Page 8 of Knotty, Nice, & Holiday Lights
“You’re… totally welcome.” I am King of Nonchalance. All shall bow to me. “So, you want to know about me, huh?”
She nods on a sip of cola.
I lean on the island, careful to keep a respectable distance between us.
“Well, I was born and raised here in Crescent Lake. Even went to a local college about thirty minutes away.”
“What did you study?”
“Business Management.”
She smiles at me over her sandwich. “And now you run a Bed and Breakfast.”
I give her a closed-mouth smile and bob my head once.
“Where’d you learn to cook?”
“My mom taught me, but I’m not as good as I want to be. I keep practicing, though.”
“Your sourdough is amazing,” she says after swallowing another bite of her sandwich, those gray eyes twinkling.
This brings another smile to my face. “I appreciate you saying so.”
“So, do you run this place by yourself?”
“I do.” I try not to sound clipped, drag out theOa bit, but I’m not ready to discuss the particulars yet. “Where did you travel here from?”
Another sip of her soda. “I live in L.A. I left super early, so it was a smooth ride here.” She leans back a bit, her lips quirk. “Anything interesting happening here in Crescent Lake?”
I let out a chuckle. “Well, it’s not cold enough for the lake to freeze, so no ice skating yet. But we have just about any kind of shop you might want to visit, all locally owned. The only thing that isn’t owned by a Crescent Lake native is that giant eyesore of a hotel by the lake.”
“I did notice the hotel when I arrived.”
“Thank you for not staying there, by the way.”
She grins. “This is more my speed. Your place is beautiful.”
Warmth blooms in my chest at her repeated praise. I’m not sure what to do with that.
Izzy yawns, covering her mouth with her hand. “Sorry, I didn’t sleep much last night.”
“You should take a nap.” My instincts to care for her kick into overdrive, and I grab her empty plate, can, and glass, then take them over to the sink before turning back to her. “If you want, I can wake you. Just tell me what time.”
She gives me a sleepy smile. “No need for all of that. I have my phone alarm.” She hops off the barstool. “But you’re right. I should get some sleep so I have enough energy to explore the town tomorrow morning.”
With a smile, wave, and a “Thank you for everything,” she disappears from the kitchen.
Exploring Crescent Lake sounds like a good way for her to fall in love with the town. Maybe want to stay longer so I can get to know her more. Convince her that we belong together...
Well, a man can hope.
Chapter Four
The atmosphere at Cuppa is better than I expected.
This quaint cafe is just what I needed. The smell of crisp autumn air wafts into the place every time the door opens, bringing a little chill. It doesn’t happen too often; the place has been pretty quiet, but each time someone comes in or leaves, it brings a pleasant if slightly blustery breeze.
I broke my winter coat out of my suitcase and am donning it now as I sit at a cute little table by the window, sipping my pumpkin spice latte in a beautiful, super-sized brown mug.
