Page 10 of Purple Scales & Coffee Tales

“So, as you can see”—she shoved her phone in my face—“I have an entire DreamBoard dedicated to the cafe’s renovation.”

I couldn’t. The display might be in my face, but it was so tiny that I didn’t know how to angle my face to see anything on it.

“I was thinking a black-and-white counter, with this coffee machine. It’s really high-end and expensive, but it’s the best on the market.”

I could sort of make out the coffee maker she was talking about, but it didn’t matter. She wanted it? I would buy it for her.

“Most of the chairs and the tables are beyond their ‘best before’ date, so they really need to go. I found a ton of websites that carry amazing wooden furniture, but you could also track these down in secondhand shops, of course.”

“We might not have time for this,” I thought out loud. “I know the renovations are going to take a while but I would like to keep the closing time to a minimum.”

“Yeah, good thinking! This will be the most expensive solution though.” She worried her lip and pouted at me.

“I’m not trying to make this as cheap as it can get. The cafe is like my second living room. I need to feel comfortable there. I wantyouto feel comfortable there.”

The pout dissipated into her lovely smile.

“And if you tell me this is what the cafe needs, then we will make it happen.”

“Scales? You just created a monster.” If her smile was lovely, her laugh was out of this world.

“I guess we make a great team then,” I muttered, unable to keep a straight face.By the Moon Goddess, she is so wonderful.“I’m a monster too, remember?”

She kept showing me more pictures on her DreamBoard, but I was too distracted by how the sunlight danced in her hair to listen.

“Why don’t you get in touch with the contractor who did the restaurant you mentioned?” I suggested. “Struan Fox? I agree, I like his style. And maybe we’re lucky and he has time for us.”

“Me? You want me to talk to him?”

“Well, you’re my manager. I trust you with this.”

Chapter Eight

Taran

Maeve texted me a few days later, making use of the number I had given her as we parted ways just outside Kalon Gardens.

Her little messages had quickly become the highlights of my days. She blessed me with lovely insights into her routines and occasionally sent me funny pictures. Memes, she called them, and I had to admit, some of them were pretty hilarious.

Mave: Hi Scales, Struan Fox can meet us at the cafe tomorrow at five? Does that work for you?

Taran: That’s perfect. Meet me there at half four?

Maeve: I have the afternoon shift so I’ll be around.

Maeve: I was thinking we might close early? Are you in a position to do that already?

Taran: No, but you are. It’s just my name on the title, you’re the boss.

Maeve: I’m slightly overwhelmed…

Taran: By the added responsibility?

Maeve: By you calling me boss

I grinned into my dark bedroom for a moment, before I typed out a reply. I’d never been a lucky person but ever since I’d met Maeve the fates seemed to align in my favour.My little talisman.

Taran: Do you like it when I call you that?

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