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Wow. This was not like me at all. I was a weirdo. I didn’t flirt.

Except now, apparently, I did.

“I think they must be,” Marco laughed. “Seeing that they obviously want to keep seeing each other.”

“I guess we have to indulge them, then,” I said.

“I guess,” Marco echoed, his smile a delight.

We sat there just gazing at each other for a few, long seconds, until a call of, “Hot chocolate with cinnamon sprinkle!” sounded from the counter.

“Hot chocolate with cinnamon sprinkle!” the barista echoed Diccon Meyers.

“Yummy hot chocolate with cinnamon sprinkle!” Hannah, the baker in the kitchen followed suit.

Marco laughed. “I love that whole call and response thing Diccon and the morning crew have going on in here, don’t you?”

“I think it would annoy the hell out of me if I worked here all morning every morning,” I answered honestly, grinning from ear to ear.

“Aw, come on,” Marco said, standing. I stood as well. “I think it’s cute. It gives the place its unique vibe.”

“It’s definitely unique,” I admitted, walking with Marco into the front of the café and heading for the door. “But I guess you’re right. It’s a signature experience of mornings in here.”

“What’s the signature experience of your funeral home?” Marco asked, eyes glinting with mirth.

I shrugged. “Common Grounds has mornings and I have mournings,” I said. I froze with my hand on the café’s front door. “God, that’s horrible. I shouldn’t make jokes about stuff like that.”

Marco laughed. “If it was my funeral, I would want everyone laughing instead of crying.”

He had a point there. I smiled at him as we stepped out into the blustery street.

“So when can I stop by your house to check for ghosts?” I asked, feeling bold and inspired.

“Would Thursday night work?” Marco asked, looking like a treat I could totally take a bite out of as he hugged himself against the autumn wind.

“Thursday night would be perfect,” I said with a nod. “Who knows what sort of mischief my phone and your dog might get up to?”

“Who knows indeed,” Marco said, smile as wide as the horizon.

We said goodbye, and I headed back across the street, highly aware that Marco was watching me as I went. I felt like a new man, knowing he was looking at me not with suspicion, but with interest. It was almost like with his help, I could put the ghosts of past awkwardness to bed once and for all.

CHAPTER 5

Marco

I’d never looked forward to a Thursday so much in my life.

“You don’t mind if I cut out a little early, do you?” I asked Hugh as I threw on my coat and grabbed my satchel.

Hugh chuckled. “It’s your shop. You can leave early whenever you want.”

“You’re sure you don’t mind closing tonight?” I was already halfway to the door.

“Not at all. Go and have fun with your hot date,” Hugh replied.

I stopped at the door. “It’s not a hot date,” I insisted, voice rising an octave and heat pulsing through me.

Hugh grinned and shook his head. “Oh, to be young again!”