Chapter One
When I open the door to Scottie’s Coffee Shop, I’m instantly hit with the smell of fresh-brewed coffee and sweet, buttery pastries.
It’s stunning. Right out of a movie. Or, if you ask me, written out of a book.
Wooden beams line the ceiling, and a light oak trim frames the windows.
Plants everywhere—and I mean everywhere.
On every table sit fresh-cut wildflowers in tiny jam jars, floating shelves on the walls are lined with various plants, ivy hangs from the ceiling, and succulents are placed sporadically on the counter.
People sit together on couches and tables of every shape and size, sipping coffee, eating pastries, and talking quietly. I spot what looks like a raised stage off in the right corner with a microphone stand, making it safe to assume they do some sort of karaoke or live music in the evenings.
I’m greeted as I walk toward the counter by a woman who looks to be around my age, in her early thirties, who waves me over excitedly.
She’s a bit taller than me, with rich chocolate-brown hair cut in a bob and thick bangs that stop just before her eyes.
Her wide smile welcomes me, making me feel instantly warm inside.
She’s sporting a soft summer glow that contrasts well against my own fair complexion.
I can tell from her perfect posture and how she holds her head high that she oozes confidence wherever she goes.
I’m almost jealous of how easily this all seems to come to her, while here I am, always trying to hunch and hide from the world.
“Hi there, haven’t seen you around here before! Welcome to my coffee shop, I’m Scottie. How are you?”
I take a slight step back at her question. No one asks you things like this where I’m from. There are too many people who pass through every day to even know who might be new, a tourist, or someone who has lived down the street for years.
“Hi, Scottie, I’m Audrey. I’m good, thanks, just got here—”
A loud crash rings out from behind the counter, and Scottie spins around to see what happened.
One of her baristas was carrying a clean tray of mugs and dropped a couple on the floor.
The shattered ceramic pieces are scattered everywhere.
She immediately shifts into help mode and grabs a broom and dustpan.
“If you didn’t like these mugs, you just had to say so,” she jokes as she picks up some of the bigger pieces and puts them in the garbage.
Once the mess is cleaned up, she turns back toward me, wiping her hands on her yellow apron.
“Sorry about that. Are you new to Alderbrook? What can I get started for you?”
“Oh, I’m actually only here—” I start, attempting to say I’m only here for the summer.
But then I think about my last conversation with Christina and the immense amount of pressure I’m under and decide to keep the fact that I didn’t actually move here permanently to myself.
I don’t enjoy taking advice from my agent, but I’m also incredibly stressed, so anything that might help, I’ll try.
It’s not like I’ll see these people too often, right?
I look back at Scottie and smile as I tuck a strand of my dark blonde hair behind my ear. “Um, yes, just moved here yesterday. I’m staying at my aunt Jane Monroe’s house. I’ll have an iced coffee with a shot of espresso in it. Black, please.”
Her eyes widen for a moment, and I chuckle at the way she wrinkles her nose as she punches in my order. “Are you sure about that? Nothing to sweeten it? We make all our syrups from scratch. Oh—I have a maple-cinnamon syrup that would be to die for in your drink! What about a flavoured creamer?”
I shake my head before responding. “Thanks, but I’m okay.
I’m lactose intolerant and actually really like the strong coffee taste, and I’m not a huge syrup fan.
I know it’s boring, but to me it tastes good!
” She looks at me again with a smile, like she’s about to say something, and then gets distracted once again by the door opening behind me.
“Audrey, you said, right? I didn’t realize you were Jane’s niece. We’re hoping this new guy of hers is finally the one,” she adds with two fingers crossed in front of her.
“Uh, yeah. And same here. She deserves it.”
“She mentioned someone house-sitting for her while she was away. I guess you’re staying there until she’s back and you find your own place? Let me know if you need any recommendations.”
“Uh, yep, that’s right.” Something like that. “And will do.”
“Great. I think you’re really going to love it here.
” She writes my name on the plastic cup with a Sharpie, tongue sticking out as she focuses on her swooping and swirling letters.
My lips curl in a smile as she draws a little heart at the end of my name.
She passes the cup down the line and then looks back at me with her brown eyes.
There’s something so enchanting about watching Scottie. She reminds me of the protagonists I write in my books. Effortlessly confident and kind.
Everything I wish I were.
“Well, it’s nice to meet you. I’m looking forward to getting to know you more.”
“You too.”
While I wait for my coffee at the other end of the counter, another barista calls out the order, and I’m surprised at how quick that was considering the number of people in here.
As I take that first sip, I understand why Janie recommended this place.
This iced coffee is good. It’s bold and bitter in the best way, with the tiniest hint of cocoa at the end.
And just the right amount of ice. That’s very important.
Not enough, and the drink is only mildly cold.
Too much, and it can be watered down. As you can tell, I’m pretty particular about my drinks. This one is perfect.
I’m yanked out of my thoughts when I see someone looking right at me, with a slight tilt to his head and a smirk growing on his lips.
“Don’t tell me your name is Mack, too?” he asks inquisitively in a warm but cheeky voice.
He steps closer, and a mix of rich coffee and a hint fresh bergamot surrounds my senses.
He’s tall. So tall, my five-foot-three self has to tilt my head back to meet his gaze.
He runs a hand through his dark, wavy hair and looks at me with the most piercing blue eyes I’ve ever seen.
A glacier lake is how I would describe their colour.
I’m staring so much it takes me a moment before I can answer him.
Finally. “No. Why?”
Play it cool, Audrey.
“’Cause then you’re drinking my coffee.” His smile widens to show off perfectly straight teeth. Did he have braces as a teen, or was he just born lucky?
I turn the plastic cup around and see the name Mack written in gold marker so it stands out against the dark coffee.
He gets a star at the end of his name. “Oh my god,” I say, my body freezing in place, stunned by what I’ve done.
“I’m so sorry. I just heard the drink called out and grabbed it without thinking! ”
“I guess I can forgive you. Just this once.” He playfully arches a dark eyebrow at me.
We both turn at the same time to watch as my coffee is placed on the counter with a loud, “Iced coffee with a single shot of espresso, no creamer for Audrey,” from Scottie, with a gleam in her eyes and a smile on her painted lips.
“Audrey.” He flashes a teasing grin as he grabs my coffee from the counter and takes a sip. “It’s nice to meet you. Are you new in town?”
Wow, a second person asking me this question.
“Only asking because I haven’t seen you around before.” He must be able to read my stunned facial expressions.
“Oh,” I stammer. “I just got in yesterday.”
“Well, I hope to see you around, then, Audrey. It’s nice to meet you.
You have great taste in coffee.” He smiles again and I notice how white his teeth are.
I can feel my chest reddening from the encounter.
If he notices, he doesn’t show it. He offers me one more look, then turns around, waves to Scottie, and heads out the door.
His scent lingers for a moment before it begins to fade, just like the blush on my chest.