A Café Au Lait Kind of Love (The Coffee Loft Series: Fall Collection)

Chapter 1

1

I magine your ideal coffee shop. Does it have a fabulously inventive menu? An atmosphere that speaks to your soul? Or maybe the staff are so awesome that “only cool people need apply” was probably in the job description. Coffee Loft in Greenhaven is a choice spot to unwind and refuel while enjoying its happy, caffeine-infused vibe. Owner Ginger has created the perfect café for brew-minded customers. From the friendly staff to the adorable mug wall for returning patrons, Coffee Loft is my ideal place to visit with a friend while I sip my latest favorite drink. This Quad City gem is dog-friendly, too! ~ Café Lover

G inger Giatti dipped the frother into the cup at the back counter while rereading the Yelp review on her assistant’s phone. She’d post this on the website as soon as she found a spare minute. In the meantime, she and Merris tended a last-minute rush for drinks before the storm hit. Outside, the western sky looked like a bruise. Roiling gray clouds churned closer by the minute.

“This is one of the best reviews we’ve ever received.” She finished the drink, snapped on the lid, and called out the name she’d written on the cup.

“I figured you’d be thrilled,” Merris said as she worked on several iced drinks. “Wouldn’t you love to know who it is?”

“It could be anyone.” She took a clean mug from the rack to start a latte.

There was nothing like a rave review to end the workweek. Primed to lock the doors promptly at eight, she had a busy night ahead of her. With a girlfriend visiting whom she hadn’t seen in ages, her to-do list was as wide as the Mississippi River across the street.

Merris glanced over her shoulder. “Should I ask Jace to wipe down tables? I think he’s about finished with dishes.”

“Good idea. I bet we won’t have many more come in tonight with the forecast.” Someone exited the shop, and through the opened door, the sky rumbled in agreement.

Merris frowned. “We should probably stack the outside chairs, too. The wind is really picking up.”

“Why don’t you tell Jace to do that, too, please.”

Twenty-something Merris was Ginger’s hardest-working barista. She entrusted Merris to run the café on days when Ginger took off. It wasn’t like she was far away if Merris needed her in a pinch anyway. Once she bought the building, Ginger quickly renovated the apartment above Coffee Loft for herself. It was one of the historic brick storefronts in the Olde Towne District of Greenhaven. The building had good bones, the contractor had told her. She was lucky to own it .

Merris finished her drink order then went to check on Jace in the back kitchen. Ginger started the latte for the next customer. Behind her, chatter in the busy dining area slowly ebbed as customers left due to the incoming late summer storm. Chairs screeched across the tile floor, the doors opened again, her flag outside snapped in the wind. She lifted the pitcher of steamed milk to finish off the delicate heart design of the latte art.

WOOF!

Ginger jumped, the pitcher wobbled, and the cute little heart was now drowned in a soup of steamed milk. Some even dribbled over the rim, pooling onto the saucer.

She grumbled under her breath, ditching her efforts for the finishing touch.

“It’s your friend,” said Merris with a sarcastic note of cheer in her tone when she returned from the kitchen. “Should I ask him to leave?”

“I hate to do that. He’s one of our most regular customers.” She eyed the man who’d appeared on the patio despite Stormaggedon bearing down on them. “I’ll take care of it.”

“Maybe you should rethink the dog-friendly policy.” Merris glanced over her shoulder and toward the shop window. “That dog he has with him today is more horse than canine.”

“Right? I think his bark just rattled the mugs on the mug wall. No joke.”

She chanced a look at the front window again. Cal Donner had kicked up his feet on one of the chairs, raking his thick, dark hair with one hand and hanging onto the leashed horse-dog with the other. The thing pawed at one of two women who sat at the table next to him, vying for their attention. They laughed, and even from a distance, Ginger could tell they were flirting with Cal. It grated on her nerves, the way women swooned in his presence.

The overhead lights blinked as Ginger handed the latte to the young woman who’d ordered it, then made her way from behind the counter and out the front doors. Cal spotted her as soon as she stepped outside. His overeager expression always made her smile in spite of herself.

“There she is,” he crowed. “How’s Ginger today?” Cal flashed her a Hollywood grin, which she’d quickly learned wasn’t reserved only for her. His charm was a part of his wardrobe. She bet he even smiled in his sleep.

“Hi, Cal. You’re keeping a different schedule today. You usually come before lunch on Fridays.” She eyed the two women at the other table. They tossed their cups into the garbage while casting furtive glances at the two of them.

“Schedule change. I had a load of work to finish up,” he said, rubbing the dog’s neck as it leaned against him. “Hey, I want you to meet Ridley. He’s my new foster.”

Ginger stuck her hand out to let Ridley sniff her. The dog offered a lick, leaving a gooey trail of drool across her palm.

“Ridley, so…nice to meet you.” She wiped her hand on her apron. The dog was so large his nose almost reached her chin with his four paws on the ground. “What happened to, ah, Gipper?”

“Gunther. Adopted yesterday,” Cal said. “I still think he would have made the perfect boy for you.”

“My cat would not appreciate me bringing a dog into the mix.” How many times had she mentioned this? She’d never been a dog person. “Was Ridley crossbred with a Clydesdale?”

“Part Dane, part shepherd,” Cal said with a laugh. “Isn’t he a handsome boy?” This he cooed in a baby voice, going nose to nose with Ridley.

Goodness . Cal needed to take this love fest somewhere else so she could get the patio in order.

“Looks like we’re going to get some rain. I don’t want to kick you out, but I think we’re going to stack the chairs so they don’t end up down the block.”

“Sure, sure. Can I get an iced Loftie to go?” He slipped a ten-dollar bill from his shirt pocket.

“I’ll be right back with that,” she said, just as a gust rattled the flag pole above her head.

Grumbling, she left him on the patio to go make his drink. Inside, Jace wiped down the tables in the empty dining area. Merris pulled the garbage bag out of the container and tied the ends together.

“Any luck?” Merris asked.

“He’s still here, isn’t he?”

Merris giggled. She’d teased Ginger before about Cal coming in not only for his almost daily coffee. He watches you when you’re not looking , she’d said. It was nonsense, of course. Her indifference probably challenged him is all. He was the type who loved basking in everyone’s attention. But Merris didn’t buy that, especially on the occasions when he’d leave behind cute little notes on the table, like “thanks a latte” and “you mocha me want to come here every day.” Ginger just rolled her eyes when Merris presented them to her, and she teased her right back. No, they’re for you , Ginger would insist.

Overhead, the lights blinked again. The hum of the equipment quieted for a second, then surged to life again.

She exchanged a look with Merris.

“Maybe you should head home. I’ll close up.” She looked over her shoulder to where Jace had just turned over the last chair and set it on a tabletop. “Jace, you too. I don’t want you two to have to drive through the storm.”

“Are you sure?” Merris said.

“Positive.”

“Aww, look at that. He’s stacking the chairs for you,” Merris said, nodding to the patio.

Sure enough, Cal had tied Ridley to the wrought-iron railing so he could gather the chairs together. He lifted one in each hand, whereas she could only do one at a time.

“I think he just earned his drink,” Merris said with a wink.

She huffed, but silently she agreed. She’d give him the drink on the house for saving her time. Surely, he wouldn’t read into that, would he ?

As she pulled down the last set of window blinds, someone’s opened umbrella skittered down the sidewalk. One of the patio chairs Cal hadn’t stacked yet toppled over. He glanced at her with gritted teeth, mouthed “yikes,” then ducked when one of the metal poles from the awning above his head clattered onto the sidewalk. The poor dog tucked his hind end, ready to bolt, but Cal unwound his leash from the railing. She motioned for him to come inside. It was getting scary out there .

Cal pulled open the door, bringing in a burst of wind and rain just as the storm hit.

“This will blow over in a few minutes, I bet.” She stepped back from the window and looked down at Cal’s wild-eyed horse-dog, the poor thing.

Cal knelt down and pulled Ridley close. “It’s okay, buddy. You’re okay.”

The lights blinked in rapid succession. The dog whined.

“Here, this is on the house. Thanks for stacking the patio chairs.” She handed him the drink and his money. She glanced overhead at the light fixtures. “I sure hope we don’t lose electricity.”

She’d barely finished uttering those words when, sure enough, the lights flickered again.

This time they went out for good.