Page 13 of Perfectly Grumpy

SIX

lauren

When I find a table at Magnolia Brew early the next morning, the smell of cinnamon fills the air, mingling with the nutty aroma of fresh-brewed coffee. Since I live in the apartment above the cafe, this is my usual hangout when I’m not in the office at the Crushers.

“Do you want your usual, Lauren?” Scarlett calls out from behind the barista bar.

“Yes, plus one black coffee. No cream or sugar. And two cinnamon rolls.”

She raises one eyebrow.

“Not all for me,” I say, joining her at the counter. Jeneva and Delilah are already dishing out gossip at their corner table, so I lower my voice. “I’m meeting someone. And just for the record, it’s for work. Not a date.”

She looks at me. “That sounds like a pre-date disclaimer. Who is it?”

“Tate,” I whisper.

Her eyes widen. “Sheriff?”

“Shhh,” I say putting my finger to my lips as the two olderladies look my way.

Scarlett lowers her tone. “He doesn’t seem like the type of guy to care about PR.”

“He’s had a few public mishaps,” I say carefully.

Scarlett dishes out two cinnamon rolls with a knowing nod. “How bad are we talking?”

“Bad enough that I need to step in with a full-blown strategy, which could take all summer.”

“But we haven’t even made it to the end of the season yet.”

“I know, but this isn’t just about damage control. If I can spin this into something positive, it’ll be a huge win for me. I want to show the big guns I’m more than just another PR manager for an AHL team. If I can turn Tate Foster into a fan favorite, that gets me in the door for a position with an NHL team.”

The bell on the door jingles, and I turn to see Tate in a backward ball cap and glasses, entering the coffee shop. He pauses, looking around like he can’t believe people are awake and functional this early.

“Over here!” I call, waving to him.

Tate spots me and shakes his head slowly, clearly unimpressed with my choice of a meeting place, before striding over to join me at the barista counter. “Where else would you be but the loudest corner of the cafe? This place is too chaotic, too cheerful, and too populated.”

“That’s why I love it!” I say. “Noise, people, life! All the things you pretend give you hives.”

Tate holds up his hand and closes his eyes. “Can you just stop talking for a second? Your words feel like stabby little pick-up sticks in my brain.”

“Well, somebody’s cranky this morning.” He looks about as excited as an orangutan being interrupted by a busload of kindergartners. “It’s time to talk about the PR plan. But first, you need caffeine.” I thrust a coffee into his hands before heading to my usual table.

“Caffeine doesn’t change my feelings about theplan,” he mumbles into his coffee as he follows. “And I was up late last night…” He hesitates for a second. “Working on a project.”

“Okay, then, how about a cinnamon roll?” I offer, holding out the plate before I sit down.

Scarlett, of course, has given us only one plate for two rolls. She absolutely did this on purpose, probably hoping the shared plate would feel more like a date.

He stares at it warily before tearing off a piece. As he chews, he looks up in surprise at the barista. “What gives, Scarlett? You never told me these were this good.”

“You always order the same blueberry muffin,” she says with a shrug. “You’re a creature of habit.”

“Well, these are amazing.” Tate studies me. “You’re trying to get on my good side, aren’t you?”

“First rule of wooing people,” I say. “Find out what they like.”

---