Page 65 of Espresso Your Love

We float in the air, taking in the masterpiece before us. When we land, we snap a picture with the balloon, and then he leads me to a picnic blanket. There’s already a variety of pastries and drinks set out. We enjoy our picnic while we watch as the balloon goes up with another couple in it.

As we finish eating, I move closer to Ryan and feel the heat radiating from him.

“You’re like my own personal heater,” I tease.

He grabs my hand. “And you’re an ice box.” He wraps both his hands around mine to warm them up.

“Just keeping things cool.”

“Who’s cheesy now?” He raises an eyebrow at me.

I shrug. “I learned from the best.”

Ryan laughs heartily, and it’s infectious. I watch the crease form around his eyes. When he looks at me, his green eyes are mesmerizing. My hands are still engulfed in his.

His breath hitches when I touch his clean shaven cheek, tracing his jawline. I lean in closer. His gaze drops to my lips and back to me. Our faces are inches apart now.

“Cassie…” he says, trailing off. A silent request for consent.

My heart is pounding so hard that I can hear it in my ears.

Despite all my fears of first kisses and broken hearts, there is something in his gentle gaze that reassures me. Something that tells me that with him, it may be safe to take the plunge, to get my heart involved. To make the next move. He’s worth it.

I nod slightly. He leans in closer, our noses brush, and he captures my lips with his. Everything around me fades like we are the only two people on earth.

As we pull apart slowly, he rests his forehead on mine, a smile on his lips. “That was…”

“Perfect.” I smile back at him.

He lightly chuckles. “It was perfect.”

“Ryan? Does this mean you’re my boyfriend?”

“Only if you’re sure you want to date a city boy.”

“I think I can handle it,” I say as I press my lips to his.

Epilogue

Cassie

Six Months Later

Planning for the Mercer wedding is in full swing. We have just a few more months until the wedding. I’ve been flying back and forth at least once a month since our original meeting. And as we’ve gotten closer, the trips have been more frequent. The bride is so precious, and I’ve loved working with her. Their small town in Indiana reminds me a lot of home, but I always miss seeing Ryan when I’m gone.

I was out of town last weekend, and he’s been working so hard that we’ve only briefly seen each other this week. This morning, he’s meeting me here at Coffee Loft, but it’s only for a few minutes before he goes back to work.

It’s been tough with our schedules, especially with me getting more clients, but we make the best out of it. Even if it’s a run together in the morning, a TV show at night, or a quick coffee break.

“Do you mind if I…?” I know that voice. I look up to find Ryan and Max. Ryan is pointing to the chair across from me.

I pat the cushion next to me, but he shakes his head and points at the chair.

I raise an eyebrow at him. “Not at all.” He sits down holding his lofty coffee, a brown paper bag, and a book. The book I bought for him. “Didn’t you already read that?”

He ignores me and takes a bite of his donut. What is going on with him? He’s acting so strange. He looks at Max who whines.

“Sorry about my dog here, he’s wanting some extra attention this morning. Do you like dogs?”

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