Page 16 of Home for the Holidays

Charity laughed. “No, you’re right. I saw you making out with Sandy one night after we closed.”

“Son of a bitch,” Heidi whispered.

“Don’t worry. I didn’t tell anyone.” Charity shrugged. “I mean, I told Donna. But she knew already.”

“No one else knows?” Heidi looked around the café, her eyes landing on each employee, each customer, questions waterfalling through her mind the entire time.

“I can guarantee you that Taylor and Karlie know. But only because they’re lesbianing together—”

“Theyare?”

“Oh yeah. For months now. And I think they actuallydohave excellent gaydar. But other than that? No, no one else knows.”

“Please don’t tell anyone else.”

“I won’t.” She cleared her throat. “So, you like that woman, don’t you?”

Heidi waved a hand through the air. “No, absolutely not.” She allowed herself to look back over at her, though, and said softly, “I don’t even know her.”

“But you want to.” Charity’s eyebrows raised.

She sighed a dreamy sigh, and was instantly embarrassed. “No, not at all. I’m way too busy for anything like that. And I’m so old. She’s way too young for me. And I’m so in the closet and…” She shook her head, a deep sadness filling her. “I’mme.”

“What does that even mean?” Charity laughed. “Heidi, do you seriously not know how fucking beautiful you are?”

“Keep your voice down,” Heidi whispered, embarrassment pouring off of her.

“Absolutely not.” Charity shook her head. “You’re drop-dead gorgeous, and if you don’t think that woman is equally interested in you, you’re blind as a bat. Did you see how she was looking at you? I could see it, and I’m all the way across the store. She practically hopped over the counter and jumped you when you were making her coffee.”

Heidi could feel her mouth hanging open. “How the hell long were you watching us?”

“Long enough to know you two want to fuck.”

“Charity, you’ve gotta stop dropping the f-bomb at work,” Heidi said with a small laugh. “I’m gonna write you up.”

Charity’s laugh was loud. “Please, I’d love to see you try.” She looked over at the woman, and Heidi followed her line of sight.

“You think she was interested, hmm?”

“Absolutely.”

“So, what do I do?”

“She’ll come back. I can guarantee you.” Charity looked at Heidi. “What about Sandy?”

Heidi froze as she stared at Charity. Then, with a huff, she grabbed the pastry box from the counter. “Get to work. Enough slacking.” She faked sounding upset, and winked at Charity before she turned and started to weave through the customers. The café had suddenly gotten very busy, which was fantastic news. It meant she’d have to focus andnoton this woman. “All righty,” she said as she breezed over to her and set the pastries on the bar top. “Here you go. I think my girl at the counter even gave you a few surprises in there.” She let out a tiny giggle. “Hopefully you like them all.”

“Well, if I eat all of these,” the woman said, “I’m going to need to do some serious cardio when I get back to the city.”

“True, yes, I meant,” Heidi started, but when she saw the woman’s face, she stopped and waved her hand through the air. “You know what I meant, don’t you?”

“I did, yes.”

“They’re on the house, by the way.”

“Oh, you don’t have to do that.”

“Don’t worry about it. Remember? I’m the owner. I can do what I want.” Heidi offered her best smile. “If you get a chance to stop back in, please do.”

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