Page 30 of All You Need Is Macchiato

"Uh-huh." Sophia settles in beside him. "And the fact that this booth has a perfect view of Mountain Laurel Lodge's entrance is just coincidence?"

"Complete coincidence." But I find myself checking the door again, watching for a familiar truck. "I needed a break from the coffee shop."

"From the coffee shop, or from Cam's 'casual' chats with you?" Jake's voice carries an edge.

I tear my roll into smaller pieces. "He's being enthusiastic about our success."

"He's being inappropriate," Sophia corrects gently. "And you're letting him because you're worried about the coffee shop."

"I'm handling it."

"By hiding at Sara's?"

"I'm not hiding." But even I don't believe it anymore. "I just need to figure out how to maintain professional boundaries without compromising everything we've built."

"And that's the only thing bothering you?" Jake raises an eyebrow. "Nothing to do with a certain mountain man turned marketing expert who's suddenly too busy to return texts?"

The cinnamon roll turns to ash in my mouth. "Nolan made his choice clear."

"Did he?" Sophia leans forward. "Or did he see something that made him jump to conclusions?"

I think back to the farmers' market, to Cam's hovering presence, to Nolan's abrupt departure. "Oh."

"There it is." Jake grins. "The famous Kathryn Taylor lightbulb moment."

"But that's ridiculous. Cam was being... Cam. Surely Nolan doesn't think?—"

"Men," Sophia says wisely, "are remarkably unobservant when their emotions are involved."

"Hey!" Jake protests.

"You thought I was interested in that artist who did the mural."

"He kept asking to take you out to dinner."

"Because he was hoping for exposure and free marketing."

I laugh despite myself, but my eyes drift back to the lodge. "Even if that's true, Nolan's made it pretty clear he doesn't want to discuss it."

"Since when do you let other people's walls stop you?" Jake's voice gentles. "The Kathryn I know would march right up there and demand answers."

"The Kathryn you know wasn't trying to save a coffee shop while managing a handsy boss."

"No," Sophia agrees, "but she never let fear of complications stop her from fighting for what matters."

"I'm not afraid."

They both give me identical looks of disbelief.

"Okay, fine." I push away my mangled cinnamon roll. "Maybe I'm a little afraid. Happy?"

"Ecstatic," Jake deadpans. "Now, what are you going to do about it?"

"What can I do? Nolan barely looks at me, Cam won't back off, and the coffee shop?—"

"Is thriving," Sophia interrupts. "Thanks to you. Thanks to your vision and your heart and your refusal to give up on what matters."

"She's right." Jake covers my hand with his. "The coffee shop will be fine. But you won't be if you keep letting Cam make you uncomfortable and Nolan make you doubt yourself."

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