Page 12 of Hearts Like Hers

“You’re such a mother hen,” Hadley said,pointing at Autumn. “Which bodes well for your baby-making scheme.”

“It’s not a scheme, it’s a life choice,”Autumn corrected, pulling pastries from the display case for refrigeration. “ButI’ll take all the encouragement I can get.”

“Your life choice is taking too long,” Hadleylamented. “I’m ready to be Auntie Hadley already, kissing baby bellies andleading toddler parades through the courtyard.”

“Really?” Isabel deadpanned. “You’re goingwith Auntie?”

“I am.” Hadley said brightly, and wanderedbehind the counter. She picked up a scoopful of roasted coffee beans and letthem fall from the scoop to her hand, taking a deep inhale. “Speaking ofarrivals, I finally met the dreamy firewoman. She’s just like you said, Iz. Igot swoony in my knees.”

“Who’s the dreamy firewoman?” Autumn asked,returning for another handful of pastries. “And why haven’t I heard about her?Don’t hoard all the gossip.”

Isabel leapt off the counter and swiveled. “Stop.You haven’t met her yet? She’s been here almost a week. She’s renting Larry’sAirbnb unit. I’m not sure where she’s from yet, but she’s hot and broody. Darkhair. Kinda quiet. Very attractive.”

“And afirefighter,”Hadley emphasized, fanning herself.

“She fights fires. Actual ones, not just theTV kind,” Isabel said, opening and closing her hands in a grabbing gesture.

“You two are in rare form. Hand me thenutmeg?” Autumn asked Isabel, who obliged.

“Oh, and she drives a blue pickup,” Hadleysaid. “I saw her drive off in it the other day. Completes the package for me.”

Autumn paused. “Nancy Drew, did you say apickup truck?”

Hadley nodded. “I did. And I like beingcalled Nancy Drew. Do it more.”

Autumn kicked her hip against the counter.“Then I take it back. We have met. Kate is her name, if my memory serves.”

Isabel shrugged. “Yes. If you want to callher Kate, sure, we can do that. I’m guessing you think hot-brooding-firefighteris too long. I’m open to criticism.”

Autumn reflected on the woman she saw sittingon the tailgate of her pickup a week or so ago. “She doesn’t look like afirewoman. She’s too…beautiful.”

Isabel inclined her head to the side. “Idon’t think they’re rated on a scale of ugly to take-me-home-right-now. Couldinspire a lawsuit.”

Hadley nodded. “And no one wants a lawsuit.Can you imagine the—”

They turned at the sound of the door, andspeak of the devil, there stood Kate herself. Just like that, three talkativewomen dropped into stark silence. Kate seemed to notice and glanced behind herin confusion and then back. “Oh. I’m sorry. If you’re closed, I can go.”

Hadley launched into an insta-smile, as ifthrust into a surprise beauty pageant. “We were just talking about theinjustice that is global warming. My friends and I were. Just now.”

“Damn that La Niña!” Isabel said, not missinga beat. “Such a bitch.”

“Isabel feels strongly on the issue,” Hadleysaid, nodding matter-of-factly.

“I can tell. So, is this place still open?”Kate asked, hesitantly. Her hair was tucked behind one ear and fell past hershoulders. Her eyes were hazel, strikingly so, and they shone extra bright fromall the way across the room. Her skin was olive, but not from a tan. No, thatwas natural.

“For ten more minutes,” Autumn told her.“What can I get you?”

Kate glanced at the menu board. “Decafcoffee. House roast would be great.”

Autumn easily scooped up a paper cup. “You’rein luck. My custom blend.” She glanced at Kate as she moved to pour the coffeeand found Kate staring at her. In response, she smiled and stared back. Andwhoa. What was that passing between them? Out of the corner of her eye, she sawHadley and Isabel exchange a glance, only she couldn’t be bothered with why,because Kate’s presence sent the warmest shiver right down her spine. She wiggledslightly against it, enjoying its dance.

“Hey, Autumn?” Hadley asked quietly.

“Yeah?”

“The coffee. For Kate.”

“Right,” she said, calmly. “On it.”

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