Page 31 of There’s Trouble Brewing

Mark sensed the distance already present in her reply, the space between them widening despite his best efforts to not let it happen. Disappointment clenched at his heart, a hollow sensation that felt like defeat. But he knew pushingher wouldn’t get him anywhere. He had to trust that given some time, she would come to realize that staying in Faith Valley would be worth it.

As Emily walked away, the weight of her departure seemed to press down on the shop itself, making it feel emptier even with the sounds of preparation around them. Mark watched her exit, his heart heavy and his mind racing with all the things he wished he could say.

The evening found Mark at the lake, the familiar cool water a balm to his chaotic thoughts. As he swam, the physical exertion helped to clear his mind but did little to ease the ache in his chest. The thought of not seeing Emily every day was more daunting than any of the most challenging rescues he had faced in his career.

Under the twilight sky, Mark’s strokes were mechanical, each one pushing him further into the calmness of the lake. The water, usually a place of solace, now mirrored his turmoil. How was he going to get through this if she didn’t take him up on his offer and decided to leave? He couldn’t imagine his life without her in it.

Mark emerged from the lake with his thoughts marginally clearer but his resolve stronger. He needed to find a way to make Emily see Faith Valley not just as a job location but as a home. Maybe then she would reconsider her decision to leave.

As he walked back toward his truck, drying off with a towel, he made up his mind. He would go to her tomorrow and lay it all out. Not just the job offer but everything—how much she meant to him, how much he wanted her to stay. He knew it was a risk, exposing his feelings so openly, but the thought of not taking that chance scared him more than any potential rejection.

Inside his truck, he sat in silence, staring at thedarkening horizon. The decision was made now; he couldn’t let her leave without expressing his true feelings. It was not just the coffee shop that would be missing something without her—his life would, too, and he had to do whatever he could to make sure that he didn’t lose her.

Chapter Eleven

The ring of Emily’s cell phone filled the hotel room with shrill insistence. She grabbed it from the bedside table and nearly dropped it in her hurry. She steadied her hand, raising an eyebrow as she stared at the screen. Joe Griffin’s name flashed in bold letters. A quick sigh escaped her lips as she sat on the edge of her bed, a loose spring protesting beneath her. “Hi, Mr. Griffin,” she greeted. “What can I do for you?”

“Good afternoon, Emily,” the Brave Badge Roasting Company owner greeted in return. “I have something important to discuss with you.”

Emily listened intently as the words spilled out from the other end. Joe wanted her to come on full-time as the senior barista trainer for the company. She would be based out of the main hub in Montana and travel around the country to new locations when they opened. Her mind latched onto the offer as her boss talked about major pay increases, travel opportunities, and future potential.

She held the phone tightly, her fingers whitening with the pressure. “Wow,” she said, struggling to keep up withthe offer that was spiraling into a reality. It was everything she ever wanted in a job, or at least, it used to be. She couldn’t help but think about the manager position Mark had offered her the day before. It hadn’t been something she ever considered, but suddenly, she had two options in front of her, both viable and appealing in different ways.

“I—I don’t know what to say,” Emily stammered, trying to buy time to think.

“You don’t have to make a decision today, but I would like to know by week’s end,” Joe told her.

“Of course. Thank you for the offer and for giving me time to think about it.”

“I know it will be a big change. You’ll have to leave Texas, and you’ll be traveling a lot, but it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” he encouraged.

“I’ll let you know my decision soon,” Emily promised before hanging up.

Stunned, Emily sat on the edge of her bed, staring at her phone, her pulse loud and chaotic in her ears.

A big promotion, she thought. And in Montana, not Faith Valley. She tossed the phone onto the bed where it bounced once, twice, before settling against the worn pillow. Her heart raced as the implications sank in.

She pressed her lips together as uncertainty etched across her face. What did she want? Emily ran a hand through her hair, her fingers catching in a small knot she hadn’t noticed before. She’d come to Faith Valley expecting this very thing, but now...she wasn’t sure what she wanted.

Emily stood, the room feeling suddenly too small. A career as a trainer based out of Montana? Or coffee shop manager here in Faith Valley? One offered travel and the open road, but the other had Mark in her life every day. The pros and cons came quickly, nipping at her heels asshe paced the narrow strip of carpet. She needed time to breathe, time to figure it all out.

She flopped back onto the bed, her eyes locked on the ceiling’s off-white expanse. Her mind whirled with all the possibilities and all the unknowns. “What am I going to do?” she muttered, covering her face with her hands. The promotion echoed in her thoughts, refusing to let go. She sighed again, this time with the weight of her uncertainty.

But lying here wasn’t going to solve anything. She needed to talk it over with someone. She’d been invited by Sue to hang out with a couple of the local women Emily had met at the festival. She hadn’t planned on going, but maybe a break would help her clear her head.

An hour later, lightening crackled followed shortly by thunder across the darkening sky. Emily squeezed through the bar’s heavy door, damp hair curling at her neck. She shook off the rain like a stray dog, drops glistening in a small pool on the cracked wooden floor. Sue along with Macy and Layla West, cousins, waved her over, already nestled in the corner with glasses of wine.

Emily maneuvered through the small space, squeezing past damp coats and dripping umbrellas. She plopped down in the booth, breathless and pink-cheeked, her wet curls sticking to her skin. “It’s crazy out there,” she huffed, shaking her head at the downpour outside.

Sue slid a glass of wine her way with a smile. “Maybe this will take the edge off.”

“Thanks,” she told her new friend.

“So?” Sue said, her eyes alight with curiosity. “What’s this big news?”

Emily hesitated, swishing the wine in her glass before taking a sip for courage. She glanced at their expectant faces, a small knot forming in her stomach. “I—I’m not sure where to start,” she finally murmured.

Layla leaned in, her light brown hair cascading like a messy waterfall. “Just spit it out. You’ve got us all on the edge here.”

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