Chapter 3 Heart and Hearth
HEART AND HEARTH
Penny
The Heart and Hearth coffee shop near the library embodied many things I loved, with exposed brick walls, mismatched chairs, and ornate salvaged iron pieces on the walls. Above a long wooden counter, a chalkboard menu listed a fall lineup of coffee flavors I couldn’t wait to try.
I arrived early and ordered a Pumpkin Honey Spice Latte from a barista with a nose ring. He created elaborate latte art of entwined hearts, taking the design of romantic foam sculpture very seriously.
I claimed a table by the window near the glowing fireplace. A stack of old books and plants rested on the mantel. Most of the small tables were filled with pairs of people. Soon Archer and I would be one of them. Oof, the butterflies in my stomach worked nonstop at the thought of seeing him again.
I opened an ebook on my phone, held it with one hand and let the other wrap around my mug. My knee wouldn’t stop bouncing, and I barely read a word, too nervous to think, above the subtle hum of conversation and clinking mugs around me.
With each chime of the door, I peeked up, expecting to see Archer. He was only five minutes late. I’d give him ten more.
Who was I kidding? This was the most exciting thing to happen to me all year. I’d wait all day if necessary.
Not pathetic. Just hopeful.
Why did this matter so much? It wasn’t even a date. Just a friendly visit over a beverage.
Fortunately, I didn’t have to wait longer.
Archer entered behind an older couple, scanning the room for me.
Not a photo, not a memory, but six-foot-plus of gorgeous reality.
His suit fit like sin until he removed his coat and tossed it over his shoulder.
For one second, it was like I was watching an advertisement for an expensive cologne shot in slow motion.
Then his gaze found mine, and his whole expression warmed.
“Penelope Fair.” His voice—deeper and richer than I remembered—melted me right into the seat.
I stood too quickly, almost knocking my mug over. “Archer Bellamy,” I croaked. Smooth, Penny.
I did not expect my physical reaction to him to be so… so intense.
I stuck out my hand. He leaned in for a hug. Awkward. He landed a cheek kiss instead, drawing me in with a whiff of his aftershave.
“You smell nice,” I murmured. “Unlike me. I was covering up Eau de Doggie Daycare. I aimed for ‘womanly’ and probably landed somewhere around ‘car deodorizer.’”
His eyes crinkled. “Aggressive, but pleasant.” He noticed my mug. “You should’ve waited for me. I always pay on a date.”
Date? My pulse stuttered. “I was early.”
He winked. “Be right back.”
He hung his jacket on the back of a chair, leaving me standing there, mouth agape, staring after him as he strode to the counter.
Me, a date? I almost looked around, sure he meant someone else. No. Not possible. I wasn’t that lucky.
When he returned, he set down a container of scones and a to-go coffee cup in front of me. “Be sure to share the scones with Aunt Brier and tell her hi for me.”
“Thank you. This is really sweet of you. She said to tell you hello, too.” I almost confessed she’d wanted to stay up all night and knit him a scarf, but I had talked her out of it.
We settled in, knees brushing under the small table. Neither of us pulled back.
“Good to see you, Penny. It’s been a long time.” His gaze lingered, taking me in.
“It has.”
“I’ll admit,” he said, eyes curious, “I would never have expected to see you on a millionaire dating app.”
“Brier and I dared each other; otherwise, I wouldn’t have bothered.” I laughed.
“How’s that working for you?” He took a sip of espresso. I couldn’t miss the way his big hands and full lips formed around the small cup, like a man who knew how to claim and protect what he loves.
“Oh, um… I’m pretty sure my profile scares men off given the triple threat of kids, dogs, and marriage. Instant swipe-left material. But I decided I was done with guys my age who think romance is splitting a check and texting ‘wanna hookup?’ at midnight.”
His mouth tilted. “Can’t argue with that logic. I joined because my buddy, Dax, built the app. I invested with him and figured I should test the product.”
“So you’re a case study?”
“Exactly.”
“And how’s that working for you?” I turned the tables on him.
Instead, he leaned in and sighed, both forearms taking up space between us.
His Rolex watch and monogrammed ivory cufflinks stood out like the luxuries they were.
“Look. I just want to get something out in the open before we go any further. Please don’t be offended, but I have to ask. Do you still talk to your stepsister?”
The bluntness made me laugh. “No. I don’t talk to Brianne at all anymore since Mom divorced her dad. We were never really sisters, just forced together because of our parents. The age difference made it hard for us to be friends.”
Relief loosened his shoulders. “I’m glad to hear it. That was… a difficult time for me.”
“There was always drama with her. If it makes you feel better, the last I heard from Mom, she’s raising four kids and seems miserable in her marriage to the professor. But look at you. You practically built the skyline of New York, and claim the title of the best uncle.”
“A third of the skyline, at most.” A cocky grin preceded his pulling up photos on his phone. “And here, what kind of uncle would I be if I didn’t show off the photos?” He swiped through several of a baby boy, a toddler and their parents.
“Beautiful children, but no wonder. Look at Brooks and his wife. How happy they seem.”
A gentle light hit his eyes. “Maisy is everything to him.”
I loved the way he said it. I wanted that. To be everything to someone. I deserved that, right, with a man like Archer? Oh God, I shouldn’t stare at him, but I can’t stop.
“Since we’re clearing the air, what did you ever see in Brianne?” I dared ask.
He studied his cup—a shot of espresso, that’s it. “She was the first girl who noticed me. I mistook that for love.”
I shifted and heated, hating to hear about him with her at all. Didn’t realize my green-eyed monster would come out to play today. “For what it’s worth, I always thought you deserved better.”
His gaze lifted, startling. “You did?”
Heat rose in my cheeks. “Remember that night after Brianne’s graduation when you two got into a fight and we didn’t know where she went?
My mother and I were staying at Brier’s for the weekend.
When you showed up, you and I talked on the front steps for a while.
You pointed out architectural details on the buildings across the street like they were constellations.
I decided right then to study architecture in college. ”
His brows shot up. “Because of me?”
I laughed nervously, swiping at the lipstick print I’d left on my cup. “What can I say? You made cornices sound sexy.”
He exhaled, a little shaken. “Penny, I had no idea.”
The silence between us electrified. His knee pressed to mine again, and I pretended it was deliberate this time. I licked my lips in response.
“So what happened?” he asked. “Why aren’t you working in architecture now?”
I took a sip, debating how much to tell.
“Long story short? After graduation, I spent a couple of years following my college boyfriend from town to town, supporting his dream while mine gathered dust. When I found out he was cheating, I came back to New York, helped Brier after her knee replacement surgery, and… here I still am.”
His jaw flexed, eyes sharp with something protective, a wry smile on his lips. “Need me to find your ex? Have him dealt with?”
I winked. “And here I thought you built skyscrapers, not hit lists.”
He huffed a laugh, then tilted his head. “It’s not too late to get in on the ground level somewhere if that’s really what you want to do with your life.”
My throat tightened, regretting that I hadn’t dived into a job search sooner. “But who would hire me now? It’s been years since I graduated. Some days it feels like someone else’s dream.”
Something flickered in his eyes, but he didn’t voice it. Instead, he cleared his throat and shifted gears. “Tell me about the dogs.”
“Now it’s my turn to show you some fur babies.” I pulled out my phone, showed him Goldie and the daycare pups.
“Hairy coworkers,” he teased. We drifted into stories, his of far-flung interesting projects around the world, mine of silly dog chaos, until over an hour vanished way too fast.
A call interrupted another of his stories, and he must have noticed the time. “Hate to end this. I have to go to another appointment, but Penny, it has been amazing to see you. I’d like to do it again sometime. Soon.”
“Me too.” Our eyes caught and held long enough for me to imagine so much more with him, when I came here expecting nothing.
When we finally stood, he helped me into my coat, his touch warm at my shoulders. Then he bent close again, delivering a second cheek kiss. Slower this time, lingering long enough to steal the air from my lungs.
At the very least, if he didn't follow through with another ‘date’, then at least I discovered I needed a man who delivered sweet cheek kisses.
My body became addicted in one hit. I told myself it was just coffee, no promises. When we stepped outside, waved, and parted ways, I snuck a peek back at him. He lingered on the curb, gazing back at me before crossing the street.
I couldn’t stifle the hope surging inside me, butterflies flying, and my pulse racing. The whole idea of seeing him again became impossible to resist.