customers.”
“But—”
“You’ll give Basil more business.”
A smallhumphsounded.
Maggie waved to the guys, being very careful not to look directly at Ethan before stepping out of the café.
She’d only taken three steps when she heard the door open behind her.
“Maggie.”
