Page 22 of Living La Vida Mocha

Chapter Six

The single word sliced through my dwindling mood, chopping it up into pieces and spitting back as something ugly and callous.

I slammed the lid shut on my laptop, pulling back slightly when I heard a crack, and stuffed my belongings into my bag. “Well, thank you for your time and for the coffee.”

My focus flew to the till, to get over there as fast as my wobbly legs could carry me, pay my bill, and hightail it out of Ridge Heights. I’d been so foolish in my thinking; I thought the love note idea was the best one I’d created – something his customers would eat up. But I was wrong. Again. No wonder I wasn’t making it in this business. Tory had been right, I did suck.

“Cara, wait. Let me explain.” He gripped my arm and spun me around, pulling me close enough to narrow the distance between us to mere inches.

I stared at the chain around his neck, rather than concentrate on the sensation of his warm fingers wrapped around my wrist.

“There’s nothing to explain. Yournoleft very little wiggle room.” It wasn’t supposed to be snarky, yet I couldn’t control the way it sounded.

Ignoring my snide comment, he stepped even closer. I could breathe in his sweet, intoxicating coffee bean scent, which wasn’t fair. It was like a sedative, and I wasn’t ready to calm down. Far from it.

“Let me explain.” There was a sharp edge to his voice I’d never heard before, and it commanded my full attention.

Swallowing, I steadied myself in his eyes. “Okay.”

“Sit down.” When I had perched myself on the edge of the seat, he lost the hardness and softened with a gentle head-shaking sigh. “All marketing plans must get approval from head office to make sure they are consistent with branding, imaging, and all that. As much as I love your idea, because I do think it’s truly unique and you know your stuff, I’d need to run it up the flagpole, so to speak, and see if they’d be on board with it.”

“Oh.” I pushed back deeper into my chair and slumped. The flickered flames of anger hadn’t fully extinguished. Not yet. “Oh, okay. Well, I suppose that makes a little sense. You could’ve led with that.”

“Based on your reaction…” A weak smile floated across his face. “I’m inclined to agree with you.”

I had nothing to counter his statement. Heart on my sleeve – my domain since the day I was born.

“I’m glad to see something hasn’t changed with you.” His smirk deepened, and with it, a different sense of calmness was blanketing me. How the world did that work?

A long, lingering sigh blew from my lungs, extinguishing the last of the anger. Staying this close to him was undoing my limited self-control. “I really should get going. I have a long drive home, and the night has already fallen.”

Once again, I rose, this time with great effort, as if leaving was the last thing on my mind. I didn’t want to go, but I also knew I shouldn’t stay. Or couldn’t.

“Have dinner with me.”

“Okay.” The word slipped out fast – too fast as my heart was clearly running the logic show – however the growing smile it created on his face was worth the quick response.

“Give me a few minutes to make sure Nina can close, and we’ll be off.” He walked cautiously back to the counter, checking over his shoulder and connecting with me. A hand went in the air, showing off two fingers before he disappeared down the hall.

There needed to be another word for okay, but it wasn’t coming to me. Instead, I stole glimpses down the hall in between digging through my wallet for the cash to see where he was.

I had just paid my bill when he returned. “So, where are you taking me for dinner?”

“How much of Ridge Heights have you seen?”

“Main Street and this coffee shop, and, hmmm… That sums up my experience.”

He shook his head and pulled his black and red toque over it. “You’ve barely seen anything. We’re so much bigger than one main street.”

“I gathered.”

“C’mon, I’ll give you a quick tour as we go.”

We stepped out into the crisp air. Although it was October, winter was heavy in the air, and the town lights were reflecting off the low-hanging clouds. Main Street had a rather ethereal view, like a city in the fog, and yet, there was none – just a gentle orangish haze.

Down the steps to the sidewalk, I stopped at my car, thankful I’d managed a spot near the shop. After pushing aside my small portable toolbox, I popped my laptop bag into the frunk and gave it a close as I slipped on my gloves. “Where are we going?”

“I’ll take you to the place with the best view of Ridge Heights.”