Page 9 of Love You A Latte

Her smile falls and a look of confusion takes over her pretty face.

“Don’t do what?”

“Pretend. Don’t pretend with me,” I say, softening my voice. “I can tell something’s bothering you, and if you don’t want to talk about it that’s okay, but don’t with that fake smile.”

She breaks eye contact and looks down at the back of her phone, tracing the marbled pattern with the tip of herfinger.

“Your real one is far too pretty, and I’d rather know the real you than a fake version, smiling or not,” I say, sitting down next to her. Jaime can cover the counter for a bit.

Addison is quiet, but I let her have a moment, realizing I came on pretty strong.

“I don’t know what to say to that,” she finally says, peeking up at me through a fringe of long, dark lashes.

“That’s okay. Do you want to talk about what that frown was for?”

She shakes her head, and I nod my acquiescence.

“What’s on the docket for today, then?” I ask.

“Eh, just typical work stuff. Emails, responding to requests, that sort of thing.”

“I take it you haven’t heard back about the transfer yet?” I say.

She looks up at me with her eyebrows raised. “No,” she says slowly, “I haven’t. I’m surprised you remembered.”

I quirk my lips to the side. What she doesn’t realize is that it’s not hard to remember everything she says. In fact, to forget anything about this stunning creature would be impossible.

“I remember everything about you,” I say, though it’s so low under my breath that I’m not sure she hears. I don’t think I want her to, not yet anyway.

Whether she does or not, she doesn’t answer. I stand so we can both get back to work.

“You staying for a while?” I say.

“I was thinking I would, if that’s okay,” Addison says.

“I’d love that. Maybe later we can take a break for lunch?”

“Sure,” she says, another small smile lighting her face.

~~~

I can’t keep my eyes off her over the next couple of hours. Her fingers fly across her keyboard, her perfectly shaped eyebrows pinch and relax, and every few minutes she reaches down to scratch Moose behind the ears. When she finishes her latte, I make her another, this time withcaramel instead of coconut. I drop it off without a word, swiping her empty plate and cup, and she gifts me with a slightly bigger smile this time. I wink at Addison as I pass, heading to the next table.

As soon as she sits back and shuts her laptop, I’m practically flying across the room.

“Hungry for some lunch?” I say, but she shakes her head.

“You can eat though, I’m happy to still hang out with you for a bit.”

I shrug and lean back in the chair, widening my legs and kicking my feet out so one bumps into hers. She glances down as though she can see through the table, then back up, her eyes scanning my face. I tilt my head with another smile, waiting for her to say whatever is on her mind.

“Why didn’t you kiss me?” she blurts, then slaps her hands over her mouth as her eyes flare with panic.

I freeze, sensing the hush that’s fallen around us and the eyes turning our way. Then I slowly sit up and lean forward, placing my elbows on the table. Her eyes are glued to mine, unblinking as I tilt my head and try to figure out what she’s talking about. Does she mean after I picked her up from the airport?

“Care to expand on that, sweets?”

She shakes her head so hard I worry she’ll hurt her neck, meanwhile her hands are still clasped over her mouth. Then she jolts and grabs her bag and laptop, as though she’s going to pack up and leave.

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