Page 70 of Coffee Break with the Billionaire

The owner of the candy shop waves at me, and I stop to admire the container of fall flowers outside the flower shop. And then I go in to buy some.

Eventually, I make it to Coffee for the Sole. The doorbell chimes as I push the door open. The scent of coffee wafts to greet me, same as it always does, but the shop feels different today. Every table is full, with a lineup halfway to the door.

I’m greeted. Smiled at. Waved to.

Something happens inside me. Everything is warm, liquid, sweet, like a vat of honey that’s been sitting in the sun.

“Fenella, I heard you were rocking out with thekinglast night.” Mrs. Geordie stands before me with her flat white and an impressed smile. “I had a very memorable night dancing with him years ago, and I’ve never forgotten it.”

“Duncan would be one I’d never forget a night with,” Mrs. McKibbon chimes in. “That man keeps getting better with age.”

“It was a fun night,” I tell them, edging closer to the line. I look up to see Silas looking at me.

Smiling at me.

He holds up a pumpkin spice latte.

Chapter twenty-six

Silas

It’s as if Isensed her coming in.

I was making three pumpkin spice lattes for Gregor Maclean and his crew when I filled another cup and added a shot of vanilla. And then I looked up to see Fenella caught between Mrs. Geordie and Mrs. McKibbon.

The crystal vest is gone, but she still looks like she made an effort. Tight black pants and boots that come up to her knees with a purple sweater cropped at the waist and yet another jacket. This one is big and white and fluffy, and I’m sure it’s fashionable, but it wouldn’t look out of place in Stella’s pet rescue centre.

The expression on her face when she catches sight of me holding the latte though is—

I don’t think it’s the beverage or the rescue that she’s so happy to see.

“Hi,” she says, finally wriggling her way to where I stand behind the coffee maker.

“Hi, yourself.” I hand her the drink, holding her gaze with mine for as long as I can. “Move-in day?”

She nods. “The car is packed with my bags. A few more than I came with—” She gives a sheepish shrug.

“Who says Battle Harbour isn’t a mecca for shopping?”

Fenella laughs. “You’re busy today.”

“It’s because I’m working today,” Wyatt cuts in, leaning across me. “It’s always like this when I’m here.”

“It’s because it’s the weekend,” I correct with an elbow to his ribs.

Since last night, all I’ve been able to think about is how I wanted to kiss Fenella when I had the chance, and whether I did the right thing walking away. My first instinct is to protect my heart.

It’s not easy and it’s not fun but I came to the conclusion that it’s the right thing to do.

Until Fenella walks in and I can’t keep my eyes off her lips which are covered in a pearly pink gloss today.

“Is it true that Prince Kalle wasdancingat Ragnarok last night?” Leodie demands from behind the cash register. “Silas won’t give details.”

“She means I won’t show her pictures,” I say.

“There’s tons of pictures of you out there. Looks like you were having a great time,” Leodie says.

“Wait until my party.” Fenella winks. “I confirm he was dancing, but I didn’t take any pictures to prove it either,” shetells her with a shrug. “I gave Gunnar my phone because me with a camera after a couple of shots is never a good thing.”

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