Page 24 of Love You A Latte

I shake my head and send Addison a good morning text, though I know she won’t be awake for another couple hours yet. I like to imagine her smiling first thing in the morning, and I hope to see it in person sometime.

I’m determined to make this work. Whether she gets that hybrid job or not, she’s it for me. I don’t know if she’s realized it yet, but I’ll do whatever I have to do to make it work.

Us, together.

I smile, and before I know it, she’s walking through the door and setting up at her table. I contemplate my options for her latte today, deciding on salted caramel, and tossing a pinch of salt over my shoulder for good luck while I’m at it. More superstitious nonsense that I’ve never partaken in before, but the sketchy aura of this lingering spirit issonot my vibe.

I deliver Addison’s drink and drop a kiss on top of her head, not wanting to bother her further as she’s clearly in the zone this morning. She gives me a brief smile of thanks, fingers flying over her keyboard, then tips her lips up for a kiss. Her eyes never leave her screen, and I shake my headas I saunter away with a smile.

My hard little worker, kicking ass, taking names, and not putting up with any more shit.

Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of me.

I’m crouched behind the counter cleaning out the mini fridge during a lull when the door chimes and feet stomp up to the counter. I shuffle the various milk cartons back into place and am about to close the door when a booming voice sends my heart careening out of my chest.

“WHERE ARE THEY?” Derek bellows, and the coffee house goes silent.

I bang my head on the counter when I attempt to jump to my feet, and I already know it’s going to leave a nasty bump. Tori is working the register and her terrified eyes flit between me and Derek. I motion her to the side and she scurries around me, shuffling away near the back exit.

“I assume you’re looking for me? How can I help you?” I try to lock down my emotions, the confusing tangle of anger, fear, and exhaustion that this man won’t leave me alone.

His face is red, his thick neck bulging over the collar of his wrinkled button-up shirt. He points a finger at me, his hand shaking with what I can only assume to be rage, though I have no idea what has made him so furious.

“You...” he says, leaning over the counter into my space. “You know exactly what you did!”

“I really don’t,” I say, holding my hands in front of me in a placating gesture and taking a small step back, thankful for the counter between us.

“I found your so-called supplier,” he says, referencing the specialty coffee beans my shop is known for. I was never hiding it from him. All he ever had to do was sit down and research just like I did. Apparently, he finally got around to it.

“They declined to work with me, can you believe that?” His voice is getting louder, his face more red with every heaving breath and hate-filled word. “I know it was you. You put in a bad word about me, don’t deny it!”

I didn’t, but he wouldn’t believe me, so I say nothing. It does sound like something he would do, though, so I’m notsurprised he assumes others use the same shady business practices he does. I shake my head and focus on taking deep breaths through my nose to keep calm while hoping Tori has already called the sheriff. Clearly my supplier has good business and people sense; I wouldn’t want to work with Derek either.

“You act all high and mighty, but you’re a disgrace to our town. You don’t care about other local businesses,” he rages. “You’re just a spoiled, selfish, disrespectful—” spittle flies across the counter as he speaks, but he’s cut off from my view when a head of honey brown hair obscures it. A slender, lithe body steps between me and the counter, her extra inches blocking me completely.

“That is enough,” Addison says, emphasizing each word, and I’ve never heard her sound so fierce. Her normally feminine voice is pitched low, so full of defiance and anger it makes my eyes flare and tingles shoot up and down my arms.

“I don’t know you, but I know Frankie, and they are the least selfish person I’ve ever met.” She reaches behind her with one hand and I grasp it in mine, tangling our fingers together. I attempt to step up next to her, but she shoves me back with surprising force.

“You talk about being disrespectful,” she spits the last word, then pauses. I get the impression she just eyed him up and down, and I wish I could see the derision on her face that I hear in her voice.

“Yet you’re the one barging intotheirbusiness, yelling and throwing out unfounded accusations. Causing a scene, being a bully and frightening their staff.” She scoffs with a gesture toward the back door where Tori disappeared. “You disgust me.”

My heart skips a beat and my breath feels frozen in my chest. This is a side of Addison I could never have guessed at. I try again to step up next to her, but she whips halfway around, her hair smacking me in the face, to shoot a glare at me before turning to face him again.

Okay then, I guess I’ll stay here.

“Well?” she demands, and I’m not sure what she’s waiting for. She’s already put him in his place.

“They’re not a team player!” He sounds like a teenager throwing a temper tantrum now, and I have to hold in a snicker.

She lets out a derisive laugh. “Team player? For what team?!” she says, incredulous.

That’s a good question, actually.

Derek splutters, and I imagine his face turning a delightful shade of burgundy with every second he can’t come up with a rebuttal. Then the door opens and our local sheriff strides in.

“What’s going on here folks?” he says.

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