Chapter 11 #2
He kept his gaze on her as she poured a coffee, seeming to remember that he took his black. He tucked the card back into his wallet and the wallet back into his pocket before reaching for the coffee cup. “In that case, thank you.”
She slid a plate with a cinnamon roll across the counter to him. “Have a seat anywhere you like. We’re closing in just a few minutes, and Kass and I will join you then.” She looked past his arm and smiled at the person who’d come in behind him. “Marietta! Good to see you.”
Oh, boy. Had Jasmine’s grandmother noticed how Hailey flirted with him? But surely she knew what Hailey was like. Nathan hadn’t given any indication that he was flirting back, had he?
Lifting his mug and plate he turned and nodded to the elderly Italian woman then stepped away.
Her narrowed gaze stopped him in his tracks, reminding Nathan that she had a reason to mistrust all Hamelins. Dafne was another of her granddaughters.
“You are here for business only?” she asked sharply.
By here did she mean Bridgeview or the bistro? The wrong answer was likely to draw her wrath. “I’ve moved back to Spokane, if that’s what you’re asking.” He looked from side to side, trying to indicate the café with his hands full. “I’m now a marketing consultant, and I’m here as a consultant.”
Marietta glanced over to the table where Jasmine and Kass had both turned toward them, watching. “ Mi bella ,” she purred. “You are coming to my place for dinner, yes?”
Jasmine smiled at her grandmother. “Yes, but I won’t be able to stay late. I am taking care of Eden’s goat and chickens, and milking is at seven.”
Wow, when Jasmine helped out her friend, she went all the way. Milking someone else’s goat twice a day for two weeks was not a small feat. His estimation of her rose, not that it had been any danger of flat-lining.
It seemed Marietta had been distracted from him, so Nathan strolled over to a table by the front window and sat where he had a good view of the entire café. It wasn’t significant that he also had a clear line-of-sight to Jasmine. Not at all.
Hailey rang up an order of ciabatta rolls for Marietta. The old woman gave Nathan another sharp look before sweeping out the door and into the spring afternoon.
There must be some kind of warning in her words and posture.
And she was right. He had no intention of hurting Jasmine ever again.
He lifted his coffee cup but his hand stilled halfway up.
If he had no intention of hurting her, then what on earth was he doing trying to push his way back into her affections?
What on earth had he been doing kissing her?
Inviting her to dance in the moonlight? What if she told Marietta what he’d done?
Hailey slid into the chair across from him, blocking his view of Jasmine. Probably just as well. She cradled her steaming mug between both hands. As she leaned closer, her eyes gleamed. “I can’t wait to see what you have for us, Nathan. I’m counting on you.”
He had to wonder if she treated all single men this way or, if for some reason, she was focusing on him. Surely she wasn’t hoping he would create a marketing plan pro bono if they were dating?
Nathan took a bite of the cinnamon roll and closed his eyes. The brown sugar melted against his tongue, leaving a spike of cinnamon in its wake. The bun itself was so soft he barely needed to chew it. Whoa. Had he ever tasted a better one in his life?
He opened his eyes and stared at Hailey. “This.” He tipped the pastry toward her. “This is amazing. If the city of Spokane heard about these and tasted them just once, you would have a lineup clear from here to downtown.”
Her blue eyes sparkled as a smile reached her face. “Why, thank you, Mr. Hamelin. They do seem to be quite popular.” She rested her forearms on the table as she leaned a little closer. “They say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.”
What was he supposed to do with that? He picked up his coffee and took a sip. Perfection there as well. Really, all the cousins needed to do was let word get around. Soon they’d need more staff, maybe another outlet. They could give the major chains a run for their money.
Behind Hailey, Jasmine and Kass rose. Jasmine slipped on her jacket and reached for her backpack purse, then came toward the door, tugging her long hair from behind the collar of her jacket.
Her eyebrows tented as her gaze met his.
What had Jasmine overheard? Did it even matter?
Because he certainly hadn’t said anything to give Hailey any clues he was interested in anything other than her baking.
“Good afternoon, Jasmine. How is Pansy doing today?”
“Just fine, thank you.”
Hailey’s eyebrows rose as she looked at Nathan, but he avoided her gaze. “Glad to hear it. You didn’t need to call the veterinarian, then?”
Jasmine shook her head. “No, she’s okay. She’s not bleeding anymore.”
“Well, feel free to give me a call if you need a second opinion. You’ve got my number.”
Jasmine’s eyes narrowed as she shook her head, her jaw tensing. She hurried out the door of the bistro and disappeared around the corner.
Nathan took a second bite of the cinnamon roll then swallowed. “Now, where were we? It’s five o’clock. I assume Kass will be joining us any minute?”
Hailey pinched her lips together. “She’s just locking up then she’ll be right here.”
Now why couldn’t Nathan find himself attracted to someone who was clearly available instead of someone who hated his guts?