Page 15 of Coffee Shop Cupid
He shook his head. “Only a few months.”
“Any successes?”
He smiled, it was small, and there was still pain in his eyes, but it was an honest smile nonetheless. “A few. Several of the pairs I matched have started dating, and two have already mated.”
“Seems it suits you then.”
“Yeah.”
“So how’d you get into matchmaking?”
The smile melted off his face, and his gaze dropped to the counter. “I… I couldn’t do my old job anymore.”
I immediately felt stupid. How had I stumbled onto a landmine so easily? Work topics were usually safe. People saw a better opportunity, or wanted a change of pace, but there was regret in his expression.
And pain. So much pain, as if his entire world was on the verge of collapse.
I needed to steer the conversation to something safe, and fast, before I made him leave in tears again.
“Desserts,” I blurted out. “Everybody loves dessert! What’s your favorite cake?”
He stared at me as if I’d lost my mind, then the smile slowly crept over his features again. “Lemon,” he replied softly.
“Lemon cake,” I repeated. “Glaze or frosting?”
“Frosting.”
I leaned in again. “When do you think you’ll be in again?”
He blinked at me for a moment, thinking about it. “Day-after-tomorrow?” he finally suggested.
I grinned. “Great. Day-after-tomorrow is Thursday, one of my normal days. I’ll make a lemon cake for you.” I paused. “Well… cupcakes, since that’s what I normally sell.”
“You don’t have to,” he protested.
“But I want to.”
He studied me for a moment, then nodded. “Ok, day-after-tomorrow.”
“Fantastic.” I paused, then stood, not wanting to push my luck now that I had him smiling again. “I guess I should let you get back to work.”
“Yeah…” he replied, looking at his coffee.
“It’ll be worth the wait,” I promised. “My lemon cake will knock your socks off.”
“Ok.”
He took his coffee and walked back to his seat, but he glanced up a moment later and smiled at me.
“Smooth…” Natalie said, coming back to bump my shoulder.
“You saw that?”
“Lenny and I got a good show.”
I sighed.
“Cake? Really?”
