You Smiled (2 page)

Wednesday

Three o’clock rolled around and Grace couldn’t help herself. Denim Man, or Just-the-right-fit-T-shirt Man had come in at about the same time the last two days. Was he in town for the week, or had he been around for a long weekend and was now on his way back to … wherever? Why did she care? Why couldn’t she keep her eyes off the door?

It was busier today. She’d stayed to help behind the counter, but she needed to get back to the office and get next week’s schedule figured out. It was never an easy process with everyone’s special requests for time off or extra hours. She glanced at the door, again. The line was manageable for the two behind the counter. She had to get back to the paperwork.

Pausing in front of the selection of teas, Grace searched for one that she hadn’t tried in a while. She settled on the Tippy Yunnan and filled the bag with the loose leaves. She poured precisely heated water and allowed the tea to steep while she casually considered the new arrivals in line. Three of them were becoming regulars; the professor who came in the late afternoon to grade papers with his triple soy mocha, the kid getting ready for the long shift behind the bar at the restaurant down the street, and Tea Lady, who never drank the same tea twice.

Grace smiled at her new little coffee shop family as she subtly craned her neck to see the next three people entering the store. It appeared to be a couple of college students and a tired mom who needed her caffeine before the after-school activities began. Grace wondered if she’d ever be running her own kids to soccer practice.

She shook herself.
Where did that come from?
She had a coffee shop to run, or more accurately, to keep from tanking. Money was extremely tight and she still had some creative maneuvering to do with her budget. She thought of the schedule again and ached at the thought of having to cut one of her baristas. Even that might not be enough.

No, as cliché as it sounded, she didn’t have time for a personal life until she got her business on solid ground. That might be exactly never.

The door opened, and he walked in. She absolutely didn’t care that he looked gorgeous in a grey Duke sweatshirt and jeans. What did it matter if the wind following him in blew his slightly curly hair around his handsome face? It mattered so little that she decided to hide away in her office until he got his coffee and left. Never mind that she’d been watching for his return. Whatever strange attraction she felt for him needed to be nipped in the bud; she didn’t even know the guy.

She sipped her tea and made for the office door. By the time he’d waited in line and ordered …

“Grace?”

He must have booked it to get to the back of the store so fast. Maybe he needed to use the restroom? She turned slowly and breathed deeply, determined to control an extremely unwelcome and unnatural state of nerves. Her look of polite surprise surely appeared as fake as it felt.

“Oh, hello.”

“Hello.”
He gestured at her drink. “Is it break time?”

She considered her beverage. “Not so much break time as ‘get to the business and paperwork part of the day’ time. How about you? Still vacation time?”

He smiled. “Could I convince you to sit down and join me for a few minutes?”

They were talking like old friends. It felt strange and oddly comfortable.

“I don’t even know your name.”

“Alex,” he replied. His eyes narrowed slightly as he watched her face, and she found herself drawn in by his gentle intensity.

“Well, Alex, I’d love to join you, but I have work to do.”

“You’d love to?”

The very handsome, grown man seemed to light up at her choice of words. She should probably rephrase them, although there was a part of her that acknowledged that they were true.

“I’m trying to be polite. I don’t know anything about you, and while I admit that I’m intrigued - just a little - I really do have to get to work.”

“Fair enough. We should go out - get to know each other a bit - then you’ll feel more comfortable taking a coffee break with me.” All that with a perfect smile on top.

She couldn’t help but smile back. What was his deal? She tried to keep from looking into his eyes; she couldn’t keep track of her argument while he was regarding her so earnestly.

She finally broke their gaze. “I don’t think so.”

“You gave Recycle Man a chance.”

She smiled. “Yeah, but he didn’t ask me out until at least a week after I met him.”

Alex laughed. “You’re right. It’s too soon. Have coffee with me today, and dinner with me tomorrow.”
One side of his mouth lifted a little higher than the other as he smiled.

She sighed.

“I don’t know whether I should call the police or tell her to run away with you.”

Grace jumped at the voice behind her.

Daphne.

“I’d be happy to help you with that decision,” Alex replied with a grin.

Daphne laughed and continued to the office. Grace took a step back and picked up her tea. She’d practically draped herself on the counter while talking to him.
So not professional.

“People go on blind dates all the time,” he persisted.

“Not me.”

“Yeah, me neither.”

This time she laughed. “Okay. Fine. If I have coffee with you, can we call it a truce?”

“Sure,” he replied, looking very pleased with himself. “Tomorrow’s another day.”

She shook her head and led him over to a table in the middle of the store; nothing in back or secluded, but front and center.
We’ll see what Mr. Sweatshirt - Alex - has to say today.

“Oh, you don’t have a drink. What can I get for you?” Apparently, she was giving him free drinks.

Alex slipped his wallet from the back pocket of his jeans. “I thought I’d try the Costa Rican blend.”

“Black, right?” She waved the money away, and called over to the counter. “Kelly, would you please bring us a Costa Rican - black?”

“Sure thing,” Kelly replied.

Grace pulled out a chair and sat down, gesturing at the chair opposite her. Alex pulled it out and settled in.

“So, what kind of coffee do you drink?”

She smiled. “I drink tea. Don’t particularly like coffee.”

He cocked his head in disbelief. “Really? Why go into the coffee business?”

She inhaled deeply.
“I love the smell. Always have. Couldn’t wait ’til I was old enough to drink it. Then I finally tried it when I was about seventeen,” she grimaced, “and hated it. I try a cup from time to time, but ...” she shrugged. “Doesn’t keep me from wanting to be around it, though.”

Kelly came by with the coffee and Alex offered her cash, which she also waved away. She gave Grace a little smile and hustled back behind the counter.

“Thanks!” Alex called after her. He lifted the mug and smelled the brew. “So how do you know if a drink you’re serving is any good?”

“Well, I trust my baristas - they’re all avid coffee drinkers, and if a given drink passes all of their palates, it’s in.”

Alex nodded. “Did you always want to own a coffee shop?”

Grace thought for a moment. “I knew I wanted to have some kind of a shop or gathering place. And I’ve always loved the idea of coffee. Yeah, I guess it was always in the back of my mind.”

“Have you thought of serving more of a variety of food?”

“Still regretting that pastry?”

He laughed. “No, it was very - good, with my coffee.”

She gave him a wry smile.

“A sandwich shop might do well here - along with the coffee, of course.”

“They have a great little sandwich shop called ‘Theo’s’ in town, and the locals are very loyal to it. I wanted to do something completely different. You can get coffee at the bakery and at the service stations, of course, but there were no straight up coffee shops when I came looking around in the spring.”

“So, when did you open up?”

“July first.” She sipped her tea, marveling. Was she into her fourth month, already?

“I imagine you have a great tourist season, since you’re right on the coast.”

‘
You’re right on the coast’ - yep, he’s from out of town.
“Yeah, the summer was great. We were just getting everything figured out - still hiring and everything - and we were packed every day.”

“How’s business been in the fall?”

“Progressively slower.” Grace considered the room with a sigh. “I have a few regulars, which is great, but unless I get the local folks behind me, I’ll never last. I’m barely paying my staff now, and I’ve already cut back from the summer.”

“There’s a college in the area, right?”

“Yes, there’s a community college close by.” She could hear her tone begin to stiffen.

“Have you geared any activities toward them - made a point to let them know you’re here?”

“Interesting idea. Can I ask
you
a question?”

“Sure,” he smiled.

“Why are you asking me so many questions? About my business, I mean. You did it the other day, too.” She sat back and regarded him. “It’s making me a little nervous.”

“You prefer personal questions?”

She tried to think past his eyes. “No … It just seems like there’s something behind all this. What do you do for a living?”

He regarded her steadily. “I’m a troubleshooter.”

“A troubleshooter.”

“Yeah. I go into businesses and analyze them; give them suggestions for improvement.”

The breath left her body, and she couldn’t remember how to get it back.
That’s
why he’d been hanging around all week? To analyze her business?

“Did my parents hire you?” She stood on shaky legs, feeling betrayed and angry.

He started to get up with her.

“No, sit,” she said. “Who put you up to this?”

“Grace,” his voice was quietly insistent as he sat down. “Nobody sent me - I’m not here on business at all. You asked what I do and I told you.”

She looked hard at him and finally felt her shoulders relax the slightest bit - more at the tone of his voice and the look on his face than because of what he was actually saying.

“I may have come across like I had a motive for my questions, but that’s just how I operate. Doesn’t matter where I am, I’m always analyzing. I sometimes wish I could stop myself, but ...”
He paused, slowed down.
“I was just trying to get to know you, and talking about your shop seemed like a safe place to start.”

He seemed sincere. She wanted him to be sincere, but hardly knew what to think. She slowly sat down in her chair.

“Then why have you been here all week?”

He continued to look at her earnestly, but didn’t have an immediate reply.

“Grace?”

She turned slowly to acknowledge Jen, who materialized out of nowhere at their table.

“Did you want to look at that coffee order? I need to call before 4pm.”

“Oh, sure. I’ll be right there.”

Jen nodded and then smiled at Alex. “Sorry for interrupting. What are you drinking?”

Grace groaned quietly as Alex considered his coffee cup. “Costa Rican today,” he replied. He looked up at her inquiringly.

Jen smiled. “Good choice!” She winked at Grace and made her way back to the office.

Grace stood, eyeing Alex appraisingly. “You’re not off the hook, you know.”