Chapter 19
19
W hen Gilbert’s Java House closed last year, I thought I’d have to find a new place somewhere out of town. Then I found Coffee Loft, and it became my new favorite place . ~ Frank Beck
A ir. I need air .
Cal gazed down at her with a longing she could only describe as fierce.
Lightheaded, she took a deep breath.
“I need…to f-finish up here. It’ll get busy in a matter of minutes.”
She didn’t wait for his reply as she cut through the shop toward her office. She bumped into her desk chair as she hurried to the back door, pushed it open, then leaned against it when it closed, gasping.
Ginger closed her eyes, tilting her face toward the darkening sky, willing her heart to slow so it wouldn’t beat its way out of her chest.
Am I even ready for what I’ve started ?
The image of Cal’s eyes burning into hers flooded her senses with an intensity she’d never felt before. That desire still pulsed through her like a living thing, flowing into her feet and fingertips and to the ends of her hair. His presence filled her like water, quenching her thirst that had been denied for too long.
Dear Cal . She’d left him so quickly he was probably still frozen in place, wondering what happened.
She braced her hands on her knees, still waiting for her heart to regain its normal rhythm.
Ever since she’d interviewed Cal, she knew she was done for. He’d surprised her with his attentiveness and humor, his humble demeanor, and quiet, self-assured strength. She’d realized that her initial impression of him was her problem, not his.
He was decidedly not like Marco. Not in the least.
And with that newfound knowledge, she looked forward to his visits to Coffee Loft even more. She longed for his company. When he appeared on her patio, happiness spread through her like steamed milk on a latte.
But taking their friendship to the next level? That’s what stopped her cold.
Fear of a repeat relationship like she’d had with Marco was to blame. The pain was still palpable at times, even though she’d convinced herself that she’d moved on in the thirteen years since the divorce. But, clearly, she hadn’t; she’d just perfected her ability to bury the hurt. So, nurturing a romantic relationship hadn’t mattered before now.
But Cal changed that. This one was different .
Squeaky brakes shook her out of the moment. Kit’s battered pickup appeared around the corner of the alley and stopped in one of the parking spaces behind Coffee Loft. Her friend waved wildly through the windshield before she killed the engine.
“Special delivery,” Kit crowed through the open side window. The door groaned in agony when she opened it. In her hands were three pastry boxes filled with cider donuts. The heavenly aroma permeated the air as Kit walked toward her.
“What are you doing out here all by your lonesome? Isn’t the festival in full swing?”
“Yes. Just needed to catch my breath.”
Kit looked perplexed. “Okay. Well, sorry I’m late. My last tour of the day ended on an unexpected note. Some yahoo on a speedboat took out my dock. I had to ask the casino if I could use theirs. That involved finding someone to shuttle me and my guests back to Port Chance.”
“Oh, my. I’m so sorry.” Kit didn’t look the least bit ruffled. The woman had nerves of banded iron.
“Eh. A day in the life.” She narrowed her eyes. “Are you sure you’re alright?”
“I am.” She straightened after realizing she still had her hands planted on her knees, and took the pastry boxes from Kit. “Just bracing myself for the rest of the night.”
Kit nodded slowly like she wasn’t buying it.
“So, I have a favor to ask.” She balanced the boxes in one hand while she fished the door key from her pocket. “I’m desperate.”
Kit looked concerned as she held the opened door for her to go in first. “What do you need?”
“A dress.”
Kit’s frown was punctuated by the back door slamming behind them.
Back in the office, Ginger blinked as her eyesight adjusted to the dim lighting.
Kit stared for a few extra seconds. “What for?”
“I’m going to the Hearts Fur Love Gala next weekend, and I don’t have anything to wear.”
“The easiest solution for that is to not go in the first place. I wouldn’t go anywhere if I was expected to wear a dress.” Kit feigned a shudder.
“You didn’t go to your prom or homecoming?” Kit had a habit of embellishing.
“That was almost two decades ago,” Kit said. "Almost like another life . How am I supposed to remember?”
“So, that’s a yes?”
“No, I didn’t go,” she said flatly.
“You’ve never worn a dress to a wedding? Weren’t you a bridesmaid in your sister’s wedding?” If Kit denied it, she’d catch her in a lie. She’d seen Rose Wendell’s wedding photo in Kit’s house. Kit was near the front of a very long line of bridesmaids wearing dresses.
Kit gave her a deadpan look. “No comment.”
She led Kit out into the shop. They stopped at the pastry case to unload the donuts. A long line at the counter already snaked toward the door. Merris and Alice hustled behind the counter like a well-oiled, coffee-making machine. And in the corner near the front windows, stood Cal. Of course, a small group gathered around him while he laughed and chatted like the natural-born charmer that he was. She smiled to herself.
“Hearts Fur Love. Waaiiittt, ” Kit purred. “Don’t tell me you’re going with Mr. Rescue himself.”
“It’s just a friendly date.”
Kit gave her a wicked grin. “You said ‘date.’”
Exasperated with Kit’s line of relentless questioning, she sighed.
“Cal invited me to a fundraiser. It was a compromise when I asked to interview him. It kind of took off from there.”
“I’ll say.”
“Like I said, we’re only friends.”
Kit rolled her eyes. “Uh huh.”