Page 14 of All You Need Is Macchiato

"If we must." But he's smiling as I pull out my tablet.

We spend the next hour planning, our heads bent close over various proposals. Nolan's insights transform my generic ideas into something uniquely Elk Ridge. A simple market becomes a celebration of mountain crafts. Live music nights evolve into storytelling sessions around the fireplace.

"What about the Wishing Wall?" He asks suddenly.

I freeze. "What about it?"

"Annie mentioned you had one in Wilmington."

"We did. Do." I trace the rim of my wine glass. "It started small. Just sticky notes on a wall. But it brought people together. Created connections."

"Sounds like the community bulletin board we used to have." His voice is quiet. "Before Cam."

And there it is. The elephant in our cozy room.

"What happened?" I ask softly. "Between you and Cam?"

Nolan stands abruptly, moving to the fireplace. The flames paint shadows across his face as he stares into them.

"It's not a quick story." He turns back to me. "And not one for tonight."

I want to press, to understand the history I'm walking into. But something in his expression stops me.

"Another time, then." I gather my things, suddenly aware of how late it's gotten. "Thank you for all of this."

He walks me to the door, and for a moment we just stand there, the fire crackling behind us. He's close enough that I can smell pine and wood smoke and something uniquely him.

"Kathryn?"

"Hmm?"

"Get a bear magnet."

I laugh, breaking the tension. "A bear?"

"Trust me." He opens the door. "It's very Elk Ridge."

I step into the hallway, but his voice stops me again.

"Same time tomorrow?"

I turn back, heart doing something complicated in my chest. "For work?"

That dangerous half-smile returns. "If that's what you want to call it."

I walk back to my room in a daze, my tablet full of perfect event plans and my mind full of firelight and blue eyes and the way he says my name.

The morning sun streams through Coffee Loft's windows, warming the exposed brick walls as local vendors set up their displays. I adjust a stack of blank cards near our newly installed Wishing Wall, fighting the urge to check my phone for the hundredth time.

Nolan leans against the counter, watching Annie arrange fresh pastries from Miller's Bakery. His skepticism is clearly visible, but at least he showed up.

"Quite a transformation." He gestures to Marie's wildflower arrangements brightening each table. "Though the corporate overlords might object to all this local color."

"The corporate overlords encouraged it." I straighten a crooked frame. "Some of us actually read the franchise manual."

His reply is cut off by the first customers arriving. Soon the space is humming with conversation and the scent of fresh coffee. Sara Miller's sample tray of scones disappears in minutes. Marie chats with customers about her flower arrangements. The Wishing Wall slowly fills with colorful cards, each one a hope or need waiting to be answered.

"Well, well." A familiar voice cuts through the pleasant buzz. "Look who's worked a miracle."

---