Page 9 of Knotty, Nice, & Holiday Lights
The window itself is adorned with a beautifully painted autumn scene, featuring a little cottage and colorful trees. The rest of the cafe is similarly decorated, the lighting as warm as the vibes.
It's so much different here than any of the coffee shops I’ve been to in Los Angeles. It’s warm and comforting, and the people who work here are kind and don't rush you through your order.
I could definitely get used to this.
The latte even tastes better here than it would in one of the big shops in the city. I don't doubt that the recipe is different, but I think the atmosphere plays a part in how the coffee tastes.
I came here this morning to clear my head. And not because of my unemployment, which was what I’d expected to wallow over the whole time I’m here.
No, it’s the handsome proprietor of the Bed and Breakfast Bec booked on my behalf that’s filling up my brain, forcing me to try and find something else to concentrate on.
He’s just so… hot. And young. I mean, I don’t know how old he is, but he has this innocence about him that radiates every time I’m nearby.
He didn’t even react to my meat joke yesterday. That was kind of disappointing.
Maybe he’s just not into me. Maybe he has a girlfriend or a mate or something.
Isn’t that what Crescent Lake is all about? Mates and scent matches and packs?
If only...
Finally finished with my latte, I rise and bring my mug over to the drop-off spot for dirty dishes. One of the young baristas smiles at me when she comes over to grab my mug.
I give a wave and a thank-you to the staff, turn around, and exit the cafe into the cool outside air.
Two steps out the door, and I walk straight into another person on the sidewalk.
Dammit, I have got to stop being so preoccupied!
Opening my mouth to apologize, I turn my gaze up and meet the most gorgeous chocolate brown eyes I've ever seen.
Very familiar eyes.
My parted lips suck in a gasp of air as I recognize the face right in front of me.
Pale skin, black hair peppered with sparse gray strands, especially at his temple, prominent brows… and those gorgeous brown eyes I’m staring into.
Holy shit.
“Asher!”
The man before me rubs his chest where my face had just planted, and blinks down at me. “Izzy?”
I let out a laugh as I say, “We cannotkeep meeting this way.”
The first time I'd ever met Asher Black was at work, when he was contracted as a voiceover actor for one of our big game titles. My way of introduction was walking straight into him as I exited the kitchenette area, making him spill hot tea all over himself right at the start of the work day.
I spent the rest of the day apologizing every single time I saw him, and I saw him a lot.
Asher's surprised expression turns into a wild grin, and he laughs, his head shaking. “Izzy Ross. I can't believe that you're here. Of all the places to run into one another.” His grin turns crooked. “At least I didn’t have a cup in hand this time.”
His British accent makes me a bit weak in the knees, I’ll admit it. His voice, aside from the dialect, is smooth and deep, so assured and calm. He always made me feel happy.
I let out another nervous laugh, not acknowledging the drink-spill fiasco. “I haven’t seen you sinceDeath of an Archon.”
Asher lets out a hum as his head nods. “It's been a couple of years now, hasn’t it? What are you doing here in Crescent Lake?”
“Well...” I clear my throat, deciding how much I should divulge. Then, I just run my mouth anyway. “I wound up losing my job, can you believe it? Just before the holidays!” I frown,more to stop from making a scene, and sigh. “So, I came here to get away.”
