Page 36 of Tides of Discovery
“Great. Sounds good. Goodnight,” I managed, feeling like a character with limited dialogue options.
“Goodnight, Jack.” His eyes searched mine for a long moment before he turned, opened the door, and stepped onto the landing. His footsteps retreated down the stairs.
I closed the door and leaned against it. My whole body thrummed with unfulfilled desire. This was rapidly spinning out of control. Cooper was responding to me with an intensity I’d never anticipated, blurring the lines of The Boyfriend Bargain in ways that both thrilled and terrified me.
The thrill was intoxicating—every heated look, every breathless moment when he leaned into my touch, every time he initiated contact that went beyond what a temporary relationship required. It was everything I’d dreamed of for over a decade.
But the terror was just as real. What if I pushed too hard and lost my chance at love?
I pressed my palm against my chest, trying to slow my racing heart. The stakes had never been higher. I was playing for everything: Cooper’s heart, our future, and the possibility of turning this beautiful exploration into something real and lasting.
Four weeks had seemed like plenty of time when this started. Now it felt like both an eternity and nowhere near enough.
I was falling without a safety net, and I’d never wanted anything more in my life.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Cooper
Wednesday’s predawn darkness wrapped around me as I unlocked the coffee shop, the familiar rituals of turning on lights and accepting deliveries doing little to quiet my restless thoughts. Three days had passed since we’d kissed after brainstorming forA Latte Love, and I couldn’t stop thinking about how right it had felt. Something had shifted between us since then, a heightened awareness that followed us through our daily interactions. When he’d stopped by yesterday for his usual morning coffee, there had been lingering glances, touches that lasted a beat too long, conversations layered with meaning that had nothing to do with testing the waters. The air between us felt electric with possibility, and all I wanted was to get him alone again. I wanted to explore this new closeness, to see where it might lead.
But this morning I knew something was wrong by five. Jessica had yet to arrive, and all the normal morning prep routine had fallen to me. I rushed to arrange the fresh pastries in the display case, unload the dishwasher, and warm up the espresso machine.
Then, my phone pinged with a message from Jessica.
Been barfing all night. So sorry, can’t make it in today.
My stomach sank. I blew out a breath and ran a hand through my hair. I quickly sent a text to Marco and asked him to come in. He replied within minutes.
Sorry. Got a stomach bug.
“No, no, no,” I muttered and quickly calculated the disaster I faced. Both my daytime employees were sick, the morning rush was fast approaching, and my afternoon staff members were all in high school—unavailable until at least two-thirty.
I dove into emergency mode. I raced through the essential setup tasks: stocking the condiments bar, filling the grinder with beans, taste-testing the espresso… I could handle a busy coffee shop alone for a few hours if absolutely necessary—I’d done it in college, but it wouldn’t be pretty.
The first customers trickled in at six, and by six-thirty, a line had formed. I pulled shots, steamed milk, and rang up orders simultaneously. I tried to maintain a calm demeanor while I inwardly panicked. I’d already called my afternoon staff and pleaded for anyone who could come in early, but I had secured only a tentative promise from Aaron to arrive by one-thirty after his half-day of classes.
That left me facing the morning and lunch rushes alone. Seven solid hours of non-stop orders.
“Be with you in just a minute,” I called to the next customer as I finished a pour-over. Sweat was already beading on my forehead despite the January chill, and I’d only been at it for an hour.
The bell above the door jingled, and I didn’t even look up. I mentally added another customer to the growing line. Themorning was slipping away from me. Orders took too long, and the line backed up. My usual efficiency crumbled under the sheer impossibility of being everywhere at once.
“What’s going on?” asked a familiar voice when I finally reached the next customer.
I glanced up to find Jack standing at the order counter. His eyes took in the chaotic scene around me: dirty pitchers piled up, coffee grounds scattered across the workspace. My normally immaculate station looked like a hurricane had hit it.
“What happened?” he asked.
“Jessica and Marco are both out with the stomach flu,” I said, already reaching to make his drink. “I’m solo until at least one-thirty.”
Jack’s eyes widened as he glanced at the line. It stretched out the door. “You can’t handle this crowd alone.”
“I don’t have a choice,” I muttered, harried. “I don’t have anyone who can come in, so…” I trailed off as I handed him his Americano. “What else can I do?” I shrugged. And then, because I couldn’t help myself, I leaned over and kissed his cheek. “See you later?” I asked softly.
“Actually,” Jack said, not moving away from the counter, “I can help.”
I paused before I turned toward the next customer. “What?”
