What is with small towns and their weird working hours?
Ava considered her other options. She could try the Mucky Duck, but it probably wasn’t a good look to work from a bar. There was Summer’s loft apartment, but she worked from home. Ava didn’t want to interfere with Summer’s own meetings.
Another idea came to mind. The least ideal option, but one she knew had internet and enough seating to find some seclusion to not bother other patrons. A more socially acceptable option than a bar or a friend’s kitchen table.The Early Bird Café.
Her watch buzzed with a reminder of her meeting. With a resigned sigh, Ava returned to the Subaru and drove back down the hill. She grabbed her laptop bag, but hesitated when she reached for the door handle.
Could she really go into Owen’s business by herself? He’d been friendly the other day, but they parted on a sour note thanks to her.
After another minute of self-pity, Ava forced herself out of the car. She could swallow her embarrassment. She was here to work, that was all.
Ava bent to check her lipstick for the third time in the side mirror. Then she smiled for good measure to check for lipstick stains on her teeth. All clear.
Before she could talk herself out of it, she crossed the street and walked into the café. The bell jangled above her, announcing her entry. A rowdy family of eight took up the long wooden table to the right of the entrance. Two people waited in line to order from the woman working the counter.
No sign of Owen.
She joined the queue and scanned the dining area for an empty table. Preferably in a corner that’d be easy to hide in. Her options were limited. She’d have to try her luck on the outdoor patio.
When it was her turn to order, Ava relaxed a bit when she still didn’t see Owen. A woman a few years older than herself with strawberry blonde hair in a fishtail braid greeted her from behind the counter. She seemed vaguely familiar. Ava wracked her brain and hoped this wasn’t the same person who’d worked on Monday when she ran into Owen. Everything was such a blur after hearing his voice.
With a longing stare at the lone blueberry whoopie pie in the bakery case, Ava ordered a coffee and paid. She shoved an extra-large tip in the box by the register and went searching for a table on the patio.
Luck was finally on her side when she spotted a two-top table in the back corner that partially overlooked the lake.
Perfect.
She settled at the table, facing toward the lake to avoid the glare from the sun. She logged into her laptop and tried to join the café’s Wi-Fi. Ava frowned when it asked for a password.
“Blueberry pancake cold brew?”
Owen’s deep timbre sent a jolt of awareness up her spine. She turned toward him, his height forcing her to tip her chin up. From herseated position, he seemed even taller and broader. The scent of warm coffee, that was all Owen and not the drink in his hand, hit her.
“Should’ve known I was delivering this to you,” Owen said. His eyes crinkled as he gave her a smile and slid the cup onto the table beside her. “You always loved blueberry.”
“Still do,” she quipped. Ava grabbed the coffee to give her something to do. Her thumb traced the letters on the side of the plastic cup.
Owen didn’t leave right away. He shoved his hands in his pockets; the movement bunching his rolled-up sleeves around his elbows. Today he had a black t-shirt under his red flannel shirt. A couple wisps of brown hair escaped his bun and caught the wind coming off the lake.
He looked like her weakness.
“What’re you working on?” Owen nodded at her laptop on the table.
Ava followed his nod, as if she didn’t know what was directly in front of her. “I have a meeting with my boss to discuss a presentation strategy. For a Board Member position at the hotel,” she told him.
“Like an interview?”
Ava nodded, not taking her eyes off Owen, watching his face for any micro-expressions as they talked about her job. “Exactly. I have eight weeks to prepare for the final interview round. They want a new member in place by Q4.”
Owen’s eyebrows rose, and he let out a low whistle. “Not surprised. Always knew you’d do impressive things.”
He gave her a lopsided smile and turned his body away from her, getting ready to leave. His words left an uncomfortable pit in her stomach. They sounded nice. A compliment, really. But it also reinforced the distance between them.
“Before you go, what’s the Wi-Fi password?”
Owen paused in distancing himself. “Earlybird10, all lowercase and the number ten.” He cast a glance around the mostly filled patio. “It’s going to be busy the next hour. Have headphones?”
“Got it covered,” she said with a tight smile.
