Page 5 of Gwen's Delta
“I was hoping you’d say that. As long as the coffee is good, I’m a happy man.”
“Really? That’s all it takes?” Gwen teased as he opened the door to the coffee shop.
“It’s a start.” Merlin grinned.
As he followed Gwen inside, he inhaled the aroma of fresh -roasted coffee and sighed happily. Coffee was another weakness, and he’d learned to appreciate the difference after the shit they drank on deployments. It was more mud than anything. But if the taste matched the scent, it would be heaven in a mug.
“Have you been here before?” Gwen asked as she got in line to place her order.
“No, this is my first time in Lancelot.” After he scanned the menu, he decided on an extra-large black coffee. The stronger, the better.
“I should have realized that since you said you found the bookstore online.”
“The town is tiny. Not what I expected.”
“I’m sure they thought it would grow. I’ve lived here my entire life, and it hasn’t changed much.”
“Tiny? You can say that again. Makes me wonder what Lancelot would think,” Merlin said.
Her laughter caught him by surprise and filled him with joy. “He’d probably demand a do-over.”
“Your usual, Gwen?” the woman asked from behind the counter.
“Yes, please,” she answered.
“Put hers with mine,” Merlin interjected before the woman could ring her up.
At his comment, at least five heads swiveled to give him the once over, including Dee, according to her nametag.
“And what can I get you?” Dee asked as she checked him out.
“The largest black coffee you have and a blueberry scone, please. Gwen, do you want anything else?”
“The coffee is enough, thanks.”
Merlin paid the bill and grabbed their coffees.
“Don’t forget your scone,” Dee said, dangling a bag in her hand.
“Thanks. Gwen, can you get that?” Merlin responded.
Dee looked a little put out. Not that he cared. His focus was solidly on Gwen.
The instant attraction that had hit him when he’d laid eyes on her in the bookstore still had his head spinning. She’d bewitched him. The bolt of lightning that had sizzled through his body had almost knocked him over. Merlin wasn’t a monk. He’d dated his share of women over the years, but this was the first woman who’d left him speechless.
There was something magical about Gwen that filled him with wonder and desire from that first moment. Now, he needed to find out why.
Selecting the table farthest from the door, he put their coffees down and held the chair for her. Then he grabbed the other one and placed it beside her, ensuring that his back was to the building. She’d probably think it was so they could chat and not overheard, but after years in spec ops, it was habit to keep his back protected.
“I guess you get coffee here a lot if they know your order?” he asked as he took a sip from his steaming mug.
“I’m a creature of habit, but I love my mocha coffee with cinnamon. And as for how often I go…usually once a day when it’s nice out. It’s about the only time I get out of the bookstore during the day.”
He watched the expressions on her face. She was easy to read, innocent. No shadows filled her emerald-green eyes as they glowed against her fair skin. She held him captive. The light breeze blew a strand of auburn hair across her cheek, and he had to fight the urge to reach across the table and push it behind her ear. “You’re there all the time?”
Gwen nodded and took another sip of coffee. “Yeah. I know I should get out more, but honestly, I love being around the books and the antiques my parents acquire for the store.” Her cheeks got rosy. “There is nothing like the smell of old books, you know? I had to talk my grandparents into adding a storefront to the website. It can get a little overwhelming.”
Redheads weren’t usually his thing, but her the streaks of gold almost made her glow as the sun slanted under the awning. He wondered how she’d respond if he leaned over and kissed the freckles across her nose. Then he stifled his groan as he thought about where else she had them.
