Page 27 of Sweet Christmas Wish
“Thank you,” she murmured, her eyes misting over a little. She cleared her throat and drew her shoulders up straight. “I know this is supposed to be your vacation, and you shouldn’t have to work for free, so we’ll of course work out payment for your time here.”
Knowing that Sarah wasn’t able to afford that, but also knowing her pride wouldn’t allow him to work for free, he quickly came up with a plan. “How about this—I get free pastries and coffee while I work, and I’ll get a cut of the tips. Deal?”
“Are you sure?”
Sarah looked so vulnerable then, so utterly beautiful and fragile while trying to be strong, that it nearly broke his heart, which had begun to beat a little faster again. “I’m absolutely sure. Being a barista in college was one of my favorite jobs I’ve ever had, and I’m excited to get back to my roots. It’ll be such a nice break from accounting, to be honest.”
Sarah gave him a wobbly smile. “I’m not sure I fully believe you, but I’m going to take you at your word, Will Parks.”
“As you should, because I do mean it.”
“Thanks. This means the world to me. I couldn’t do this without you.”
“You could. I mean that too. But, I’m here to help, and happy to do it. How about I put together a drink menu tonight and then I’ll be back here early tomorrow morning so we can officially open our coffee station?”
“Sounds good to me. Thanks again.”
“Don’t mention it.” Will gave her a smile and took a step back, tucking his hands into his pockets. “Okay, I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Sarah waved goodbye to him and he headed out into the cold street to walk toward the inn. As he walked, he kept seeing Sarah looking up at him, so vulnerable and yet so strong, and he realized something—he didn’t need payment of any kind to do this for Sarah. Money was really the last thing on his mind. If he was being honest with himself, helping her with the coffee station was a great excuse to spend more time with her, which he had come to want to do more and more. How had he not noticed that before?
CHAPTERFOURTEEN
Although she’d already been up for three hours, Sarah continued to yawn as she dumped a massive amount of butterscotch chips into the cookie batter she was mixing. She hadn’t slept well the night before—her dreams had been a nightmarish montage of herself trying and failing to make drinks at the new espresso machine, of the machine shattering into a thousand pieces and leaving her more in debt, of all the awful and outlandish ways things might go wrong. And so, today, she moved through the kitchen a bit like a zombie.
Mechanically, she slid the tray of cookies into the industrial oven and closed the door, then began slicing the now-cooled coffee cake. The coffee cake was always a customer favorite in the mornings and she brightened a little as she realized she would now be offering actual coffee to her customers to go along with their morning pastries.
Maybe this won’t be so bad after all, she tried to tell herself cheerfully, even as the gremlin in the back of her brain grouched,Maybe it will be all right for now, but what about when Will leaves?
Determined not to let that awful gremlin in her brain get the best of her, Sarah set down her cutting knife and slipped out into the front of the shop, where the espresso machine sat, all hulking and gleaming stainless steel. Lightly, almost afraid to touch it, she brushed her fingers along the top of the machine, feeling the cold metal beneath her fingertips. Gaining confidence, she peered at all the buttons and levers. Will had gotten her an extremely good deal on the machine—heaven only knew where he had found one for such a good price and in such good condition—and she had no doubt in his belief that it was a good investment. What she doubted, she knew, was herself and whether she could actually make a go of it on her own.
Noticing a lever sticking out from the side of the machine, she tested it out, pulling it down gingerly. Blazing hot steam shot out of a wand sticking out from the machine and she yelped, releasing the lever and jumping out of the way before the steam could hit her. As she did so, she accidentally bumped into the counter, sending a napkin dispenser flying to the floor and cracking open, spilling napkins like a snow flurry all over the floor. Sarah stood panting and glaring at the machine before an insane urge to laugh hysterically overwhelmed her. Giggles bubbled up from her stomach and spilled out of her as she stared at the mess she had caused, tears gathering in the corners of her eyes.
“Oh, boy, am I in trouble,” she murmured, stooping down to gather the now-soiled napkins and tossing them into the trash. “What have I gotten myself into?”
She set the napkin dispenser back on the front counter, making a note to refill it before the customers came, then turned back around to study the espresso machine. It sat there, looking a little too innocent in her opinion, considering what had just happened. Sure, the machine overwhelmed her, but she had invested in it and she was willing to do whatever it took to keep Sweet Thing afloat. This was her life, and she wasn’t going to let herself or her family down. Reminding herself that it was a machine and therefore couldn’t be out to get her, even if shedidfind it ominous and overwhelming, she tiptoed closer to continue studying it.
Hands firmly clasped behind her back so she couldn’t wreak any more havoc, she leaned closer to look at all of its complicated parts. Levers, buttons, knobs, and spouts, all to be used in endless different combinations to create drinks she hadn’t even tasted before. She was so intent on studying the machine that, when the bell on the front door jingled as someone entered, she nearly leapt out of her skin, literally jumping a little. She whirled around to see Will walking in, pulling a knitted beanie off his light brown hair.
“Making yourself a drink?”
Sarah laughed a little sheepishly. “Not a chance. This machine and I have already had one bad run-in today, and I wouldn’t tempt fate by trying to make a drink without you here to coach me.”
“I bet you’re more capable than you realize.”
Sarah pulled a face at that. “Maybe in the kitchen, but not with this machine. At least, not yet,” she added hastily, not wanting to seem like a Negative Nancy. “I’m just glad you’re here for a while. Youarereally okay with doing this?”
Will cocked his head at her, shaking it a little as he chuckled. “For the thousandth time, I’m happy to help out. I haven’t gotten to play barista since college, and it’s a welcome break from the kind of work I usually do every day. Trust me.”
Something in his tone piqued her curiosity. “Do you not like your actual job?”
“Accounting? It’s all right.” Will folded his arms and she tried not to notice the way his biceps bulged under his thin sweater now that he’d taken off his coat. “I knew it would be a more practical route in college, and it was the route Tristan had chosen as well, so I thought it seemed like a safer bet than opening my own business.”
Sarah nodded slowly. “Do you ever regret it?”
“Most of the time I’m too busy to think about whether I regret it or not. I spend a lot of time at the office, working overtime and never taking breaks—that’s why I had so much vacation time saved up to come back to Snowy Pine Ridge.”
“And now I’m putting you back to work.”
