Espresso Your Love (The Coffee Loft Series: Fall Collection)

3. Cassie

3

Cassie

“Who was that?” Ashley squeals loudly as she comes bouncing around the corner up the stairs.

“ASH!” I shush her. “Can you be any louder?”

“Why, yes, I can, but don’t change the subject. Who was he?” She plops down next to me on the couch.

“I’m not changing the subject. We live in a small town, and everyone talks. And I don’t want to be the talk of the town. So…shhh.”

“Okay, okay,” she whispers.

I adjust myself on the couch and take a sip of coffee.

Ashley nudges me. “I’m not getting any younger. Spill the coffee beans!”

I have to laugh at her antics. Even when she’s eighty, she’ll still be a spitfire.

“He just came up here and sat down. We talked for two seconds, then he got a phone call and left.”

“He didn’t just leave. He looked back up here then left.” She wiggles her eyebrows. “What did you talk about?” She grabs my arm and shakes it.

“His dog, who was super cute by the way. Did you see him?”

“Yeah, yeah.” She waves her hand in dismissal. “But the guy—”

“The guy with the dog, whose name is Max.”

“Ohhh, Max. What did he say?”

“No, the dog’s name is Max.”

“Stop talking about the dog. The guy! What’s his name?”

I sigh. “His name is Ryan. It was a short conversation, nothing really.”

“My mom said it looked like y’all were enjoying yourselves.”

“Of course, she saw. She sees all.”

Ashley’s mom, Molly, is like a second mom to me. So, I’m not surprised she was keeping an eye out. She always has.

“He must have traveled from Richmond, or maybe he’s new to town? I’ve never seen him in here before. We’ll have to ask the Madame Cs. They know everything. Those town gossips.”

“I don’t need you asking about him! It might be a repeat Jake incident.” I laugh at the thought. In junior high, Molly found out I liked a boy in my class, Jake. One day, Ashley forgot her lunch, and when Molly brought it, Jake asked me about the group science project and Molly mentioned we needed another partner. He ended up being a total jerk so nothing came of it. But Molly always has her eye out for me.

“Well, Ryan was cute and seemed to have his eye on you.”

“It was a short conversation. I have work to do and so do you .” I push her off the couch, and she stumbles to her feet as we both laugh.

She stops and turns to me with a more serious expression now. “You deserve to be happy, Cass.”

“I am happy.”

“You know what I mean.”

“I’m not going to be chasing after someone. Mr. Right will come along when it’s the right time. I’m not worrying and neither should you,” I say in the brightest voice I can muster.

“But don’t let it pass you by either. If an opportunity comes, take a chance. Even if it means risking your heart.”

She gives me a small smile and heads back downstairs.

I’m truly not worried about finding Mr. Right. I know he’ll come around. Right now, I’m career focused. I have the Autumn Festival, which is a big undertaking. Mrs. Whittaker has even sent a few clients my way. Some are even out of state, so it’s going to be a busy year. I’ll be jet-setting across the world. Well, across the state line, and more like driving than in a jet.

After a few more hours of details for the Autumn Festival, it’s time to head home. I still have a long list of tasks to plan out and vendors to contact, but I need some real food and a quick walk around the block.

As I gather my belongings, something brown catches my eye on the chair across from me. I walk around the coffee table and pick it up. A wallet. Oh man, I’d hate to be this guy. I open it up to reveal an Alabama driver's license.

It belongs to Ryan Hayes. He’s thirty-two and lives in Birmingham.

So, he lives somewhat close by; Birmingham is just a couple of hours north of here.

How did he get such a good photo? Mine has poor lighting, adding ten pounds and ten years. The last time I needed to retake my photo, I got a huge zit right on my forehead—talk about the worst time to break out. Not that there’s a good time to break out, but there are definitely worse times. Like a first date or your wedding day.

I close it back up and head downstairs, and Ash’s mom is at the counter.

“Hey, Molly, I found this wallet upstairs. Can I leave it with you?”

Molly takes the wallet from me and opens it. She raises her eyebrows and gasps. “Cassandra Mae Thompson. Did you steal the cute guy’s wallet so you’d have an excuse to see him again?”

My eyes widen and my mouth drops open. “Molly! Of course, I didn’t. Do you really think I would do that?”

She starts laughing. “Oh, honey. I’m just teasin’ you.”

I exhale and shake my head.

“Here.” She hands me back the wallet. “You find him. Maybe it’s destiny.” She winks at me.

I roll my eyes. “Here we go. Another Jake incident.”

“You dodged a bullet with that one. If it weren’t for me, you’d still be pining over him. Maybe this time it’ll turn out for the best. He could be the one .”

“He’s just visiting. He’s from Birmingham.”

“Oh, honey, that’s just a few hours away. Not too bad. Maybe he’ll relocate for you.” She gives me a sly grin.

I roll my eyes again.

“Your eyes will roll out of their sockets if you keep that up. Now, go check in with Clara and see if he’s staying at her place.”

“And when he’s not there, I’ll drop it off at the police station on the way home.”

“Great idea. We’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Bye, Molly!” She gives me a hug and a kiss on the top of my head, and I walk out the door.

My house is within walking distance, but Aunt Clara’s bed-and-breakfast is in the opposite direction. I was going to just go home and read my cozy mystery novel, but I guess I’ll hunt down this Ryan Hayes.

The town is always so beautiful around this time of year. The sun is just starting to set, and with autumn coming, the weather is cooling down. I love fall, everything about it. It makes me feel like I’m in a rom-com. But with less rom and more com, especially with Ash around. There’s not much romantically happening now, or ever.

I’ve never been in a serious relationship. I’ve dated a few guys in town here and there, but nothing has turned into more than a few dates. And I’ve never been kissed, so there’s that too. Thirty, not-flirty, and never been kissed. I bet that’ll be the real selling point when I find the one.

But I have my work, for now at least. Eventually, I want to find love, get married, and have babies. I want someone who will look at me and see forever, see his future in me. I want to love with everything I am, everything I have. And to share the rest of my life with that man.

I turn down the road and see the Cozy Nook Inn’s sign. It’s old and needs some love itself. As I go up the steps, I hear the creak across the floorboards of the porch. Maybe more than just some love, it needs a lot of love.

I step inside and ring the bell sitting on the front desk. I peek around the wall into the living room to see the fireplace roaring. As old as the Cozy Nook Inn is, it’s so charming on the inside. I’d love to cozy up to that fire with a good book and a warm cup of cocoa. I start to walk through to the kitchen when Aunt Clara pops her head out the kitchen door.

“Cassie! My, you look wonderful today.” She steps out of the kitchen wiping her hands on her apron.

“Thank you, Aunt Clara.”

She’s not actually anyone’s aunt around here. All her family lives far away, but she’s always insisted on me and my friends calling her that.

“To what do I owe the pleasure of seeing you here?”

“I, uh, I wanted to see if you had a certain someone staying here.”

“Oh?”

“I ran into him this morning at Coffee Loft, and when I was leaving just now, I saw his wallet on the chair. I’m not sure if he’s in town visiting or if he just came for the coffee, but Molly suggested I check here before going to the station.”

“Oh, yes, of course. We wouldn’t want anyone running around without their wallet.” She waves her hand at me. “Come here, dear, and let’s take a look, shall we?”

We walk back to the front desk, and she grabs her check-in book.

“What was his name?” she asks.

“It’s a…Ryan Hayes.”

“That would be me.” I jump as a man’s voice startles me from the stairs. “Twice in one day, huh?” He smiles, which for the record, is way better than Jake’s smile ever was.

He continues down the stairs and walks to the side of the desk.

“You, uh,” I clear my throat. “You left this at Coffee Loft.” I stretch my arm out to hand him his wallet.

“Oh, man. I was wondering where I might have left it. Thank you.” He grabs his wallet from me, his fingers brushing against mine, and electricity shoots through my hand down to my toes. My eyes shoot up, looking right into his mossy-green eyes. Did he feel that too?

“Beautiful and a kind soul.” Aunt Clara’s voice breaks my eye contact with him, and I pull my hand back to my side. “Something a man looks for in a woman. Isn’t that right, Ryan?”

His eyes are still locked on mine. “Yes, ma’am.”

“Ryan here is new to town and needs a tour guide. I’m sure you’d love to help welcome Ryan to our wonderful town. Wouldn’t you, Cassie?”

Growing up in this small town, I’m used to the townspeople gossiping and giving their two cents. But now I have Molly and Aunt Clara playing matchmaker? It wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest if Molly knew he was here and gave Aunt Clara a call while I walked over here. That’s just the kind of thing that would happen here in Meadowbrook.