Page 78 of Colliding with the Coffee Shop Owner
"That's the last of it," Max announces, setting down a box of tech equipment. "Though we might need to think about a bigger place eventually. Your coffee book collection alone could fill a library."
"You're the one with three monitors and enough cables to circle the mountain," I retort, helping him unpack. "Besides, I love this cottage."
"I know you do." He pulls me into his arms, pushing a strand of hair behind my ear. "We can make it work for now. And when we're ready for more space..."
"We'll find the perfect blend," I finish, echoing what has become our private motto.
Max smiles, his eyes crinkling at the corners. And as the familiar fire ignites between us, I know that some combinations, once discovered, change everything forever.
Epilogue
Six MonthLater
"Is the banner straight?" I squint at the hand-painted sign stretching across Mountain Brew's newly expanded storefront. The spring sunshine illuminates the fresh lettering:Grand Reopening: Mountain Brew & Tech Lounge.
"Perfect." Max steps back to admire our handiwork, slipping an arm around my waist. His wedding band catches the light as he gestures toward the renovated space. "Hard to believe this was just a dream six months ago."
I lean into his embrace, surveying what we've built together. The original coffee shop now flows seamlessly into the adjacent storefront, where sleek workstations and comfortable seating create Angel's Peak's first co-working space. The exposed brick walls and reclaimed wood tables maintain Mountain Brew's rustic charm while Max's technological touches—charging stations disguised as vintage fixtures, state-of-the-art WiFi boosters hidden in antique coffee canisters—blend old and new in perfect harmony.
Much like us.
"You've created something special here," Chef Hunter Morgan approaches, champagne flute in hand. The expansioncelebration has drawn nearly the entire town, the sidewalk outside overflowing with well-wishers. "Though I'm still waiting for you to implement that bean-to-cup tracking system at Timberline."
"Beta testing starts next month," Max promises. "Just need to finalize the blockchain verification component."
Hunter's wife, Audrey, joins us, her critic's eye appraising the space. "The integration is seamless. You can hardly tell where the coffee shop ends and the tech lounge begins."
"That was the point," I explain, accepting a congratulatory hug from her. "We wanted it to feel like one cohesive experience."
Max's app, now known as LocalLink, has become the gold standard for small business operations nationwide, its success surpassing even his optimistic projections. His Angel's Peak satellite office has grown from a one-man operation to a team of six, with two local high school graduates interning under Max's mentorship.
"There's the happy couple!" Eleanor Morgan's voice carries across the crowded shop as she makes her way toward us, Noah and Riley in tow. At eighty-four, she still commands every room she enters, silver braids now accented with turquoise beads that match her elaborate earrings.
"Congratulations on the expansion," Riley offers, notepad tucked under her arm even at a social event. Old habits die hard for journalists, even ones who've found their home. "Any comment for the Gazette piece?"
"Just that we're grateful to the community for making this possible," I say, squeezing Max's hand. "Mountain Brew was always about connection. The tech lounge extends that mission into the digital realm."
"Speaking of connections," Eleanor interjects with the conspiratorial tone that signals matchmaking, "have you metJason's new assistant? Lovely girl. Just moved from Denver. Engineering background."
Noah rolls his eyes affectionately at his grandmother. "Give it a rest, Gram. Not everyone needs your romantic intervention."
"Worked for you two, didn't it?" Eleanor retorts, nodding toward Noah and Riley. "And these two." She gestures to Max and me with a self-satisfied smile.
"You had nothing to do with us," I laugh. "We literally collided into each other's lives."
"Who do you think told Max about the cabin rental near The Haven?" Eleanor's eyes twinkle mischievously. "Coincidences take planning, my dear."
Max chuckles. "I knew it. When I called about accommodations, the reservation office suddenly had a cancellation for that specific cabin."
"I neither confirm nor deny," Eleanor sniffs primly before her attention is captured by Caleb and Harper entering with their rescue dog. "Excuse me, I need to introduce Harper to Margie's niece who just opened that wildlife photography gallery..."
As she bustles away, Max shakes his head in wonder. "That woman is terrifying and impressive in equal measure."
"She's Angel's Peak's greatest natural resource," Riley agrees fondly.
The party continues around us, the shop filled with laughter and conversation. I slip away to check on supplies, making my way to the new storage room behind the expanded counter.
Inside, I take a moment to breathe, overwhelmed by how perfectly the day is unfolding. Six months ago, I was a woman guarding her heart behind coffee machines, certain that happiness came with expiration dates. Now I'm married to the man who taught me otherwise; our business is thriving, and thecollision of our lives has transformed our little corner of Angel’s Peak.
