Chapter 24
Chapter Twenty-Four
He had been a perfect gentleman.
A half hour later, Brad opened the door to Work Zone Coffee. Abby stepped inside and inhaled. Mm... She loved the aroma of coffee. She always had.
This coffeeshop was definitely different from the Steaming Brew. This place was darker with an industrial style from corrugated metal on one of the walls and black paint on another wall to signs that were styled like highway signs.
And when she looked down, she noticed the concrete floor was painted with solid yellow lines on the edge of the aisle, and there was a dashed line in the center just like a highway.
And in the corners, they mounted giant television screens with videos of scenery, as though it were filmed from a car zipping down a highway.
“So, what do you think?” Brad asked.
“I think that someone has a lot of imagination. Is it part of a chain?”
He shook his head. “It’s a single proprietor.”
She was intrigued. “Now let’s try their brew.”
Brad gestured for her to lead the way to the counter. He didn’t have to wait because she was on it. After being up in the middle of the night to drive to the airport, she was tired. Some caffeine would definitely give her a boost.
When she looked up at the menu, she noticed they’d worked the highway theme into the drink names from Left Lane Latte, which was a latte with two shots of espresso, to Work Zone coffee, which was a decaf coffee. Someone definitely gave the business a whole lot of thought.
It made her wonder if she should step things up with her coffeeshop. After all, it had been open not quite five years. Maybe it was time to give it a makeover. As she placed her order, she tucked the thoughts away to mull over later.
Brad insisted on paying, even though she’d objected. He said she was his guest, and it was the least he could do.
They found a little table and took a seat. She wanted to remember this place, so she pulled out her phone.
“What are you up to?” he asked. “Did I bore you so much that you have to call someone else to talk to?”
She laughed. “No. I just want to remember this place. I love it. It wouldn’t work in Bayberry, but it definitely works here. I want to take some pictures, and maybe it’ll inspire me to give the Steaming Brew a makeover.”
“Why would you do that?”
She shrugged. “It’s been the same since I opened it. That’s been a while. Maybe it’s time to switch things up a little.”
“I think it’s perfect the way it is.”
“You do?” She sent him a puzzled look. “I thought you brought me here to give me ideas of how to redo my place.”
He shook his head. “I brought you here to show you that you could do whatever you wanted if you were to bring your business to Chicago.”
“Chicago?” It took her brain a moment to catch up with all of the thoughts going through her mind. “You want me to move to Chicago?” When he sent her a sheepish look and shrugged, she said, “But I don’t even know anyone here.”
“You know me. Isn’t that enough?”
She knew the answer he wanted to hear, but she couldn’t utter those words. Her family and friends were back in Bayberry. He couldn’t possibly expect her to choose between them and him. It wasn’t going to happen.
“Forget I said it,” he said. “I was just joking.”
She breathed easier, but something told her it had been more than a joke. It was like they were both dancing around whatever this was that was happening between them. Maybe it was time to hash it out.
Her gaze lifted and looked into his. “What are we doing?”
“Having coffee.” He sent her an easy smile as he took a sip of his coffee.
“We need to talk.”
He shook his head. “Not now.”
She appreciated that he didn’t want to ruin her trip, but they were just delaying the inevitable. Flying back and forth was not sustainable. But maybe he was right. The conversation could wait. They still had the rest of the weekend.
The weekend had been wonderful.
It had been quick.
And now it was over.
Brad stood at the airport with Abby. She had her carry-on slung over her shoulder as they stood off to the side of the security point.
There were so many things he’d been saving up to say to her, and now he couldn’t think of a single thing—except for how much he was going to miss her.
They’d gone out to dinner both nights. One night had been fancy, and the other had been laid-back. He wanted to show her how versatile city living could be. He’d wanted to convince her that she could be happy in Chicago with him.
They’d visited the Art Institute and the Botanic Garden.
One evening they’d taken in a movie, and her last evening in town, they’d gone back to his place and talked about their pasts.
They’d laughed and he’d shared more with her than he’d ever shared with Reed. She was now the keeper of his secrets.
He looked deep into her eyes. “I don’t want you to go.”
“I know. And I’m sorry. I have to. I have the coffeeshop to get back to.”
He nodded. “I know. But it doesn’t mean I won’t miss you.”
“Please don’t make this harder...” She lowered her head.
“Abby?”
When she raised her chin, he lowered his head.
He caught her mouth with his own. It was something that he’d wanted to do all weekend, but he hadn’t acted on the desire, because he was afraid of.
.. Well, he wasn’t quite sure if he was afraid of her reaction or perhaps his own.
Because he’d never fallen for someone like he was falling for her.
Her kiss was sweet like the syrup she’d had that morning when they’d shared breakfast before heading to the airport. She was hesitant at first. He thought she was going to pull away, but then she kissed him back.
He knew he would replay this moment later that evening when he was lying in bed, unable to sleep. He would recall the way she fit perfectly in his arms, the light gentle floral scent of her shampoo, and the way her arms wrapped around his neck as her fingertips teased their way through his hair.
He didn’t want this kiss to end, because he knew when it did that she’d move to the security line. He’d stand right where he was, like some sort of besotted lover, until she gave him one last wave and disappeared from sight.
He instinctually pulled her closer, as though to keep her from getting away. Life was just so much better with her in it.
Someone bumped into them. They jerked apart. When he glanced over, he saw an older woman smiling at them. “I used to have a love like that. Treasure it. It’s fleeting.”
In a blink, the woman got lost in the crowd. When he looked back at Abby, her cheeks were rosy. He couldn’t help but wonder if that was from his kiss or a reaction to the woman’s words.
“I have to go,” Abby said. “I don’t want to miss my flight.”
“Do you have everything?” He didn’t know why he’d asked that.
All she had was the one carry-on. But it was better than what he really wanted to say.
He wanted to tell her it was the best weekend of his life and that he didn’t want her to go.
But it was better to keep that stuff to himself.
After all, there was no way this long-distance relationship was going to last. Right?
She gave him a quick hug. To his utter disappointment there was no kiss this time. And as he predicted, she waved a couple of times while she processed through the security line. With one last smile and wave, she was gone.
As he made his way out of the airport, he’d never felt so alone. It was so bad he actually contemplated if he had enough time to buy a ticket and catch her flight. A glance at the departures listing told him he didn’t have the time.
Thankfully, the wedding shower was only a couple weeks away. Although at that particular moment, it felt as though it were a lifetime away.