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

Epilogue

Cassie

Six Months Later

Planning for the Mercer wedding is in full swing. We have just a few more months until the wedding. I’ve been flying back and forth at least once a month since our original meeting. And as we’ve gotten closer, the trips have been more frequent. The bride is so precious, and I’ve loved working with her. Their small town in Indiana reminds me a lot of home, but I always miss seeing Ryan when I’m gone.

I was out of town last weekend, and he’s been working so hard that we’ve only briefly seen each other this week. This morning, he’s meeting me here at Coffee Loft, but it’s only for a few minutes before he goes back to work.

It’s been tough with our schedules, especially with me getting more clients, but we make the best out of it. Even if it’s a run together in the morning, a TV show at night, or a quick coffee break.

“Do you mind if I…?” I know that voice. I look up to find Ryan and Max. Ryan is pointing to the chair across from me.

I pat the cushion next to me, but he shakes his head and points at the chair.

I raise an eyebrow at him. “Not at all.” He sits down holding his lofty coffee, a brown paper bag, and a book. The book I bought for him. “Didn’t you already read that?”

He ignores me and takes a bite of his donut. What is going on with him? He’s acting so strange. He looks at Max who whines.

“Sorry about my dog here, he’s wanting some extra attention this morning. Do you like dogs?”

Ah, I see what he’s doing here.

“No, actually they are a nuisance.” Max whines at me. “Oh, Max, come here, buddy. You’re not a nuisance, but your partner is.”

Ryan doggy-ears the book and closes it. I still hold that against him.

“I’m Ryan. This is Max.” He holds out his hand.

I roll my eyes. “Hi, I’m Cassie.” I shake his hand.

“So what brings you to Coffee Loft, besides tormenting my dog?”

“I’m supposed to be meeting my really handsome boyfriend, but he seems to be running late.”

A smile plays on his lips. “Does he keep you waiting often?”

“Only when he’s playing silly games.”

A chuckle escapes him. “Cassie.” He stands up, extending his hand out to me.

I take his hand, standing up, and he pulls me in close to him.

“Hi,” he whispers as he brings my hand to his lips and presses a soft kiss against it.

“Hi.”

“Will you do me the honor of going on a date with me tonight?” His voice is low and smooth.

“I thought you were working?”

“I put in some extra time while you were away so I could get some needed time with my girl.” He grins, causing my heart to skip a beat.

“Aw, you do like spending time with me,” I tease, unable to resist.

“Of course, I do. I wouldn’t want to do anything else.”

“I would be honored, Officer Hayes.”

“Then I will pick you up around 7 pm?”

“And not a minute later.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

He presses his lips to mine.

“I’ll see you tonight.”

I watch him as he leaves, but before he walks out of Coffee Loft, he turns back to look at me and winks, just like he always does.

After a few hours of work, I go home to find a note taped to my door. It’s another tradition he’s continued.

Cassie,

Tonight, dress up! I‘m taking my girl out on the town.

-Ryan

Even after being together for several months, he still manages to surprise me with his date planning skills.

I spend way too long standing in front of my closet trying to decide which dress is fancy enough for tonight. After texting options to Ashley, I finally choose a deep-burgundy dress with some strappy heels. I check my reflection one last time just as there’s a knock at the door.

The door swings open to reveal a dashing Ryan and Max on the porch. Ryan is wearing a dark suit and tie. Max even has a bowtie on. Ryan’s eyes travel down my dress.

“Wow…you look…stunning, Cassie.” He steps inside and kisses my cheek.

“Thank you.” I blush under his gaze. “You look very handsome, both of you. I love that Max is matching you.”

I lean down and scratch Max’s chin. “You look so cute.”

He offers me an arm, which I take, and we walk to his truck. We drive through the town, arriving right outside of town square. Ryan opens the door for me then Max, and we walk together. When we turn the corner into the town square, I stop in my tracks.

The entire square is covered in twinkling lights, and candles line the walkway leading up to the gazebo. Ryan leads us down the path. As we reach the gazebo, I gasp. In the center, there’s a bistro-style table set for two. It’s adorned with linens and candles.

“This looks beautiful.” I look at Ryan in shock. “You did this?”

“With some help from our fellow Meadowbrookians. Do you like it?”

“Yes, I love it,” I whisper, my hand over my heart.

“I wanted tonight to be special.” He pulls out my chair for me to sit.

“Every moment I spend with you is special,” I tell him softly.

Ryan grins at me as he sits across the table. “I feel the same, Cassie.” I can’t help the blush from spreading across my cheeks.

A server appears, filling our glasses and bringing us our meal. We reminisce over our first meeting, since he tried to recreate it this morning, and a few of our favorite memories since he came to town. After dessert, Ryan stands and offers his hand.

“Dance with me?”

“There’s no music.”

He pulls out his phone, and a classic song begins to play. He holds out his hand again.

“Cassie Thompson, will you dance with me?”

“I would love to.” I take his hand, and he pulls me in close to him. We sway back and forth to the soft music in the background.

“I’m glad we got to be together tonight.” His breath dances along my neck.

“Me too.”

He squeezes me tightly. “I’ve missed you this week.”

“I know, I’m sorry. I’ve been swamped and—”

He stops me. “Don’t apologize. Work for both of us has been crazy. I was merely saying I missed you.”

“I missed you too.”

“I hated being apart so much. I don’t want to be away from you for another weekend…or even a day.”

“I feel the same way too, Ryan.”

He stops swaying then and pulls away slightly. His eyes meet mine, and they are so intense, I can barely breathe. “Then let’s make sure we don’t have to be.”

He gently takes my hand, pulling something from his pocket at the same time. He drops down to one knee, and suddenly, it all clicks.

“Cassandra Thompson, will you marry me?” He holds a velvet box open with the most beautiful diamond ring I’ve ever seen.

Tears fill my eyes and threaten to spill out. “Ryan…”

He takes a breath. “Will you make me the happiest man in the world? Would you do me the honor of becoming my wife and spending the rest of our lives together?”

“Yes,” I whisper. “Yes, yes, yes!”

I throw myself into his arms, and his lips meet mine. He spins me around and then sets me back on the floor. He takes my hand and slides the ring on my finger. I pull him in for another embrace.

“I love you, Cassie Thompson,” he whispers in my ear.

“I love you, Ryan Hayes.”

Max barks in excitement, and I hear cheering behind me. I turn around to see our community, clapping and shouting in celebration. Ashley bursts from the crowd, running toward me. Ryan and I step down the stairs of the gazebo.

“Congratulations!” She hugs both of us tightly. “I’m so happy for you both.” She dabs her eyes with a napkin.

“Thank you, Ash,” I say, squeezing her.

“I told you he was a keeper!” Ashley triumphantly shouts.

The rest of the town comes and congratulates us.

“I knew it from the beginning,” Aunt Clara says, turning to Ryan. “I knew the twinkling lights would work.”

She walks away, and I ask Ryan what she means.

“When I was staying at the Cozy Nook Inn, she told me I should walk down Main Street at night with the twinkling lights. And that I should take you with me.”

“Those nosey Madame Cs.” I shake my head.

“It’s our small town, and I…” he grabs me around my waist, “I cannot wait to build my life with you, here.”

THE END

Thank you for reading Espresso Your Love . I hope you fell in love with Cassie and Ryan!