Page 18 of Until I Find You

Let me know a time and a place and I’ll be there. After all, you’re the coffee expert.

I’m shocked when he sends a laughing emoji as a reaction to my message.

Fair. I know just the place.

When I enterthe corner coffee shop, Jack is already sitting and waiting for me.

I was shocked when I realized the shop he had chosen is in the Bronx.The Bronx. That’s way closer to my apartment in Harlem than his in FiDi, but I doubt he chose this place for ease of access.

He’s the coffee guy. So, the coffee better be good.

When Jack sees me, he stands to greet me and something about that is so sexy.

I tamp down the feeling and shake his hand when I see him. “Hi, Jack.”

“Camilla. Thanks for meeting me.”

“Of course.” I put my purse down on my chair and throw a look toward the wordy menu over the counter. The place is a classic New York Amalgam of an old, updated building and hipster coffee shop. The place could have been an old deli from the looks of the tile and the pastry case. “Let me just order something and–”

“Oh, no, I’ve taken care of that.”

I shoot a surprised look in Jack’s direction.

He smiles, a rare smile that reaches his eyes. “I am the coffee expert, remember?”

I smile back without even realizing. “Um, yeah. Yeah, you are. Fine. Show me your stuff, Lyons.”

As soon as we’re seated, one of the baristas comes over with a flight of coffees. I never knew coffee shops did things like this.

“Thank you, Zeke,” Jack says to the barista.

“Any time.” The barista nods. “I’ll bring some fresh scones over once they’re out of the oven.”

“Thank you.” Once Zeke has disappeared behind the counter, Jack looks at me. “This is one of my favorite places in the city.”

“Must be really good if you’re willing to schlep all the way out here from FiDi.”

He chuckles, eyes falling. “It’s pretty much the only thing I do outside of working. Trying coffee shops.” With a soft gesture of his hand toward the flight of four cups, he says, “Please, you go ahead.”

“I’m not going to be able to drink all of this on my own. I’ll be shaking into next century.” I take the first cup off the flight. Even though they’re the size of espresso cups, I can’t help but worry about the caffeine.

“Only have what you want, then. I know you prefer lattes and all the fancy stuff, but if we’re going to be doing work together, you ought to learn a bit more about the product.”

I pause with the cup halfway to my mouth, raising an eyebrow. “So, are you un-firing me?”

Jack raises his eyebrows and cocks his head to the side. “That depends. Do you un-quit?”

I’m feeling a little bratty. “I guess we’ll see how I feel after the coffee.”

Jack nods. “Fair enough.”

I sip from the first cup. It’s bitter, but good.

“So, if you’re not familiar with tasting coffee, just take your time. Let it sit on your tongue.”

I take another sip and do as he says.

“This is a Mexican coffee. Sweet, if you can call coffee that. Notes of caramel, brown sugar…”

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