Page 62 of Coffee Break with the Billionaire

I try to ignore how Edie’s head jerks toward me when I mention Silas taking me out.

“I know a lot of people who would pay a lot of money to be able to see the northern lights here,” I continue. “Not to mention the stars.”

King Magnus looks over at Duncan. “Could be something to think about. When you get your club set up, why don’t you and Silas come and talk to us?”

Silas will be so excited—if he forgives me for bringing this to the king. I have a feeling he will.

I’m impossible to stay angry with.

“That would be great,” I say. “He’ll be so happy.”

“Happy people are good for business,” he repeats, giving me a wide smile, the one that would make even the hardest heart melt.

Chapter twenty-two

Silas

When I close up,I wait until Leodie and Jem are out of sight, and then I go next door.

Now that Fenella has gone back to the castle, I can think clearly about this. No man could think straight with her so happy, smiling and laughing. Dancing.

Hugging me.

I may have decided to keep my distance, but Fenella didn’t help by throwing her arms around me. Twice.

The first time she hugged me, I was so overwhelmed to have her suddenly in my arms that I forgot to put the breaks on her ideas until I can sort things out.

The second time, I may have forgotten my name.

But now with only the ghost of Fenella dancing in the empty space, I can look at it like she did.

That’s not easy for me.

Mia was always able to see the potential. It was she who could view a life for us outside Battle Harbour. She had ideas, plans—it would have been a good life, I realized too late. But it wasn’t the life I wanted. That was here. With my family andmy friends and Coffee for the Sole to run. I couldn’t even think about living anywhere else. Back then, I missed home even before I went anywhere.

Now? I don’t know. I know I never gave Mia the respect ofreallylistening to what she wanted, so caught up in my unease of the possibility of leaving that I ignored whatsheneeded.

I feel bad about that. But I don’t feel the familiar hurt and regret when I think of her, and that’s a good thing.

I look her up every once in a while, which is why I don’t do much on social media. If I log in, I search for pictures of Mia, of the life we could have had together. I don’t regret not leaving—Fenella has a point of not regretting anything. And I’m not too fussed about not having anyone to share my life with—until I see someone I may want in my life.

I study the empty space and try to see it like Fenella does. Mia would be able to see it, and because of that, I let myself see it too.

The barhere.Tablesthere, on the side of the dance floor.

The floor is in good shape but it wouldn’t hold up for long to a group of women dancing in high heels. I could look into a parquet overlay; a good-sized square.

“It could gohere.” I wonder if that would get me a third hug.

Women dancing, laughing. The odd boyfriend, or a friend. This wouldn’t be a place to meet men, just a spot for women to hang out. Dance. Laugh. Be together.

She wants to have her birthday partyhere.

Is this something that Fenella has in her life? A place like this that she wants to recreate here, in Battle Harbour?

I take out my phone to check on that theory.

A minute later, I’ve sunk into the rabbit hole of Fenella Carrington on social media, standing in what may become the newest hip and happening spot in Battle Harbour, if Fenella has her way.

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