Page 49 of Cups of You

Oh.

There was a moment where she could clearly seesomethingin his expression that she knew she had seen before. It sent a flare of heat through her and to test her thoughts, she licked her top lip as if searching for any lingering cream. When she saw his eyes follow her motion, she stored that information away to think about later. There were too many eyes in the café for her to push things further.

People had already somehow found out that she had had a boyfriend when she came down and didn’t have one now. How that came to be public knowledge, she didn’t have the faintest of clues.

Amber didn’t think her aunt would have talked about her break-up with Josiah, so Amber could only conclude that the whole damn house was bugged, and Mrs. Carmichael was to blame.

When in doubt, it was just easier to go with that option. Trying to think too hard about it would only kill her caffeine buzz and give her a migraine.

Amber sighed at having to pull back, but she did and set her mug down on the counter. Benjamin blinked quickly before his gaze shot up to meet hers and that damn blush once again spread across the bridge of his nose.

“So, what else should we do while the masses have given us a reprieve?”

Amber’s voice had dropped lower, and she kicked herself at getting caught up in her own thoughts. The change in subject seemed to be enough to snap Benjamin out of his own thoughts and he coughed before glancing around.

“Well, there’s only a couple hours before closing so I should probably—”

“We,” she cut in. “I’m not leaving you to clean up and close up on your own. I am your voluntary coffee companion for the day and the day isn’t over yet.”

His chuckle washed over her making Amber wonder how it would sound breathed deeply into her ear.

Focus.

“Coffee companion,” he said putting a finger against his chin. “I kind of like the way that sounds. But I really should pay you for helping me today. Without you, I don’t think I would have gotten all those drinks out without collapsing into the fetal position and rocking back and forth.”

“You already mentioned free coffee and muffins. I’m pretty set on that.”

It was true.

Amber didn’t want money from Benjamin. As far as she was concerned, she was just helping a friend.

A friend you want to help out in other ways.

Benjamin’s smile was wide and gummy and Amber was unsurprised to feel that same flutter of attraction that always seemed to accompany his larger-than-life smiles.

“Well, then what I have is yours. Feel free to enjoy whatever you’d like.”

Amber nodded, but inside she wasn’t the least bit hungry for food. She might not be ready to admit it out loud, but she was at least open to admitting it to herself.

She wanted Benjamin.

SEVENTEEN

Amber smiled down at her phone as she thought of how to respond. Texting with Benjamin was proving just as entertaining as talking with him in person. It had started innocently with him texting her thanks for helping at the café a couple days ago, and gradually continued as they found more things in common other than having similar first jobs and being cheated on.

“Who are you being all giggly on the phone with?”

Amber dropped the phone before rolling her eyes and picking it back up. It was annoying how her mannerisms reverted to how she was when she was younger whenever Aunt Jackie walked by. There was no reason for Amber to hide her phone like a teenager caught texting their crush. She was a grown ass woman and Benjamin was just a friend. Their texts were harmless.

Mostly.

Amber moved over to give Jackie space to sit down on the couch. Her aunt looked at her with narrowed eyes.

“I’m just talking to Benjamin, auntie,” she said. Her phone vibrated and she looked back down eyes widening when she saw the picture he had sent. “Oh wow. Look at this.”

Amber angled her phone so Jackie could see the message. Apparently, it was a slower day so Benjamin had been practicing his latte art and sending Amber pictures. Jackie peered down at the message.

“I always said that boy was talented.” She looked at Amber. “When did the two of you get so chummy?”

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