Page 2 of Red Hot Roaster

“Hey, everyone—Goldie’s going to be fine! We’re taking her down to Dr. Mica’s clinic to get her paw pads checked out. Say ‘hello’ to Rafe. He’s our new coffee roaster, and he’s the one who saved our golden girl from getting hit by a car.”

Yeah, a lifesaver in more ways than one.

If we didn’t get the roaster back up and running, pronto, I was going to lose the chance at the PDX FOODS business and likely the hospital kiosk contract. Then I’d have to close the café and let everybody go. Simple as that.

Shouts of “hi, Rafe” and “thanks, man” filled the air along with “welcome to the Chocolate Lab” and even an “atta boy” or two. Husky mix Louis got the other dogs barking, and Gus joined in with his Basset hound howls.

Quite a commotion, but Rafe kept his chin tucked down, staring at Goldie. A blush—or was it a flush on a guy?—spread up his neck, under his stubble, to his forehead where it met his high and tight dark hair.

To put the poor guy out of his misery (and Goldie had to be getting heavy), I announced, “All right, let’s get this sorted.”

I grabbed Emma’s towel and shoved it toward Noah. “Here, buddy, dry your face. Get a garbage bag from inside and follow Goldie’s trail to pick up all the pieces of dog statue you can find. Watch for cars!”

I turned to his sister. “Can you please call your dad, let him know what happened, and ask him to meet us at Dr. Mica’s?”

She nodded, and they both dashed into the café.

“Mateo, could you get the kids going again on drinks and food orders? I was just winding up prepping the two salads for tomorrow’s menu. You’ll see them posted. Can you please finish up for me?”

My manager gave me an “of course, Rose.”

I added, “When Noah returns, make sure to give him a sweet treat of some kind, okay?”

So that was sorted. It was time to get on with the rest of the day—I was already feeling behind schedule. I needed to orient the newbie to the roastery, get home to check in with my friend Jen and her crew, and make a few more calls about Mom’s party.

And Pirate. My big boy deserved a good long walk before it got too dark.

“Rafe, thanks for being so patient,” I said as I led the way down the sidewalk toward the vet clinic. “Bet you weren’t expecting all this drama your first day here.”

Chapter 2

Rafe

Too fucking right, I hadn’t expected all this drama. My idea had been to meet up with the Chocolate Lab’s owner, get the lay of the land, and head back to Pete’s to settle in. My old mentor had offered us a place to crash until we found our own short-term quarters.

That idea had been blasted to bits when a golden retriever took off running down the road in front of me. Good thing I’d caught up with her in time and popped my knife to make short work of the tangled leash.

What caught me off guard—and I prided myself on being ready for anything—was my reaction to the woman.

Actually, my three reactions.

First, how fast my fury about the dog’s safety had shut down—I was wrong, and this gorgeous woman is handing me my ass.

Second, how my gut had clenched—she’s the mother of the boy who’d tied Goldie to the statue.

And third, how my gut had relaxed here at the vet’s—she’snotthe mother, and she’snotmarried to the guy arriving to claim his dog.

I needed to get a grip. Yes, there was something about Rose that yanked me right to her, with her heart-shaped face framed by that out-of-control long blonde hair. Her dark-blonde eyebrows arching over those glittering green eyes. Her plump, sculpted lips between those sweet smile lines.

But I was going to be working for her—she was going to be myboss. Their roaster Mike, who’d broken his leg in a bike-versus-car collision, would only be out of commission for a few months.

After that, I’d be on the road again, first to a gig in Boise, then on to other temp jobs I was lining up. No need to get distracted from my primary mission: get in, get the job done, get out, get on with the next.

So, yeah, I was dealing with these unexpected reactions, this attraction, thesefuckingsensations.

I was burying them.

The kids’ dad (and thankfullynotRose’s husband, although I tamped down that relief again) walked in the door. Goldie’s tail gave a heavythump, thump, thump. Rose introduced me to Liam, who apologized for his son, thanked us for our help, and said he would pay for the statue—an offer she declined.

---