Page 39 of The Pumpkin Spice Romance
“No,” she said with an awkward laugh. “That’s ridiculous. I mean, if I were psychic, then half the clientele of Deja Brew would be mythical creatures!”
“It is a magical place,” I said. “But I’m pretty sure that all the creatures are based in reality.” Most of them. Not me, obviously. But all the other humans.
“Right!” she agreed. “Totally a hundred percent real! That’s us!”
I laughed. Maddie was so sweet and goofy at the same time. I loved her playful side. I almost held out my hand as I got up, but pulled it back in the nick of time. These research trips were starting to seem more and more like dates. I was going to have to say something because I wasn’t sure how much longer I could go without telling Maddie how I felt.
MADDIE
We stepped out of the coffee shop and stood under their striped awning. It was my favorite part of their establishment. I wondered if I got an awning and a heat lamp or two, if I could extend Deja Brew’s outdoor seating for another few months. I noticed, however, that the awning was sagging under the weightof accumulated rainwater. Getting an awning would mean my employees had to manage it. I wasn’t sure I wanted to add that duty to their job list.
“You’re thinking about getting an awning, aren’t you?” asked Felix, coming out after me.
I blushed in embarrassment, but he grinned.
“This is why Deja Brew is a success,” he said. “And why people love it. You’re always looking for ways to make it better.”
“You really think Deja Brew is special?” I asked, but what I meant to ask was, did he thinkIwas special.
“Very,” he responded, shoving his hands into his pockets but leaning into me.
I reached up to straighten the lapel on his jacket and edged closer. He smelled like something masculine and woodsy, and I wanted to rub my face in his T-shirt. Well, I wanted to rub my face all over him, but I would happily start with his shirt.
The sun was warm on my head, negating the slightly chill breeze that was trying to remind everyone that it could rain again. The world seemed soft and hazy as I looked up into his face.
I curled my hand into the lapel of Felix’s jacket as he leaned closer, closing the gap between our bodies. I could feel the heat of him, and I resisted the urge to fling my arms around his neck. This was a kiss moment, right? I held my breath andtried not to embarrass myself. I just wanted this to be perfect. Was that too much to ask?
And then, like a flickering TV coming to life, my future vision pushed a new image into my head. Stanhope Wallace, Mr. Baristas-Aren’t-Welcome himself, was about to come around the corner, and he would use his umbrella to tip the water off the awning and onto Felix. He carried an umbrella? What kind of Northwest native carried an umbrella? Stanhope Wallace needed to learn not to mess with baristas.
The vision was crystal clear. But I’d already done one too many weird things in front of Felix. He’d looked really suspicious after the pistachio incident. If I prevented this, would I scare Felix off? The vision of Stanhope’s smug, laughing face popped to the forefront of my mind. How could I let him win?
8
FELIX
The hand locked onto my lapel said that this was my moment. Maddie looked up at me with those green eyes, and I leaned in. Everything was hazy and magical.
Maddie pushed me. Hard. She hit me just as she shoved her purse into the air, hitting the water-heavy awning over her head.
I stumbled sideways out onto the sidewalk, blinking in shock, and there was a harsh yell of surprise. I turned and saw Stanhope Wallace standing like a statue, his closed umbrella raised in frozen horror. He was drenched from head to toe as the water Maddie had sent down the awning with her purse tipped over the edge like a waterfall, showering Stanhope in icy rainwater and sodden leaves.
As I watched, the natural puddle in the awning sluiced back and splashed over the edge, hitting the spot where I had been standing just moments before.
Maddie pulled her purse down and clutched it to her chest, staring straight ahead, watching the cascade of water in front of her.
“How unfortunate, Stanhope,” she said without turning around to look at him. “You really ought to be more careful.”
There was no way she could have seen him approaching. She had been looking at me.
“You did that on purpose!” spluttered Stanhope. “You hit the awning!”
“Beforeyoucould do it, you mean?” she asked, finally turning around to glare at him.
“Me?” Stanhope gasped, trying to look innocent. Maddie looked pointedly at his still-raised umbrella, and he lowered it hastily. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I’m talking about the fact that you are a mean, pompous jerk who only feels big when you’re making someone else feel small.”
Stanhope opened his mouth like he was going to argue, but Maddie held up her hand. “I suggest you go dry off and think about why you can’t be a nice person.”
