Page 31 of Beanful Wishes

Our eyes meet, and for a moment, the bustling coffee shop fades away. There's a softness in Sophia's gaze that makes my heart skip a beat. Without thinking, I reach out and tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

Sophia leans into my touch, her eyes never leaving mine. "Jake," she murmurs, her voice low and warm.

I know we're in public, know we should maintain some professional distance, but in this moment, I can't bring myself to care. I lean in slowly, giving her plenty of time to pull away if she wants to.

She doesn't. Instead, she meets me halfway, her lips soft and sweet against mine. The kiss is brief but full of promise, leaving me a little breathless when we part.

"So much for taking it slow," Sophia says with a soft laugh, her cheeks flushed.

I grin, feeling a bit lightheaded. "Hey, I'd say we're practically moving at a snail's pace, all things considered."

She rolls her eyes. "Come on, we should get back to work. We've got a mobile library to plan."

As we return our focus to the notebook in front of us, I feel a sense of contentment wash over me. This thing between Sophia and me, it feels right. Natural. Like two puzzle pieces fitting perfectly together.

The rest of the afternoon flies by in a whirlwind of planning and preparation. By the time the evening crowd starts to trickle in, we have a solid outline for both the mobile library project and the fall community event.

As Sophia gathers her things to leave, I'm struck by a sudden thought. "Hey," I say, catching her hand. "Can we talk for a second?"

She turns back to me, curiosity in her eyes. "Of course. What's up?"

I take a deep breath, suddenly feeling a bit nervous. "I've been thinking... about us."

Sophia's expression softens. "Oh?"

"Yeah," I tug her closer. "I know we said we'd take things slow, but I feel like what we have is special. I want to spend more time with you, Sophia. Not just working on projects, but... everything else too."

A smile plays at the corners of her mouth. "I'd like that, Jake."

"So, I was wondering if maybe you'd want to make this official? Be together, publicly, as a couple?" I ask.

Sophia's eyes widen slightly, but her smile grows. "Are you asking me to be your girlfriend, Jake Harrison?"

The heat rises in my cheeks, but I can't help grinning. "I guess I am. What do you say?"

She pretends to consider it for a moment, tapping her chin thoughtfully. "Well, I suppose it would make working on all these projects together more interesting..."

"Oh, is that the only reason?" I tease, pulling her closer.

She grins up at me, her eyes sparkling with mischief and affection. "Well, that and the fact that I'm kind of crazy about you."

My heart soars at her words. "So, is that a yes?"

Instead of answering, Sophia rises on her tiptoes and presses a soft kiss to my lips. "It's a yes," she murmurs against my mouth.

Chapter Fourteen

Sophia

The gentle hum of my laptop fan fills the quiet of my apartment as I put the finishing touches on my latest article. The piece about the Reading Oasis unveiling has garnered more attention than I expected, and my editor is already clamoring for a follow-up on the mobile library project.

A soft ping from my phone draws my attention. It's a message from Jake:

Coffee date at our spot in thirty? I've got news.

I feel a smile tugging at my lips as I type a quick response.

"On my way!"

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