Epilogue
CASSIE
June
“ D rop it, Jacob,” I warn, carrying a tray of sandwiches I just assembled to the front of my cafe. He’s only been in my cafe for ten minutes, and I’m already starting to feel myself losing patience.
“Don’t you want to do something amazing for Canada Day? We have a big party before we celebrate Christmas in July. It’ll be fun.” He follows me through the swinging doors, hot on my heels.
“You know I do, and I am. I just don’t understand why you need me . I’m working out all the details with the organizing committee.” I start placing the sandwiches in the display case, bumping Jacob out of my way with my hip as he leans against the counter.
My counter.
“Because I need your help, too. I have the Grand Re-Opening of the Inn, and you know you’re better than me at putting the finishing touches on everything. Just like Valentine’s Day.”
“Ugh, don’t mention that day to me.”
I feel my temper rising thinking back to that day and the silly ‘Love Search.’ I could never figure out who put Jacob and I together, but it must have been just as a joke. There’s no way people really think that we’d make a good couple.
“I have Levi making the baked goods, and Stacey has the flowers.”
“And…”
“And…” he hesitates, likely knowing he won’t like my answer. His next words are so rushed that they almost come out as one word. “ I need you to give me the recipe for the Holly Jolly Latte so I can serve it. Or you can serve it. But I’d like it to be served .”
I stare at him blankly, my brain needing a moment to catch up with what he said. Once I can comprehend what he asks me, I give him a flat, “No.”
“Oh, come on, Cassie. Please?” he pleads.
“Jacob, you know I haven’t given that recipe to anyone. I’m not starting now.”
“But…”
“No buts, Jacob. It’s my drink, and it’s my secret. I can’t give it out to everyone who asks or they wouldn’t come into the cafe and get it from me.”
“But I’m not everyone.” He smiles, letting me know he’s trying to crank up his charm level.
It usually works on the other women in town, but it won’t work on me.
“Jacob, I really don’t have time for this. Is there something you really need from me, or can I finish getting ready for the lunch rush?”
He drops his smile. “You really aren’t going to give it to me?”
I roll my eyes. “Did you really think I would? ”
“But Cass, it’s me.”
“Yeah, it’s you,” I say, nodding.
“But I’m your Valentine,” he says with a pout.
“You seriously aren’t pulling that right now, are you? You know everything about that search was made up.”
“You don’t know that.”
Having reached my Jacob limit for the day, I march towards him, forcing him to take steps back until he’s on the other side of the counter. “Jacob Winters, you don’t get to come into my cafe and determine who my Valentine is based on a silly hunt this town made us do. You also don’t get to come in here and demand that I give you the recipe to my best-selling latte.”
“I wasn’t…” he started, but I don’t let him finish.
“You also don’t get to come in here and try to charm or guilt me into doing something I have already said no to.”
“I wasn’t…”
I march him out the door, holding it open just long enough for me to say, “Happy Canada Day, Jacob. Now, don’t talk to me until Christmas!”
I slam the door harder than I meant to.
Seeing him through the glass door, he looks like he’s about to say something until he thinks better of it. With a final glance, he drops his shoulders and turns, making his way back toward the direction of the Inn.
Who does he think he is?
Like I’d give him the recipe for my Holly Jolly Latte.
As if.
Facing my back to the door, I look at my empty cafe, wondering if I did the right thing. Of all the people in Candy Cane Creek, Jacob would be the one I trust the most with the recipe. I know that he wouldn’t share it or try to profit off of it. I’m sure he only asked because he didn’t want to pull me away from the cafe for the whole day, especially over a busy day like Canada Day .
So why did I fight him so hard?
There’s something about him, especially since Valentine’s Day, that just doesn’t feel…right. We were good friends. Are good friends. So why do I feel I need to be combative whenever he’s around me? Like I don’t know if I want to kiss him or strangle him.
Wait…kiss him? Where did that come from?
Shaking my head, I beeline it to the back to get another round of sandwiches for the display case. I need to throw myself into the oncoming rush because I can not afford to have Jacob Winters take over my thoughts.