Page 14 of Coffee Shop Cupid
“Club sandwich?” I asked.
He nodded.
I placed the basket our sandwiches came in on the table with a flourish, then set the cookie beside it.
“I… um… I didn’t order a cookie,” he said softly.
I smiled at him. “I know you didn’t. But I was hoping to see you again, and I thought you’d like a warm treat.”
He blushed slightly. “Thank you.”
“I’m Chase, by the way.”
“Tristan…”
“Let me know if you need anything else. Ok, Tristan?”
He nodded, and I forced myself to step back so that he could eat in peace.
“You’re about due for a break, right?” I asked Natalie as I took a spot behind the counter.
She gave me a sly grin. “Don’t think I don’t know what you’re doing.”
“Never,” I replied. “You’re far too smart for that.”
“Damn straight. I’ll be back in twenty.”
“Thanks.”
I made coffee and ran orders, all the while keeping an eye on the man who’d taken over so many of my thoughts since I’d first seen him.
He seemed much calmer, though there was still an air of sadness around him. It made my desire to hold him even stronger.
Stay professional. He’s not here to find somebody. He’s here to work.
A few people came by for a mid-afternoon coffee surge, and I momentarily got busy behind the counter. Then he was there, holding an empty cup.
“Hi… um…” he said, flustered. “Can I get a refill of my iced coffee?”
“Of course,” I replied, taking the cup from him and turning to pour our house cold brew.
I handed it back to him, but he lingered for just a moment.
“The cookie was good,” Tristan finally said. “Thank you.”
I smiled, warmth flowing through me. “I’m glad you liked it.”
He nodded, but seemed rooted to the spot.
I glanced behind him and saw that the line had disappeared. It was a perfect opening. “What are you working on?”
He glanced at his laptop, then back to me and licked his lips. “I’m kinda… an online matchmaker. I’ve got a job pairing clients in a service’s database.”
I leaned on the counter. “So you’re playing Cupid for people you’ve never met?”
His cheeks tinted a gorgeous pink. “I guess you could put it that way.”
“Been doing it long?”
