Suck My Puck (Denver Bashers Series #3)

50. Bella

Chapter 50

Bella

I walk through the Uptown neighborhood of Denver, holding Braden’s hand. Maizie trots ahead of us, pulling on her leash.

Braden chuckles and gives her a bit more slack. “She’s excited to see what could be your new coffee shop,” he says to me.

Butterflies swarm my tummy. “I am too.”

We pass a block of row houses adorned with cute Christmas decorations. An early morning dusting of snow covers the sidewalk, but it’s sunny now so all the snow in the street has melted. It’s two weeks until Christmas, but it feels like Christmas morning for me right now.

We cross the street and pass a crowded diner and a cool-looking brewery. We walk past and stop at an empty brick-front building on the edge of the block.

I stand at the front door and check the time on my phone. “We’re a little early. We beat the real estate agent.”

Braden smiles at me. “That’s okay. It’ll give us time to check out the outside.”

I take in the pretty weathered brick and the glass door entrance. There’s a big window in the front where I can see the interior, which looks like it has nice wooden flooring. The logo from whatever business used to be here has been scraped off the window. Only flecks of white remain.

Maizie sniffs around the sidewalk in front and licks a small pile of snow.

“You like it?” Braden asks me.

I bite back a smile and nod. “Yeah, but I’m trying not to get my hopes up.”

We’re meeting a listing agent to check out possible spaces for my coffee shop. Last week, I met up with Ingrid’s mom and two of her friends who are interested in being investors in my coffee shop. I was bracing myself for things not to work out, for their vision to conflict with mine, for them to want to have a say in every part of the business.

But they told me they wanted me to have total control. They’re happy to put up the money for the coffee shop, and as long as I don’t go over budget, I can rent whatever space I want, in whatever neighborhood I want. I get to call the shots on the design and decor of the place, hire the staff I want, and put what I want on the menu.

After that meeting, we drew up contracts and talked to lawyers. After everything was signed, I was ready to start hunting for spaces to rent.

I couldn’t believe it. My dream was coming true.

I gaze at the exterior of this empty building, my excitement building and building. I feel like a kid on Christmas morning, waiting to open up my presents.

Braden gives my hand a gentle squeeze. “It’s okay to get your hopes up. Even if this space doesn’t work out, we’ll look at another one. We’ll find the perfect place for your coffee shop. No matter what, we’re going to make this happen for you.”

Warmth blooms in my chest. Braden has been so supportive and excited for me. When I came home after the investor meeting and told him how well it went, he ran out and bought a bottle of champagne so we could celebrate. When we signed the contracts, he took me out for dinner at this ridiculously fancy French restaurant in Cherry Creek called Se’bon.

He’s been looking at rental listings with me online every day. He’s just as excited about this as I am.

That warmth burrows deep inside of me. It’s so consuming and overwhelming that it starts to ache.

So this is what it feels like to have a partner who truly cares about my happiness, who cheers me on through all my goals and dreams, who would give anything to help me succeed.

I never, ever thought I’d have that. But I do with Braden.

I tip-toe up and press a kiss to his lips. “You’re amazing, you know that?”

A smile that’s equal parts sweet and sexy appears on his handsome face. “So I’ve heard.”

“Thank you for coming with me today,” I say. “And for being so supportive through all this. Especially since Lucas has been on your mind.”

His smile softens. “It’s hard thinking about what he’s going through. But the team and I did all that we could do up to this point. We just have to wait.”

I think about how upset Braden was the day he got home from visiting those kids in the hospital. He told me about meeting a teenage patient named Lucas, who has leukemia. Braden said his best chance at remission is a bone marrow transplant, but no one in his family is a match. So he and his teammates decided to all become part of the bone marrow registry database to see if they’d be a match.

I think about the pain in Braden’s eyes when he told me all this. I was touched and heartbroken for him. It was amazing how he wanted to help, but we both knew what a long shot it would be for any of them to be a match.

Still though. Just the fact that he’s willing to help this kid shows what a selfless and giving person he is.

“You’re such a good person, Braden.”

The sadness fades from his eyes. He cups my face with his hand and presses a gentle kiss to my lips.

A minute later, a woman in a long wool coat and stiletto boots rounds the corner. She sees us and smiles.

“Hi, Bella?”

I walk up to her and shake her hand. “Yeah. You’re Caroline, right?”

She nods. “So great to meet you.”

I introduce her to Braden. They shake hands and Maizie runs up to her and licks the tip of her shoe.

“And that’s Maizie,” I say.

Caroline chuckles and crouches down to pet her. “Aww what a cutie!”

She stands back up and pulls a key out of her purse. “Are you ready to check this place out?”

I grin. “So ready.” She unlocks the door, holds it open for us to walk in, and tells us to look around for as long as we’d like.

I stroll along the hardwood floors and take in the space with wide eyes. It’s spacious with a high ceiling, but not huge. I could fit a half-dozen small tables in the main part of the space and put stools or a bench along the far wall for more seating. There’s a single occupancy bathroom in the corner, which is perfect for a place this size .

There’s a counter in the middle, where I could take orders and prepare drinks. I walk to the back room. There’s enough room for an industrial coffee bean roaster.

A giddy feeling swoops through me. It’s a second before I realize how wide I’m grinning.

“What do you think?” Braden asks.

“I think it’s perfect.”

He grins. “I was thinking the same thing.”

“That coffee bean roaster I’m saving for will work great in here.” I grab my phone and show him the exact model I have in mind. “Hopefully it’ll still be in stock by the time I have enough money saved to buy it.”

I glance around the space again. I shake my head, in disbelief at how perfect it is. “I can’t believe I fell in love with the first space I looked at.”

“Sometimes it’s just that easy,” he says.

I walk over to Caroline and ask about the rental price and the lease agreement. When she tells me, I try not to squeal. It’s right in the middle of my budget. I can totally make this work.

“When is it available to rent and move into?”

“End of February.”

I look at Braden, who’s giving Maizie a treat. He walks over to me, that giddy smile playing across his lips.

“What do you think? Is this the one?” he asks.

Excitement bursts through me as I let another giddy smile break free. “Yes. This is it. This is my coffee shop.”