Chapter 14
Chapter Fourteen
The next morning, Lila wished she could hide under her pillow. Between Grandma and Irene’s golf cart joyride and TJ trying to dance with her, she’d had enough excitement for a while. Unfortunately, coffee didn’t brew itself.
She got up, dressed, ate a quick breakfast, then drove to Pleasant Beans. Slipping through the front door, she paused, surprised the air was already rich with the comforting scent of roasted beans and vanilla syrup. Everything was quiet. Too quiet.
That is, until TJ’s voice drifted from the back room. “Good morning, Miss Comfort,” he greeted as he came up the hall.
Her heart did a ridiculous skip. “Um, morning.” She busied herself with straightening napkins and tried not to look at him. “You’re here early,” she said.
“So are you,” he pointed out with a grin, and nodded toward the parking lot. “I was trying to get things ready to take back to the festival grounds, including those pies we dropped off here last night.”
She smiled and tried not to sigh. Of course he had to sound cheerful.
Worse, he looked entirely too awake for someone who’d spent last night dodging old ladies in golf carts.
She thought of the way TJ had stayed with her, standing guard like the golf-cart granny duo were some hideous beasts about to attack.
He flashed her that same crooked grin that made her forget what she was supposed to be doing. “Sleep okay?” he asked.
“Fine,” she said. “Um, you ?”
“Like a log.” He chuckled and leaned against the counter. For a heartbeat, everything felt too familiar. Good grief, she must be getting used to his company and was becoming far too comfortable with him.
Grandma bustled in through the front door, bright-eyed as if nothing had happened. “Lovely morning! Oh, and I made muffins!” She held up a basket. She lowered it and looked them over. “My, my, don’t you two look cozy.”
Lila dropped the stack of napkins in her hands and quickly bent to pick them up. “We are not cozy!”
Grandma hummed as she went behind the counter, smiling knowingly at them. She offered TJ the basket. “Muffin?” She winked.
TJ took one as Lila grabbed a rag and ran it over the counter even though it didn’t need wiping. “I’ll put these napkins away and get the shop ready to open,” she said quickly.
Maybe if she stayed busy enough, she’d stop thinking about how close she’d be to TJ working in the booth all day. Her heart fluttered at the mere thought. Oh, good grief. How was she going to survive this?
It wasn’t long before the shop was ready for customers. Lila and TJ loaded boxes into his rental car for the second day of the Harvest Festival. Between Grandma’s muffins and Irene’s pies, they had enough to feed half of Clear Creek.
TJ shut the hatch. “All right, ready for round two?”
“As I’ll ever be,” Lila said, forcing a smile. She just hoped she survived it.
When they reached the festival area in Old Town, the air smelled like hickory smoke and caramel corn. Whatever someone planned to barbecue, she wanted in. She loved barbecue anything. As vendors began setting up, she peeked down the row, hoping to spot new ones.
Once the Pleasant Beans banner was hung and the coffee pots were plugged in, Lila felt the morning settle into a comfortable sort of quiet. At least until the bell on the counter jingled, making her jump.
“Tristan!”
TJ’s head jerked up. “Mom?”
Mrs. Jones peered at the pies and muffins. She wore a denim jacket and ball cap and carried two steaming cups of cider. Her smile was wide and warm. “I thought I’d bring you some cider. Here’s one for you!” She handed it to TJ. “And one for you, Lila.”
“Thanks, Mom,” TJ said, taking his cup.
“Thanks.” Lila accepted hers and took a sip. “Oh! It’s hot!”
“Try it,” Mrs. Jones urged with a wink.
Lila blew on the cider, then took a cautious sip. “This is really good! Did you make it yourself?”
“I did.” Mrs. Jones beamed. “Wow, you two have quite a setup here. This is wonderful! I’ll have to bring your dad by, Tristan.”
“Sure, that’d be nice. He’s got to have some of this pie.”
“Oh, he already has. That’s why he wants to come back.” She laughed. “We’re planning a little day trip to Leavenworth. It’s beautiful this time of year.”
“I’ve always wanted to go there,” Lila said, smiling.
Mrs. Jones smiled back then faced her son. “Tristan, did you make up your mind yet about that research post in New Zealand?”
TJ stiffened, his jaw tightening. “Yeah, Mom, I know.”
Lila’s hands went cold even though she was holding hot cider. A research post? In New Zealand? That was even farther than England. He obviously had no intention of ever settling down. Not here, anyway.
“You’re quite the world traveler,” she said lightly, though her voice came out sharper than she intended. She turned to rearrange muffins that didn’t need rearranging.
TJ shot her a look, then faced his mother. “I haven’t decided yet, Mom. Please don’t push me.”
Mrs. Jones rolled her eyes. “Well, you know I’d rather you find something here, but what I want never seems to matter. He’s determined to break his mother’s heart,” she said to Lila with mock sorrow.
Lila’s smile was lopsided. “At least he’s here now.”
“Yes, that’s true,” Mrs. Jones sighed. “Well, I’d better go before I buy something I don’t need. See you both later.” She waved and wandered down the aisle as music started up again.
TJ turned to Lila. “You all right? You got quiet all of a sudden.”
She forced a laugh. “Just trying to take all this in. Your mom’s quite the character.”
“Tell me about it,” he said, still smiling.
Lila grabbed a box of lids and opened it for customers to use. Of course he’d be leaving. Why wouldn’t he? He didn’t belong here. TJ Jones was the kind of man who belonged everywhere else. England, New Zealand… anywhere but Clear Creek.
Her heart sank. Today was going to be hard. She’d have to keep her heart from doing something really stupid.
TJ watched his mother disappear into the crowd, her cheerful wave lost among festival-goers.
The moment she was gone, the air between him and Lila changed.
He’d noticed it earlier, subtle but definite.
Yesterday she’d laughed easily, her eyes bright with mischief.
They’d had a great time. Now her shoulders were tight, her words polite.
Had he done something wrong? Said something to offend her? His mind raced over yesterday’s events. Maybe trying to get her to dance had been the wrong move, but he’d only been having fun. It had felt good being with her.
He brushed muffin crumbs from the counter, though there were hardly any, mostly just for something to do. “You all right?” he asked her, not for the first time that day.
“Fine.” She didn’t look at him. “We’re about to get busy again.” She nodded toward a crowd heading their way.
He ignored them. Something in her tone clipped off the words like a slammed door.
“Right,” he said softly.
The group stopped at their booth, locals he recognized from years ago, each wanting a handshake or quick chat about his travels. Normally he’d enjoy it, but this time every question about England, or his work made Lila’s back stiffen a little more.
“So what’s it like living over there?” one woman asked as she took her coffee.
“It’s quite lovely,” TJ said automatically. “Everywhere in Europe has a different pace, a different culture, but home’s still here in Clear Creek, you know?” He smiled at her, then wagged a finger. “You’re a Turner, aren’t you?”
The woman laughed. “Yes, I am. I’m surprised you recognize anyone. You didn’t go to school with all of my kids.”
“They all doing well?”
“Oh, quite. They’re grown, and I still have a few in college,” Mrs. Turner said.
He nodded toward the people behind her. “Well, I’d best stop holding everyone up.”
She thanked him for the coffee and moved on.
Lila didn’t react to their conversation. She just nodded to the next customer and poured another cup.
When there was a lull, TJ tried again. “You sure you’re okay, Lila?”
“Of course.” She smiled, too brightly, as far as he was concerned. “I’m just trying to focus on work.”
Focus. That was code for leave me alone.
TJ studied her for a moment longer, then turned to refill the cream pitcher. Maybe he’d said something wrong. He must have. Because afterward, Lila had gone from warm to distant in record time.
He leaned against the counter, watching her help a customer with a slice of pie. She laughed at something the man said. A sound that hit him square in the chest. So, you can still laugh and have a good time… just not with me.
The thought stung more than he expected.
He tried to shake it off. He had bigger things to worry about.
His work, and that blasted offer in New Zealand.
But somehow the only thing on his mind was the way Lila had smiled at him last night.
The way she’d delighted in their dance. He could still see it in her eyes, feel it in how she’d relaxed in his arms and trusted him to lead her through the steps.
Now that smile was gone.
TJ forced himself back into motion. Taking orders, greeting customers, doing what he did best: pretending everything was fine. But as the morning wore on, he couldn’t shake the uneasy sense that something between them had shifted.
And worse… he wasn’t sure how to fix it.
TJ pushed the thought aside and rang up the next sale. A familiar laugh cut through the bustle, and he didn’t have to look up to know who it belonged to.
“Tristan!”
He grinned despite himself. “You’re back already?”
His mother beamed as she approached with TJ’s father in tow. “I couldn’t resist showing your dad this adorable booth! You two have made quite the little business here.”
His father tipped his hat toward Lila. “So this is the famous coffee girl I’ve been hearing about.”
Lila blinked, cheeks coloring. “Oh, I wouldn’t say famous.” She gave TJ the side eye, as if to say, what have you been telling them?
“Well, anyone who can keep my son from working himself into the ground deserves a medal,” he said cheerfully. “Or at least a cup of that fine brew.” He offered his hand to Lila. “Charles Jones. Eleanor has told me all about you.”
TJ let go a nervous laugh and handed him a cup. “Here you go, Dad, on the house.” So, his mother had been talking about Lila.
“Now that’s my kind of business.” His father took a sip and sighed. “Smooth. You sure you want to leave this behind for New Zealand, son?”
Lila’s hand faltered mid-pour. Is that what had her so quiet? TJ shot his father a look. “Dad…”
“What?” His father shrugged. “Just saying. Seems like you’re doing fine right here.”
“Dad,” TJ warned, his voice dropping in pitch. Good grief, did the whole town know about the offer?
His mom gave her husband a light swat on the arm. “Oh, stop teasing him, Charles. You know he hasn’t decided yet.”
Lila smiled, which looked forced. She glanced between his parents and him.
His father leaned against the counter. “Well, wherever you end up, you’ll do great.”
TJ managed a grin. “Thanks, Dad.”
His mother turned to Lila. Uh-oh! “You take good care of him while he’s here, all right? Heaven knows he forgets to eat when he’s busy.”
“I’ll try,” Lila said softly, and stared at the counter.
“Try hard,” his father said with a wink. “The man will live off caffeine and popcorn if you let him.”
TJ rolled his eyes, but Lila laughed, just enough to make his heart twist. He wanted to tell her he wasn’t going anywhere. That New Zealand didn’t mean anything. That she did. But would it scare her? Heck, the realization was scaring him! But he couldn’t deny it…
His parents were already walking away, chatting about apple fritters and antique stalls when his father turned and waved to them. “See you tonight, son!”
TJ nodded and waved back. When they were out of sight, he turned to Lila. “Sorry about that.”
She shrugged, eyes on the counter. “No need to apologize. They’re sweet.”
He opened his mouth to say more, but she’d already turned to help a new customer. TJ swallowed whatever words had been forming and reached for the stack of cups instead.
The day went on, the festival music cheerful and bright, but beneath the laughter and the chatter, something heavy lingered.
By the time the sun began to dip, TJ couldn’t shake the feeling that he’d somehow started to lose something he hadn’t even gotten the chance to hold.