Page 15 of Espresso Your Love

“Well, I thought the evening turned out well,” Ryan says confidently.

Correct again.

“You never mentioned you were a cop.”

Ryan shrugs. “You never asked.”

I give him a glare with an eye roll.Ugh, he got me there.I was nervous with his green eyes staring into mine all dinner. Then he asked me what I was haphazardly typing up, and my Meadowbrook love just blurted out of me.

He was sweet and caring. Asking me questions. Laughing together. It was a really nice evening. He said “see you around town,” but I just figured it was like a metaphor or something. Not that he actually lived here now.

Ethan clears his throat. I completely forgot he was here.

“Right! Let’s get to the specifics. Ethan, is there an empty room we can use?”

I stand, and Max goes back to Ryan.

“Yes, this way.” Ethan walks out of the office, but Ryan doesn’t move.

“You lead. I’ll follow.” He playfully winks at me.

If being around him isn’t already killing me, that wink just put me six feet under. I will my feet to move, but it feels like my legs are asleep. Is this what they mean when they say “weak in the knees?” I force one foot in front of the other.

We go into the conference room to give the chief his office back, and I fill them in on what we are expecting for the Autumn Festival. It takes everything in me to stay focused on the task at hand, but it’s really hard when I want to ask Ryan all the pressing questions. Why is he here? Does he live here in Meadowbrook? Or is he just visiting? Why didn’t he say anything? He knew I was working on this event.

We walk through the attendance we’re anticipating, where to place the vendors, and a few security measures I’ll need to keep in mind while finalizing the layout.

Another officer peaks his head in. “Mitchell, someone’s here about the missing mailbox?”

Ethan nods. “Hayes, sounds like you know what you’re talking about. So I’ll leave you to it. Cassie, good to see you again.”

“You too, Ethan.” I smile in return as Ethan exits the room.

Ethan leaves while Ryan looks intensely at the town map spread across the table.

“So…you’re a police officer.Here. In Meadowbrook.”

He nods. “Today’s my first day.”

“Wow, how’s it going so far?”

“Great.” He smiles. “Everyone’s really cool here. Mitchell is my partner for now while I get the lay of the land.”

I fidget with the pen in my hand. “It’s a big deal that Chief Dobbs gave you this assignment.”

“Yeah, I’m a little surprised he did since I’m new.”

“He said you were overly qualified. What qualifications would that be, Mr. Big City?”

He lets out a laugh. “I’ve run point on several events before.”

“And Max is always with you?”

“Yeah, he’s the best partner.” He pats Max on the head then points at the map. “What do you normally have here?”

“Last year, that was our entrance, and we blocked off these walkways.”

“I suggest making this the entrance. It’ll give us more space for the expected crowd. If we need fire or paramedics, their trucks can fit through here also.”

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