Chapter 8
8
“ C ute, cozy and killer coffee. The time I went they were giving out free samples of the seasonal drinks. I’ll definitely be back .” - Liz W.
A few days later, the morning rush had dwindled to just a few customers at the counter, so Ginger grabbed a towel to wipe down tables. Jace got a head start on making more blueberry and cranberry-walnut muffins, and scones to fill the nearly depleted pastry case. Outside, customers took over almost all of the patio tables. Fridays were always the busiest weekday.
She cleaned the last table, then reorganized the condiment station. Merris exited the kitchen with an armload of clean mugs for the mug wall, so Ginger replaced those, too. In a half hour, a potential new hire was coming in for an interview .
Merris sidled up alongside her in front of the cubbies as Ginger set a mug into the last empty spot.
“I forgot to tell you that Cal came in yesterday,” Merris said, pointing to a mug. “He brought this one.”
Ginger took down the mug. Printed on it was a photo of a cat lounging in a leather recliner wearing glasses, with the words “Dogs have owners. Cats have staff.”
Ginger laughed, studying it. “Did he now?”
“Yep. And there wasn’t room on the wall, so I put one away that hasn’t moved in months.”
“No problem. He’s regular enough that he’s earned his own cubby, don’t you think?”
Merris smiled wryly. “Whatever you say, boss.”
Ginger replaced the mug, ignoring Merris’s sarcasm.
“Speaking of mugs,” Merris said, tipping her chin toward the patio.
Outside, Cal pulled out a chair and sat. He’d brought Ridley this time. Maybe Lola was already making herself at home with her new family.
“Should I go see what he wants?” Merris asked.
Cal leaned over to pull the stainless-steel water bowl next to Ridley. Even from inside the shop, Ginger could see half of the water splashing onto the patio as the dog lapped from the bowl. Good grief, what a moose .
“No, thanks. I’ve got it.” She took the mug from its perch again and walked it over to the counter where she started his café au lait.
Aside from the other day, for as long as he’d been visiting Coffee Loft, Cal ordered the same drink. She made his café au lait every time without thinking. When it was busy, it was easy to get lost in the moment, working on autopilot through a rush. But maybe this time she’d put a little more effort into Cal’s drink, give it a special touch to show how much she appreciated him agreeing to the interview.
She poured a thin ribbon of frothy milk into the mug, waiting for the foam to rise. When it did, Ginger rummaged through the basket of plastic stencils.
A fern— too generic .
A heart— no !
Here it is — perfect .
She held the stencil over the foam and sprinkled it with cinnamon from a shaker. A little cat face smiled up at her when she took away the stencil. Suppressing a bubble of laughter, she hurried outside before the image distorted.
Coming up behind him, she set the drink down.
He grinned. “I see you found my mug.” He did a double take and peered into the cup at the design she’d added. “Nice touch.”
“I thought you’d like that. Nice mug, by the way. Are you softening toward the feline population?”
He pulled a mock frown. “Me? Never.”
“It’s a nice addition to the mug wall. And so on point. By the way, Daisy has a staff of one.”
“Daisy?”
“My cat. I haven’t mentioned her before?”
He shook his head. “Only that you liked cats.”
“Hmm…okay. Now you know.”
His grin grew wider. “Thanks for sharing. You, I’m assuming, are Daisy’s assistant.”
“I am. ”
“So, no other…staff members?”
“Just me.”
“Sounds like a bit of a tyrant.” He inched his chair back so he could look up at her more fully. “Can you sit for a bit?”
She glanced through the window to the front counter. Merris helped the last customer, so she pulled out the chair opposite him to sit. Immediately, Ridley nudged his head onto her lap, coating her skirt in drool. Thank goodness the pattern hid most of it, but she was drenched underneath the fabric. Cal didn’t notice.
“Is today a good time for that interview? I can meet you back here when you close,” he said as he typed something into his phone before laying it face down on the table.
“Honestly, tomorrow would be better. I’m taking it off. Can you meet over your lunch hour?”
He slicked back his hair with one hand, squinting up at the sky as if thinking about it. Her eyes were drawn to the taut bicep muscle underneath his denim shirt, a muscle so well-defined that the fabric only enhanced its shape. Ginger averted her gaze to something less distracting. Ridley’s soulful eyes met hers when she looked down at her lap. Caught you , the dog’s look seemed to say.
Cal tucked his arm at his side and looked at her again. “That should work. Where?”
“How about the fountain at the mall? There’s usually a food truck or two. We could find a bench, grab something to eat.”
Cal’s eyes lit up. “Sold.”
She eyed Ridley. “Maybe you should, ah…come alone. No distractions. ”
“That shouldn’t be a problem.” He sipped his drink which left a little foam mustache on his lip.
She pointed to her own mouth. “You have…”
Cal swiped at it with the back of his hand.
“We have napkins for that,” she said, slipping the one she’d brought him out from underneath his mug.
Cal’s eyes widened, and he leaned away. Did he honestly think she’d wipe it away herself? She chuckled.
“Don’t worry. Unless you’re under five, I’ll let you wipe your own mouth.” She waved the napkin for him to take.
Cal swiped it along his lips. “If I were at home, I’d have let Ridley take care of it.”
“Gross.”
“He’s quite useful when he wants to be.” There was an infectious twinkle in his eye.
“Cal Donner?”
Ginger startled. A woman had stopped on the sidewalk on the other side of the wrought-iron railing next to their table.
Cal popped up out of his chair so fast he had to steady it from falling backward. “You’re Becca, right? Here, come on around and join us,” he said, gesturing to the other end of the patio.
The young woman, dressed like she’d just come from the gym, took him up on his offer. She sashayed over to Cal and stuck out her hand.
“It’s so nice to meet you. And this must be Ridley,” she said, kneeling next to the dog. “What a cutie,” she cooed.
“He’s that and more. Can I buy you a coffee?”
She stood and waved away the offer. “I can’t do caffeine. Makes my heart go through the roof.” Her giggle was so high-pitched that Ridley’s ears flickered.
Join us , he’d said. Clearly, he’d meant him and Ridley, not her. She pushed back from the table, suddenly feeling like a third wheel.
“I’m going to get back to work.” A little zing of rejection burned in her chest for no good reason.
Cal and the woman looked at her in unison as if noticing her for the first time. To his credit, Cal quickly regained his bearings.
“Tomorrow then,” he said. “Say, eleven thirty at the fountain?”
“See you there.” She sounded overly chipper even though she felt just the opposite.
Ginger wandered back inside, straightening chairs and checking the garbage can as she left Cal and the mystery woman alone on the patio. Behind the counter, she sporadically kept an eye on them while she restocked the cups and opened boxes of new flavorings. Every time she caught them laughing, her throat tightened. She poured herself some water to wash away that pesky sensation, one that had no business happening in the first place.
Twenty minutes later, Cal and that woman hugged goodbye as Ginger finished a to-go order. She frowned as she handed over the drink carrier to the office assistant who’d come to pick it up.
“Are you all right?” Merris asked as Ginger turned around and found her employee leaning against the back counter with her arms crossed. “You’re awfully quiet. ”
“Of course. Why wouldn’t I be?” She brushed her hands together as if that alone might offer a mental reset.
“I don’t know. Maybe the cat mug has something to do with it. Like maybe there isn’t room for it on the mug wall after all.”
Ginger’s attention flickered to the empty cubby where Cal’s mug had rested a short time ago. She hesitated before giving Merris a reassuring smile.
“Cal can claim a spot for as long as he likes. He practically lives here.”
“But does he only come for the coffee?” Merris asked in a lilting tone while tapping her chin.
“I don’t know what else it could be.” Besides meeting people on my patio like it’s his office away from home .
“It’s you,” Merris said.
She turned away before Merris noticed how the teasing had caused her cheeks to flame. But Merris’s reply rang in her ears as Ginger left to go check on Jace’s progress with the baking.
It’s you .