Chapter 5 #2
Milly left him, knowing there was no point in challenging him further.
She climbed down the stairs, and her mouth fell open as she entered a gorgeous, more intimate dining area.
There were no windows as they were on the lower deck and below the water level, but the walls were covered in pale wooden panelling.
Bench seating ran around the sides with tables in front and a row of chairs in the middle.
She could just imagine it with cosy cushions and blankets.
It had a warm and cosy vibe. It was beautiful and such a shame the place wasn’t reaching its full potential.
She took a video and some photos for reference and made her way back upstairs, delighted to see that two of the tables now had customers at them.
They were eating some of Theo’s deliciously fresh cinnamon rolls, cooing over the flavours and the delicious coffee.
Milly smiled at them as she made her way to the counter. ‘It’s wonderful down there.’
‘Thank you.’
‘I think we should find a way to use it to help with your income. You could rent it out for parties or something.’
He scowled and made that growly noise again. It really shouldn’t, but it definitely did something to her insides, and she tapped her fingertips on the counter to divert her mind.
He didn’t offer any more and she decided to order herself one of the yummy, iced coffees he’d made the day before.
‘As you’re going to be here for the summer, I might as well teach you,’ Theo said, beckoning her once again into the tiny space.
‘Oh, all right.’ Her stomach erupted into a swarm of butterflies fluttering around. She adjusted the arm of her glasses and did her best to ignore them as she moved.
‘And then you can help serve our massive queue of customers when there are too many for me to handle.’
While he was being a little snarky, she knew by the way he wouldn’t meet her eye he was disappointed, maybe even a little embarrassed.
‘It will happen,’ she said gently. ‘This place is lovely. We just need to help people find it, that’s all.’
‘That simple, huh?’
‘Nothing’s ever that simple, but that doesn’t mean it won’t happen if we try.’
Theo shook his head disbelievingly and began to gather what he needed.
In a calm, non-judgemental way, he explained the process for making a great iced latte.
He was a good teacher and didn’t make her feel bad when she made mistakes, which she did, several times.
The baristas who served her always made it look so easy, she had no idea there was so much that could go wrong and affect the flavour.
By the time she’d finished she had an iced coffee that looked similar, but she hadn’t quite nailed the flavours like Theo had.
It was another thing that made the café unique.
Theo’s skills were definitely next level.
‘Why is the place called Lykke?’ she asked, having moved to the other side of the counter and leaning over it. ‘Did you come up with the name?’
‘I did. That’s what life is about, isn’t it? Happiness. Joy. The things that make life worth living.’
‘Is that the whole hygge lifestyle thing again?’
He raised an eyebrow and tilted his head. ‘You pronounced it right! I’m impressed.’
That killer smile sent a warmth through her core again. She was going to have to be really careful around that.
‘And you’re right. It is our lifestyle. But—’ He leaned over the counter too, closing the gap between them. ‘Why do I get the impression you don’t really believe in it?’
‘It’s not that I don’t believe in it,’ she said straightening up because being so close to him made her breath go all shaky.
‘I think it’s a great concept. I’m just …
I guess I’m just cynical with how it works in practice.
Like, everyone gets stressed at work, yes?
Everyone has relationship issues.’ Theo stiffened slightly though he tried to hide it and Milly’s curiosity piqued.
What was that reaction for? Knowing she couldn’t ask, she continued, pretending she hadn’t seen it.
‘Everyone gets stressed and upset at times. How do you deal with that?’
Whatever had flashed through his mind moments before had gone just as quickly as he relaxed, wiping the counter, which seemed to be either a nervous tick or a habit. ‘It doesn’t make life’s problems disappear. But it can help you deal with them.’
‘I still don’t see how.’
‘I can see I’m going to have to convince you.’
She looked up, smiling, the atmosphere between them far more relaxed. ‘You are.’
The customers from one of the tables left, speaking to Theo on their way out and thanking him for such delicious food.
He was chatty and charming, asking them where they were staying, how long they were there for.
He even suggested a few places to go but they weren’t the places he’d recommended to her.
He was similar to how he’d been with her when she arrived, amiable and polite, just without their mad flirting.
Unless she’d read too much into that initial exchange, but she was sure she hadn’t.
They spent the next few hours chatting, laughing and discussing the café – how it came to be, what had inspired Theo to become a chef (a big appetite and an interest in pairing different flavours) and how Ada had got involved.
She’d already heard about it from her friend, but when Theo told her, Milly got the feeling there was something else going on when it came to this other investor who fell through, but she didn’t ask any more, not wanting to push her luck and delve too deeply.
Theo chuckled when he told her how Ada had insisted on helping him, seeing it as another way of embracing the Danish way of life, trusting herself and her instincts, which sounded exactly like something her crazy best friend would do.
‘Right,’ she said, when conversation paused over whether iced or hot lattes were the best. ‘I think I’d better go and figure out what I’m cooking for my dinner tonight. Unlike you, I’m not a natural at it.’
‘You don’t need to,’ he replied.
‘No?’
‘No. We’re going out for dinner.’
‘Oh. Right. Okay. I just thought—’
‘It’s part of your hygge education. It’s not dressy or fancy, but be ready for seven. All right?’
She laughed. ‘Okay then. And what should I do for the rest of the afternoon? Do you want me to stay here and help?’
She thought about asking for the detailed financials too, as they’d had a couple more customers since the morning, but the ones who’d been sat a table behind them were just leaving, meaning the place would soon be empty again.
She hated how the light flew from Theo’s eyes, and she decided to ask later.
‘No, it’s fine. Why don’t you explore the city, and I’ll meet you back at the house.’