Page 83 of Red Hot Roaster

“That’s cutting it pretty close to the launch,” I said before I could catch myself.

“I’m sure we’ll find somebody by then. But no worries,” he added. “Rose has asked me to train her in coffee roasting so she can take over the job. That woman will do anything to save the Chocolate Lab.”

Shit, now I know what she meant. Why hadn’t she told me she was that close to the line?

“So, sure thing, I’ll put some feelers out for your next gigs after Boise,” Pete offered, the sly dog. “It’s the busy time so we may not hear until after the holidays. But somebody will need you somewhere.”

I rubbed that achy spot in the middle of my chest, hard. Hoping to make it go away.

We said ourgoodbyes, and I whistled for Princess to come inside.

Thursday * 9:52 p.m.

Me

Goodnight, Rose. Sleep tight.

Chapter 41

Rose

“Pete! What do you mean you’re not going to train me?” I pulled the phone away from my ear and frowned at the screen.Yep, still connected.

“You heard me, Rosie,” he said sternly. “If you keep trying to juggle all those coffee mugs at once, they’ll just come crashing down on your head. I’m giving you some tough love here.”

“But who’s going to fill in at such short notice? I can’t ask you and Mike to stay through the winter to get the grocery pilot off the ground.”

The pilot I’m relying on to save the café.

“Don’t worry—I’ve put the word out in my network. And, hey, I’m not too old to—”

“Oh, Pete, I don’t think that—”

He repeated himself, steamrolling right over me. “—I’m not too old to keep the roastery going in the meantime. You donotneed to add ‘coffee roaster’ to your already-packed resume. Let your friends help you.”

“Well, at least let me pay you—”

“Sure—free lattes for life.”

“But you already…” I dwindled off.Oh. The coffee bean finally drops.

“You’re a sweetheart, Pete. Thank you.”

“Anything for you, Rosie.”

We parted ways so I could pick up another call from Miss Ada—her fourth so far—to confirm her time for pictures with Santa Paws. I expected to hear from her at least twice more before the day was out.

“Yes, I’ve got you down for tomorrow, Saturday, at one-thirty. Remember to come to the side door a few minutes early,” I reminded her. “If it’s raining, you all can stand under the covered decks. Ana will be there dressed as an elf—you can’t miss her.”

“And Katt promises to have the copies ready by late next week?” she asked in her quavery voice. “I’ve got my cards ready to go, only waiting for the photos.”

“Yes, indeed. We’ll call you when they’re here for you to pick up.”

Her gentle “thanks, dearie, Merry Christmas, dearie” lingered in my ears after we hung up.

I resisted looking at Rafe’s texts for the umpteenth time and called Katt instead. She picked up on the second ring.

“Girl, you are booked solid,” I informed her. “Oh, wait. I think I left you fifteen minutes for a snack-and-wee break each afternoon.”

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