Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 53349 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 267(@200wpm)___ 213(@250wpm)___ 178(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 53349 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 267(@200wpm)___ 213(@250wpm)___ 178(@300wpm)
Nate laughed and then countered, “I could ask you the same question.” He paused, choosing his words carefully. “You’re beautiful, you’re smart and fun, and you’ve got great business sense. You could have any guy you wanted.”
Especially, Nate added silently, given how good she was at kissing. He badly wanted to tell her this but held back.
“You remember I told you about my ex and my best friend?” Tamara asked, as if that was something Nate was going to forget in a hurry. “Once all that happened, I just… stopped looking, at least for anyone serious. I figured I’d had my chance. In my family, you find your one person and stick with them. I’d found my one, and he didn’t stick.” She shrugged. “That was it for me. What about you?”
Nate figured he owed Tamara at least that much. “My family doesn’t do sticking at all. With my gene pool, I figure that if I put myself out there, I’ll just end up making someone unhappy.”
“Then I guess we’re probably both better off being single,” Tamara said.
“I guess so.” Nate lifted his beer. “Here’s to being single.”
“To being single,” Tamara agreed.
But Nate didn’t really mean it. All the time he’d been sitting with Tamara, drinking beer and eating pizza, he’d found himself longing to be with her in a way that had nothing to do with being single.
Chapter Six
Tamara left the café early the next morning, leaving her new assistants in charge. She explained about the surprise party later that day and that she was expecting a delivery of organic paper cups and lids. She gave them a last-minute pep talk, made herself an Americano, and then got in her car and drove down to the docks.
Having free time like this during the week was a novelty. She stopped by her coffee supplier first and quickly hit the jackpot. After sampling a new blend, she was positive it would be perfect for Married in Malibu’s discerning client. They discussed quantities and delivery dates, and in half an hour, the coffee order was complete.
Then she found the floral warehouse Kate always talked about. The place was amazing, and she was spoiled for choice. In the end, she settled on a vibrant combination of flowers and colors, including anemones, snapdragons, roses, lilies, and a bunch of others whose names she couldn’t remember.
Once she got back to the café, she saw that the place was running like clockwork. Since she was planning to close a little early to get ready for the party, she gave her trainees the rest of the afternoon off. They were thrilled at the unexpected surprise, as it was a great afternoon to go surfing. They waved good-bye, and suddenly Tamara was alone.
It felt a little strange having the place to herself for the afternoon. Normally, the presence of so many customers meant that there was little time for her to think, or stop, or try to work out what was happening in her life. She began to suspect that being busy was one of the things she liked most about having the café. When it was quiet, there was far too much time to think.
She wondered how Nate’s day was going, and then, unbidden, her thoughts returned to what had happened with her ex. She doubted the whole affair still affected him, and for all she knew, he and her former best friend might not even be together anymore. She didn’t know what to think about them, but having this café, full of happy customers, helped remind her that things had worked out okay—better than okay—for her.
Tamara heard barking and smiled, instantly heading to the door to feed Furface. Then she caught herself—she had to stop thinking of him like that. Just because that was what Nate called him didn’t mean the poor thing had to be stuck with a silly name forever. Tamara reached down to scratch his ears.
“You’re coming around pretty regularly now, aren’t you?” she murmured.
The dog yipped, ate his treat, and then she let him follow her as she walked over to her car and began to bring in the flowers. The café was soon filled with them, and the pollen floating around the place was enough to set the small dog to sneezing. Tamara couldn’t help laughing. She opened the back door, and he made a run for it.
“That’s the story of my life,” she said as he hurried away. “Just when I think people like me, they run out on me.”
That brought her thoughts not back to her ex, but to Nate. Nate hadn’t run away, but then, they were both being very careful not to let things get to that point. At least they could keep their friendship intact if they didn’t get silly. And things did get a little silly last night, what with the beautiful sunset and the beer and having the giggles. It really had felt as though the universe was conspiring to bring them together. She’d gotten dangerously close to kissing him again but had stopped herself just in time.