Page 49 of You Had Me at Merlot

“Give it a shot. Burgers often work. Just not recently.” Jamie’s restlessness had been brutal. The burgers hadn’t been able to save her from twisted sheets and constant tossing and turning. The problem was she couldn’t remember a time in her life where she’d been as excited for a new venture. Not only was the leap a scary one, but the new arrangement also meant she’d be spending occasional time withLeighton, which always had a way of affecting her, getting beneath her skin, and not letting go. She’d had a wonderful connection to this woman once upon a time but vowed to never allow herself to go back there. Leopards didn’t change their dishonest spots, and her heart couldn’t take another breaking at the hands of Leighton. That meant she had to get past the attraction that bubbled now and then. But how? Something about the two of them sharing space made rooms feel smaller and air in scarce supply. Yet she was committed to getting her feelings under control because Leighton was a dead end for her. A no-go. Surely, the more time they spent in each other’s presence, the more normalized their interactions would be. She looked forward to the day Leighton was just another boring, everyday part of life. Her brain had zero interest in any extended interaction. Dammit. Now, it was time for her traitorous body to get on board.

“You okay over there?” Eduardo asked. “You went extra quiet.” Her gestured to his face with a circular motion. “Serious expression. Eyes searching.”

“My brain is a busy place these days, Eduardo, but trust me. This has been a great afternoon.”

Leighton straightened, making Jamie very aware of her height. “Agreed. Lots of potential already.”

“I’m glad you think so, too.” Jamie grinned at the confirmation and looked around, imagining the magic of a second Bordeauxnuts. “All right. On to the next.”

As she took in each of the four spaces that day, she visualized tables sprouting up from the floor, customers crisscrossing the space, cabinets sliding closed, and the loud chatter of a busy café at eight a.m.

“Well, I saved your favorite property for last,” Eduardo told them, rubbing his hands together. “I wanted you to see the other locations with clear eyes first.”

“Smart of you. I appreciate the strategy. But yes, let’s go there now because I’m gonna combust.”

Eduardo laughed and held open the car door, and Leighton slid in, followed by Jamie.

The afternoon had proven incredibly useful. Jamie had eliminated two of the spaces on sight, and kept the remaining two in the running, even though both would require renovation for service to flow smoothly.But when they arrived at the fifth property, the one she’d been afraid to hope would be as good as the photos, Jamie blinked and exhaled.

“It’s beautiful.” Her eyes scanned the room, trying to process all she saw, running through the same imagination exercise, bringing the space to life in her mind. The ceiling towered above them, making the place feel huge. The front windows stretched just as high. Built-in bookshelves, brown and tall, stood watch behind the service counter. They would be gorgeous with pin spotlights directing focus to favored wines and roasts of the month. “I can see it so easily here,” she breathed, walking in a circle. Both Leighton and Eduardo hung back, allowing her space to explore on her own. “It’s perfect. Slightly out of our price range, but not by much.”

“Everything is negotiable,” Eduardo told them. “This is the one?”

Jamie nodded. “What do you think?” she asked Leighton.

“I think we should get to know the neighborhood. Do a little immersive mission. If we like it, we put in an offer before close of business.”

It wasn’t a bad idea. “Go undercover?”

“Sure.”

“Your forte.”

Leighton went still, almost as if she’d been surprise slapped. The world seemed to stop. Dammit. Jamie couldn’t seem to keep her fingers off the bruise. It wasn’t helpful if she wanted them to work together in harmony and professionalism. She had to walk that walk.

She covered the distance between them and lightly touched Leighton’s wrist. Eduardo, ever intuitive, wandered away, giving them space. “I’m sorry. Sometimes my mouth gets ahead of my brain. I’ll work on it.”

Leighton nodded, but the edges of her mouth turned down. Jamie wasn’t proud of having been the cause, and her skin went cold. “Just out of curiosity, do you think that will ever go away? The tendency to strike whenever the opportunity presents. Or will you always hate me?”

Jamie was thrown and grappled. She didn’t have the right words, but she knew she didn’t hate Leighton. Not overtly. It wasn’t that. She had trouble trusting Leighton fully and thereby refused to let her in. But hate wasn’t a part of the equation. “Please know, Leighton, that I don’t hate you. I promise.”

“Well, that’s something.” Her brown eyes had lost their sparkle, though.

“Leighton. Don’t.”

“I’m not. Promise.” She somehow managed to find that incredibly attractive smile that had a way of making Jamie’s tummy dip. Even still. “There’s a diner over there. Want to people watch? Get a sense of the neighborhood’s daily vibe.”

“You sound like a pro.”

“I am.” The serenity of her voice really was appealing, soft yet confident.

“I’ll follow you.”

They snagged a table by the window and ordered giant chef’s salads because when a salad is giant, it’s glorious and worthy. Leighton seemed to understand that, too.

“The large salad has certainly made a name for itself in the last ten years,” Leighton said. “It’s true.”

Jamie touched her chest. “Thank you. I carry strong opinions about salad size. Don’t bring me a side salad and expect any kind of excitement.” She held up her most expressive finger. “Lettuce, dressing, and a smattering of croutons are not enough for me to get out of bed.” She placed her napkin in her lap.

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