Page 5 of Rescued Hearts

She didn’t know her sister’s two employees, Mia and Rina, well, but they were always welcoming and warm, smelling of old books and the vanilla candles her sister liked to burn behind the counter.

The walk was just as enjoyable as waking up in a new place with her whole life before her was. The cool late-morning air kissed the skin of her bare arms. The streets were quiet as the small town woke up with a yawn and a stretch, but the birds were already busy at work collecting worms for their young or flitting around the shrubbery in front of picturesque homes.

This place was good for Honor. She could already feel it in her bones.

When she made the decision to leave Sully, she thought to live the van life, exploring the country as she created jewelry and built her business. But Felicity’s suggestion for her to come and stay with her had been exactly the thing she never knew she needed.

The coffee shop was only a couple blocks from the bookstore, nestled between a mom-and-pop drugstore and a junk shop that Honor couldn’t wait to explore.

With each step she took, she recited the drink order in her head.Triple espresso shot for Felicity. Oak milk lavender honey latte for Mia. Iced caramel macchiato with extra caramel drizzle for Rina. And vanilla almond milk cappuccino for me. Two pumps of vanilla.

When she pushed open the door of the coffee shop, the bell tinkled and the rich smell of coffee beans wrapped around her.

The older barista finished up another customer’s order and approached the counter with a smile for Honor. “Good morning.”

“It is, isn’t it?” Honor heard the bell on the door chime a few more times as people exited and entered the shop. Suddenly, she couldn’t remember the order. She rummaged in her vintage leather bag to locate her phone, pushing aside a dog-eared paperback and a few packets of beads she hadn’t yet filed away in her crates.

Behind her, she heard a low huff of annoyance but didn’t turn to see who was standing there. She was having a fantastic morning—she wasn’t about to let someone rain on her happiness.

“Here it is. The usual for Felicity.”

“Triple espresso shot. Got it. You must be the sister.”

She looked up with a smile. “That’s me. How did you know?”

“Word spreads in small towns. Besides, Felicity has been talking about you coming for a week. Welcome to Willowbrook.”

“Thank you.”

“What else can I get you, lovey?”

“Oak milk lavender honey latte for—”

The barista was already in motion, reaching for various cups. “Oh, for the bookstore ladies. I know the orders.”

“Where I came from, the city is too large for you to know anyone well, let alone remember something like a special drink order.”

“That’s Willowbrook for you. I hope you like it here. We can use some fresh young people in town.”

The gruff noise of a throat clearing sent a little ripple of awareness though her, but she didn’t glance over her shoulder at the person. She leaned on the counter and settled in for a small chat while the barista whipped together the drinks.

“Can I get anything for you?” she asked.

“Yes, please. A vanilla almond milk cappuccino. Two pumps of vanilla.”

“Jesus.” The rough voice from behind her made her want to laugh out loud. She couldn’t imagine someone being so annoyed by standing in line waiting for coffee on such a beautiful day in a wonderful little town like Willowbrook.

As she waited, she busied herself with reading various flyers and business cards on the counter. One in particular caught her eye. Summer Festival. Food. Music. Fun.

She wondered if there were any pop-up stores at the festival and asked the barista.

A low groan projected from the person behind her, but she ignored them and listened intently to all the barista had to say about the upcoming festival while already planning a pop-up store to sell her own jewelry.

When the barista pushed a drink carrier containing four drinks across the counter, Honor paid for it and thanked the woman. “I’m sure you’ll be seeing a lot of me in the future!”

“Have a good day, lovey.”

As she turned with the drinks in her arms, she slanted a sideways glance at the person behind her. Tall. Muscled. Probably one of those men who hated women just because they took up space in the world and didn’t step aside and let the man take the position of importance.

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