Page 43 of Clumsy in Love

“I feel like I’ve been dropped into a Normal Rockwell painting,” he said. “You guys really go all out.”

“Oh, this is nothing,” she said. “Come back at Christmas, and you’ll see how obsessive we can be.”

“I can’t imagine.”

Holly looked around. “It does seem like a bit much, but I love it. Come on. Caffeine fix first. It’s gonna be a long day.”

She let Lady out of the truck and dragged Cole to a coffee shop across from the park called the Rise and Grind. When they entered, two of the employees were yelling at each other.

“This is the worst pot you’ve ever made,” a girl in her teens with bright red hair yelled to someone in the back. “Like I’m drinkin’ motor oil laced with sludge from the bottom of the river.”

“Don’t be such a drama queen,” an unseen male voice hollered in reply. “It’s notthatbad.”

The teen at the counter saw them and hushed her coworker.

“Hey, Holly,” the barista greeted. “And you must be the hottie watching Holly’s back. Heard all about you.” She gave him a slow head-to-toe perusal and winked. “I see what all the fuss is about. What can I get ya?”

Cole stared blankly. They’d come in for coffee, but after the conversation he’d just overheard…“Um. Coffee?”

Holly laughed. “Hope, this isOfficerRobinson.” Her tone held a slight rebuke. “Cole, that’s Hope, Faith’s little sister.”

“Sorry, I let that dude get away,” Hope said. “I heard to call if he asked about you but didn’t find out till later what a bad guy he is. If I’d’ve known that, I woulda dumped hot coffee on him, jabbed stir sticks in his eyes, and then—”

“Oh. Kay,” Holly interrupted.

“He’s very dangerous, Hope,” Cole said, pinning her gaze to get his point across. “If you see him again, call nine-one-one, and donottalk to him.”

“All right. All right. Just trying to help.” Hope held up her hands in surrender.

“So, how bad’s the coffee, really?” Holly asked.

“Willie!” Hope yelled. “Throw out that garbage pot of sludge. I’ll start a new one.” She took their orders and left to make the coffee.

“Sorry, she can be a little brash.”

Cole chuckled. “I’m from New York, Holly. Brash is all I know.”

“Well, that fifteen-year-old firecracker will make you feel right at home then.”

Hope returned with two huge strawberry muffins. Each had a miniature flag stuck in the middle. Holly dug in right away.

“Not gonna wait for your coffee?” he asked.

“Wanna get this one down. See if there’s room for a second.” She waggled her eyebrows.

“How are you so thin?”

“Beats me.” She raised both shoulders and popped in another bite.

Cole zeroed in on an older gentleman at the counter who’d come in and was giving Holly the stink eye.

The man elbowed his friend and pointed in their direction. “Can you believe she has the nerve to show her face here?” He feigned a whisper, but it was loud enough for those around to hear.

“Shut up, Zeke,” Hope said. “You want coffee, you better watch your mouth.”

Even though he had fifty years on her, Zeke apparently knew better than to sass Hope and closed his mouth. That didn’t stop the dirty looks.

“That about your dad?” Cole said. Holly pressed her lips together and gave a curt nod.

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