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

7. Cassie

7

Cassie

It’s been a few days since I saw Ryan at Coffee Loft. I was working away when I heard a noise. I looked down from the loft and saw Ryan, dressed in his uniform, with Max by his side. I’ll admit—I watched him longer than I should. It was definitely because of the what (noise) that made my curiosity get the better of me…not because of the who (Ryan). Okay, it was because of the who.

But it was only a momentary loss of thinking. I don’t have time for any distractions because I have a looming deadline. Yesterday, two vendors called out for the festival. Meaning I have two vendor spots to fill, in a short amount of time, among a long list of other tasks.

I glance down from the loft towards the entrance remembering his green eyes, the smile on his face as he talked with Ethan, and the way he would pat Max’s head.

No. It’s game time. I can’t have my attention anywhere but here, on the Autumn Festival. So Ryan Hayes and his cute sidekick? They are just part of my security team. We meet, talk business, and that’s it. No flirting. No lingering glances. Nothing. I can, and will, be starry-eyed free when I see him. I am Cassandra Mae Thompson, and I can do anything I set my mind to!

“Hey, Cass. Got a second?” Ashley sits in the chair across from me.

“Always, Ash.” I set my laptop next to me on the couch and give her my full attention.

“I know you’re swamped with this event, but I thought maybe you could use a night off?”

Did she not hear my inner monologue list going on?

“I don’t know Ash…”

“Come on, please? I need a girls’ night!” She holds her hands together and sticks out her bottom lip.

I guess one night won’t hurt.

I shrug. “Okay.”

“Okay?”

I nod. “Yeah, okay.”

“Wow. I prepared a whole speech to get you to agree. I’ll just save it for next time.”

“You thought you’d have to grovel?”

“I was prepared to! I know how important this event is, and it’s just around the corner. I didn’t think you’d be up for it.”

“I’m up for it! What did you have in mind?”

“Girls’ night in? Pj’s hot chocolate, chick flick, popcorn, the works.”

“That sounds perfect. My house at seven?” I suggest.

“I’ll bring the snacks! And text the girls.”

She jumps up from the couch and skips downstairs.

The doorbell rings. Shoot, I forgot to leave it unlocked for Ash. I run to the door and pull it open.

“Sorry, Ash, I—”

Standing before me is most definitely not the brunette best friend of mine. My eyes take in the tall, muscular frame when I realize my mouth is open and my eyes are wide.

“Uh...Cassie?” He’s just as surprised as I am.

“Ryan? What are you doing here?”

“Well, I came over to introduce myself to my neighbor. I guess I’m yours now.” His face goes flat. “Uh, neighbor that is. I’m your neighbor. And you’re my neighbor.” He chuckles and runs his hands through his hair.

Is he nervous ?

“Well, hi, neighbor.” I smile softly at him.

Resist, Cass. Professional. He’s my co-worker. He runs security for my event. In a way, I’m his boss. I straighten my shoulders.

“Mitchell told me about the house.” He thumbs a finger over his shoulder.

“Okay, great,” I say, professionally with no emotion.

I shift my feet and realize I’m in my pajamas and slippers. More importantly to note: the pajamas have dogs dressed up as pumpkins, ghosts, and mummies. And the slippers came in a matching set. A dog is holding a pumpkin candy basket with “trick or treat” written across them. My hair is on top of my head in a messy bun, and I already washed my makeup off. Good grief.

A little hard to keep it professional when I’m standing here in my pj’s!

“Hey, Ryan.” Ashley appears behind him with a few grocery bags.

I let out the breath I didn’t realize I was holding. Saved by the best friend.

“Hi, Ashley. I was just saying hi to my neighbor,” Ryan tells her.

“Neighbor, huh?” She looks at me with a wide grin.

Ryan points to the bags in Ashley’s hands. “Want me to grab those for you?”

I shake my head sideways with my eyes wide trying to communicate with Ashley to say “no.”

She winks and says, “Yeah, that would be great.”

It’s taking everything in me not to yell at her right now.

Ryan takes the bags and slides past me. A whiff of amber, vanilla, and oak hits my senses, and I take a deep breath, involuntarily of course. My eyes close, and momentarily, I forget about everything until Ash bumps into me.

I glare at her and whisper yell, “I gave you all the signs to say no. Did you miss the violent shaking of my head? The wide eyes? I know you didn’t because you were looking right at me!”

“You’ll thank me later.” She shrugs her shoulders and walks into my house.

“I most definitely will not,” I continue whispering as I shut the door.

Ashley holds up her hand to her ear. “What’s that I hear? Ah, wedding bells.”

“Ash!” I follow her towards the kitchen where I see Ryan putting the grocery bags on the counter.

“It’ll be nice to know you’re near Cass. Having a police officer next door is always a good thing. You never know when you might need protection.” Ashley smirks.

“Good thing this neighborhood, and this town, has a low crime rate, Ashley. I won’t need any protection,” I retort.

“Thanks for the help, Ryan,” Ashley says as she looks at me.

“Of course,” Ryan replies, a smile playing on his lips.

He folds his arms across his chest and leans against the counter. Why does he look so comfortable? Like he has every right to be here?

“Well, looks like you two have a fun evening planned, and I have more neighbors to meet.”

Ryan starts to walk out of the kitchen, and Ash nods at me to follow him. I roll my eyes and slump my shoulders. I turn around and walk behind Ryan to the front door.

“Thanks for coming by,” I say quickly.

“It was nice seeing you again, Cassie.” He walks out my door. He hesitates, then turns around and shoves his hands in his front pockets. “And don’t worry about your…fashion choice. I like the dogs dressed in costumes.”

My cheeks turn hot as I glance down at my ensemble. “I think they’re pretty cute.” I smile at him.

He lingers for a moment then gives a small wave, and I watch him walk away.

“I think they’re pretty cute too,” I jump as Ashley whispers into my ear.

I smack her arm. “You are in big trouble, missy!”

“I think you’re just resisting too hard, my friend.”

“I’m not resisting anything.”

She pretends to zip her lips, turns around, and tosses the key behind her. I pretend to catch it and follow her to the kitchen.

“He’s new to town and now, my neighbor. I’ve been polite and welcoming.”

She points to her lips and mumbles as she begins putting the snacks on the counter.

I roll my eyes. Her antics drive me crazy. I walk over to her and unlock her lips.

Her mumbles turn into words. “You have been. But I think you’re resistant to it becoming more.”

“I am not. He’s probably not interested, and I’m just really busy right now with the Autumn Festival.”

She pours a bag of popcorn into a bowl. “I’m pretty sure he is interested. And you told me yourself that you thought he was nice and cute. Why not go for it?”

“I just don’t think now is the right time. Maybe when things slow down after the festival.”

“Life never slows down, Cass. You just gotta go for it!”

“And what about you, huh?”

“What about me?”

“Anyone who you might want to become more with?” I steal a piece of popcorn from her.

“Let’s start the movie!”

“Mhm. You should listen to yourself.”

“Okay, let’s do it together then. You be open for something to happen and I will too. Deal?” She holds her hand out.

I hesitate then shake her hand. “Deal.”

And I’ll keep my deal—I’ll be open, but I won’t pursue; I won’t start anything. I’ll just sit here, and if something happens, it happens. Love finds you when you least expect it , isn’t that what they say? So I’ll just not expect it, and if it happens, then so be it.

I’ll still be keeping my deal with Ash and my deal to myself. No swooning over the police officer, now neighbor, co-worker, handsome newcomer. Oh man, handsome just slipped in there. I’m already failing at the deal to myself. I couldn’t even last one day; how am I going to last weeks until the Autumn Festival? I’m doomed.

The doorbell rings again, and I sneak a quick glance through the peephole. Relief floods over me as I see Charity and Hope.

“We brought desserts and lots of them!” Hope announces cheerfully as she holds up a large cookie tray.

“Perfect. Sugar therapy is exactly what I need right now.” I sigh, feeling the weight of everything start to lift off my shoulders.

I don’t need to think about the festival tasks or Ryan tonight. Just me and my girls. I close the door behind them and start arranging the snacks on my dining table. Cookies, cake pops, caramel popcorn, chips, and every treat possible seems to be here in my house.

“Yes! Desserts!” Ashley skips over and steals a cookie off the tray. “Hot cocoa is almost ready.”

“Thanks for tonight.” Hope grins. “We were due for a girls’ night.”

“Especially after the chicken incident.” Charity’s eyes widen comically. “I still can’t believe that happened.”

“What incident?” Ash asks, her mouth still full of cookie.

“I didn’t hear about anything either,” I chime in curiously. Normally, Madame Cs spread everything like wildfire.

“A chicken took over the bakery!” Hope exclaims, laughter bubbling out of her. “It was terrorizing customers, and we had to call it in.”

“And then Ethan Mitchell and the new town heartthrob, Ryan Hayes, saved the day,” Charity adds with a mischievous glint in her eye.

I look over to Ash and awkwardly chuckle. “Wow, sounds like an eventful day.”

“I guess that’s just life in Meadowbrook.” Charity and Hope’s laughter fills my kitchen as I grab plates and mugs from the cabinet.

“I don’t think it’ll ever get boring here.” I start to pour hot water into the mugs.

“Have y’all heard from Paige recently?” Hope asks.

“Yeah, I just talked to her today actually,” I say with a smile. “We were finalizing the programs for the Autumn Festival.”

“Aw, I wish she was here! I miss her,” Ash says.

“Is she coming to town soon?” Charity asks.

I nod. “She mentioned she was trying to get some time off to come home for the festival. If she does, we need another girl's night to catch up!”

“We’re in!” they all agree enthusiastically.