Page 32 of Just A Dash of Holiday Magic
A LETTER TO SANTA
Chapter 1
RYAN
There probably aren’t too many people that can say they own their own successful business and yet still find themselves with the title of the black sheep of the family—well, I can.
Two years ago, I walked away from the family business after my mother passed, and my father became consumed with the business. I watched him get lost in grief and get obsessed with his work. Finally, it got to the point that there was nothing that I did that was good enough for him. So I could either stay and allow myself to get consumed or walk away from it all.
“Medium half-caf soy latte for Danielle,” I call out as I set the to-go cup on the counter.
The morning rush inThe Brewed Beanis finally starting to slow down, which means only one thing—Julianna. The highlight of my day is going to walk in and order her usual large mocha with an extra shot and an oatmeal raisin muffin. She’s been coming in here nearly every day since I opened this place. And every day, I watch for her through the large storefront windows of my shop.
“A watched pot never boils, boss,” Javi chuckles when he catches me watching out for her.
"Will you quit focusing on me and focus on the customers, please, or you are fired."
“You can’t fire me.” Javi shakes his head. “You already fired me this morning when I ate the last piece of lemon bread.”
"Well, one of these days, I'm going to mean it!" I warn.
“And on that day, I’m sure as you stare out the windows for you know who, you will be sure to see pigs fly."
“Get back to work,” I grumble, but I can’t keep the corner of my mouth from ticking up in amusement.
Javi works the register as I make the coffee. We work our way through the rest of the line of customers needing their caffeine fix. I’ve just about given up that today might be one of the days that Julianna isn't going to stop in. The bell above the shop door chimes.
I glance up and see the beautiful, blue-eyed brunette of my dreams walk in. She's got her phone to her ear and looking flustered like she slept past her alarm and now is trying to make up for the lost time.
“I’m telling you, I’ve looked everywhere. No one has it. I can’t let him down, not this year,” she says as she takes her place at the end of the line.
Javi finishes up with the following two customers but steps back from the register when Julianna walks up to the counter.
He may bust my balls about having a thing for her, but he doesn’t have to be asked to help a guy out.
“Boss, can you take over? I think we need more cups from the back.”
I nod nonchalantly like we haven’t done this many times before. Julianna hangs up with whoever she’s talking with and drops her phone into her impossibly large purse.
“Hey, how can I help you?” I ask.
She looks up at the board every time but never ventures from her usual order. “Large Mocha with an extra shot and an oatmeal raisin muffin.”
I plug in the order and start making her drink as she begins to dig into her purse for her wallet. I watch as she pulls out one item after another and drops it onto the counter. It's only when I walk her drink over to her that she reaches the bottom and huffs in annoyance.
“I forgot my wallet,” she sighs, dropping her head in her hand.
"Don't worry about it," I assure her. "It's on the house."
Julianna glances up, her eyes wide in surprise. “Really?”
“I think you’ve purchased enough cups of coffee and muffins to deserve one of each free of charge.”
My heart thumps wildly in my chest when she smiles at me and leans over the narrow counter to pull me into a hug. The scent of her lilac shampoo fills my nose, and my body immediately reacts.
“I can’t tell you how much I needed this." She pulls back and holds up the to-go cup. "You are my hero.”
Javi snorts but manages to cover it with a cough. He’s definitely going to give me shit about this later, but I don’t care. Besides, I can just assign him bathroom cleanup duties for a month if I want.
