Once Upon A Coffee Page 3

  “How can I trust a guy who had multiple opportunities to come clean about not being my date and chose not to say anything?”

  “He owns his bad behavior on the card and apologized with the flowers,” insisted Brooke. “That’s gotta earn some brownie points toward paying off the deficit.”

  “Are brownie points even a thing when you’re not in a relationship?”

  “You’re avoiding the issue,” said Brooke. “Worst case scenario, you get a nice dinner and a chance to ream him out for his behavior on Saturday. Best case scenario, you find out who it is you really made a connection with. Isn’t it worth going to find out which one?”

  ~*~

  By ten after seven, Dillon was certain Avery wasn’t going to show. He couldn’t really blame her if she didn’t. From her perspective, he’d lied. And then he’d deliberately gone about distracting her from her real date like some adolescent nut job.

  Classy, dude.

  Why had that seemed like a good idea? Class clown wasn’t exactly a selling point for a mature relationship. Not that he’d given a lot of thought to looking for a mature relationship before now.

  Once he’d turned in his project on Monday—after two almost all nighters—he still hadn’t been able to get Avery out of his head. He knew he’d behaved badly, and his mama had raised him to apologize for bad behavior, so before he crashed, he went in search of a florist who was willing to deliver all the way to the Wishful City Hall. The gesture was a Hail Mary, and he wasn’t sure what he hoped to accomplish by talking her into dinner. He just…wanted another shot at making a better first impression.

  Too bad life didn’t give you do overs on those.

  He’d already unwrapped his silverware and drained his water glass—which did absolutely nothing to whet his parched mouth—when Avery appeared at the hostess station, looking gorgeous and…not entirely pleased to be there. Nerves and something like hope bumped up beneath his breastbone.

  On his feet in an instant, Dillon rounded the table to pull out a chair as she crossed to him in a light blue dress and a pair of tall, strappy shoes that drew his eye unerringly to her well-toned legs.

  Behave, he ordered himself.

  “I didn’t think you were coming,” he said.

  She gave him a long look with those catlike green eyes. “I almost didn’t.”

  “Then I thank you for changing your mind.” He gestured to the chair, and after a moment’s hesitation, she sat.

  Dillon’s hand brushed her bare shoulder as he pushed in the chair, and he felt the zing of it up the whole length of his arm.

  Don’t screw this up.

  The waiter appeared for Avery’s drink order. Dillon took the fact that she ordered a glass of chardonnay as a sign that maybe she meant to stay. Or maybe she just wanted something with a little bite to toss in his face.

  When they were alone again, she said, “Was anything you told me actually true?”

  Dillon didn’t hesitate. “All of it.”

  She lifted one dark brow in askance.

  “I never lied to you, Avery. You just showed up and sat down and started talking.”

  “And you managed to talk back for almost an hour without mentioning that I’d made a mistake.”

  “I’ll own that. But you’re interesting and beautiful and I didn’t want you to leave. So I might have sidestepped the truth to avoid lying.”

  She didn’t soften at his feeble attempt at charm. “Is that supposed to make me feel better?”

  “Just telling it like it is. You started the whole thing when you brought me coffee.”

  “That was all Daniel’s doing.”

  If this worked out, Dillon totally owed the barista a beer or something.

  “Nevertheless, a wise man doesn’t turn away a beautiful woman with delicious stimulants. Even if he did have a behemoth group project he had to finish by himself on a deadline.”

  “Is that why you were there that day?”

  “My roommate was surgically attached to the Xbox. I needed some quiet, so I came down here to work. Or try to work. Then you showed up.”

  “You could’ve said so.”

  “I thought about it for about thirty seconds. But you were way more appealing than theories of macroeconomics. You didn’t ask who I was, and by the time I realized you thought I was somebody else, I was enjoying our conversation. Something I hope we’ll be able to do tonight. Unless,” he added, “things went awesome with your real date over the weekend and you’re just here out of pity.”

  Her lip began to tremble, and for a long, horrible moment, Dillon was afraid she might cry. Both arms wrapped around her middle, she bent double, her shoulders beginning to shake.

  Oh God, what did I say wrong?

  A burst of sound escaped. She slapped a hand over her mouth, eyes going wide. Then she was laughing, wincing, unable to stop as she said, “Oh my God, it was awful. And you were just sitting over there deliberately provoking me. What was I supposed to do?”

  Dillon gave her a sheepish smile. “Sorry about that. I couldn’t help myself. We’d been having such a good conversation and then you looked so…awkward with him.”

  “That’s kind of a rule with blind dates.”

  “It wasn’t with us,” he pointed out. “There wasn’t a single lull in our conversation.”

  “We didn’t have a date,” she clarified, pokering up. “We had an…encounter.”

  Warming to the debate, Dillon argued, “We had beverages and conversation. I say that qualifies as a date.”

  “It was a pseudo date,” she allowed.

  “Well then,” he said, “let’s see if we can do better on the real thing.”

  “On one condition.”

  Dillon resisted the urge to pump his fist in victory. “Name it, milady.”

  “We start with the important things. Like your actual name.”

  He grinned and offered his hand. “Dillon Lange.”

  She finally smiled as she reached across the table to take it. “Avery Cahill. It’s nice to meet you.”

  Can I Ask You A Favor?

  These days, it's harder than ever to get a new book noticed. Many of the promotional opportunities out there require a minimum number of reviews—10 at the low end, 50+ at the high. If you enjoyed this book, taking just a minute of your time to click the star rating and write a few words would help me tremendously, and allow me to continue to bring you the stories you enjoy. Just click the link below. (And, of course, if you really loved the story and want to tell Everyone you have Ever Met, please do!)

  Thanks so much,

  Kait

  P.S. Keep turning the pages for excerpts from my longer works!

  A Note From The Author

  Thank you for trying a Meet Cute Romance! If you liked it, please consider leaving a review. Every one helps!

  This particular Meet Cute is a crossover with my Wishful series, which officially begins with To Get Me To You, now available, and follows up with Be Careful, It’s My Heart. You can find excerpts of both in the following pages.

  You can find out about my new and upcoming releases by signing up for my newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gQvcX

  If you enjoyed this happy little slice of possibility, share it with a friend. This book is DRM-free and completely lendable.

  If you love all things romance and want to meet other like-minded readers to talk about your favorite romance novels, movies, or share the story of your own meet cute, join the Meet Cuties on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/meetcuties/

  If you want to keep up with all the action in Wishful and hang out with like-minded readers, come join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/wishfulseries/

  Find out more about me at my website http://kaitnolan.com

  If you enjoyed this Meet Cute Romance set in Wishful, you might enjoy my longer, contemporary romance. Check out the following sneak peek from from To Get Me To You and turn the page for another sneak peek from Be Careful, It’s My Heart.


  Wishful, Mississippi. From the post Civil War fountain on the town green, to the gossip served along with grits and coffee at Dinner Belles Diner, it will always be Campbell Crawford’s hometown–preferably just as it is. The way he sees it, the corporate big-box store that wants to unpack on the outskirts threatens everything he holds dear, but the town’s economy demands some kind of change. He’s not sure city girl Norah Burke can possibly understand Wishful enough help him turn things around–no matter how much his dog loves her. Norah falls for the charms of the town as hard as she falls for the charms of the man, and she’s determined to help. But even if they can get the votes to send the suits packing and get the town on its feet again, can she really give up her corner office and power lunches for the corner booth at the local diner? What’s a nice executive like her going to do in a place like this?

  Excerpt To Get Me To You

  “Let’s step outside for some air,” he said. There were things he wanted—needed—to give voice to, and the middle of a crowded dance floor wasn’t the place.

  She nodded once and let him guide her by way of a hand at the small of her back toward the back door. By grace of the frigid temperatures, the porch designated for outdoor dining and smoking was empty. Norah went straight to the railing and leaned against it, lifting her face to the sky. Cam resisted the urge to move in behind her, boxing her in, and instead leaned beside her, his arm brushing hers.

  “I miss simple.” She sighed and tipped her head against his arm. “I miss you.”

  He hadn’t expected the admission and credited lowered inhibitions due to the Three Furies. “You don’t have to. I’m not going anywhere. And neither have you, not yet.”

  “But I will. Not tomorrow. Probably not next week. I don’t know when I’m leaving. But I have to start taking control of my life again. If that conversation with my father did anything, it lit a fire under me to finally start facing the long job search. I can’t keep putting it off.”

  He was losing her, back to the life she’d come here to escape. Because he was perilously close to begging, Cam kept his mouth shut, fisting both hands around the railing until the wrought iron began to creak.

  She mistook the reason for his silence. “I promise you, I won’t go until Wishful is safe. And I don’t make promises I can’t keep.”

  He believed her. And cursed himself for wishing more danger on his town, just so she’d stay.

  If he said nothing now, if he let her walk away, he’d regret it for the rest of his life.

  Cam turned her to face him. “Isn’t it worth grabbing whatever happiness we can, while we can?” He could feel the pull between them, always the pull.

  Her yearning to give into it was written clearly on her face. But mixed with it was equal parts sadness and resignation. “It isn’t about happiness.”

  “Why the hell not?”

  “Because there are bigger things at stake.”

  “I get that you’ve got this mission, this purpose. I support that. Hell, I asked you to take it on. But that doesn’t mean you can’t take something for yourself. Even Wonder Woman had Steve Trevor.”

  “You’re no Steve Trevor.”

  Before Cam could process the insult of that, she was reaching up, cupping his jaw. “Steve Trevor didn’t recognize what was right in front of him. You actually see me.”

  What Cam saw was a brilliant, beautiful woman with an inexplicably fast hold on his heart and a mule-headed resistance to taking it. He might’ve said any number of things to try to persuade her, or he might’ve just given in and kissed her, as he’d wanted to do pretty much since the moment he’d stopped. But Fate, cruel bitch that she was, had other plans in the form of his meddling cousin, who came barreling out the door like an overgrown golden retriever.

  Mitch drew up short, his mouth dropping open as he took in their embrace in a glance. “I…uh…just came to say the food’s ready. And Miranda’s here.”

  “Great. I’m starved,” said Norah. She tapped Cam’s cheek gently. “Thanks for the dance, Leonidas.” She stepped away from him with the grace that completely eluded her on the dance floor and made her way to the door with the careful deliberation of the inebriated.

  Pick up your copy today!

  The best things happen while you’re acting…

  The historic Madrigal theater, in the heart of downtown Wishful, is about to close its doors forever. A last ditch fund-raising effort, a production of White Christmas, is probably the only thing that could bring Tyler Edison out of retirement. She fell in love on that stage, but when Brody Jensen abandoned her, she lost the heart to sing and dance for the crowd. Maybe it’s time to take that back…

  It seems like pure chance when Brody’s job, which has taken him all over the world, brings him back to his little hometown to oversee his boss’s latest secret project. Brody’s looking for closure, planning to sell the house his parents left him and finally put his past, and his memories of Tyler, behind him. What better way than to be a part of this last show? Even though his leading lady is surely long gone…

  Put on your dancing shoes, auditions start at six o’clock.

  Excerpt Be Careful, It’s My Heart

  “Okay, let’s see where you are, Brody,” called Nate. “‘The Best Things Happen While You’re Dancing’, from the top.”

  Tyler lifted a finger for them to wait and put her head together with Mitch Campbell over some plans for their inn backdrop. Brody knew the architect from way back. He was Cam’s cousin, a few years older than him, Tucker, and Cam. Mitch had volunteered to head up set construction for the show, which meant wrangling all the untrained help.

  More power to him, Brody thought. He didn’t envy the man that job. He did envy the easy smile Tyler shot Mitch before clapping him on the back and moving to take up her position on stage. She’d smiled at him like that once upon a time.

  She didn’t smile now as he crossed the stage. Her face was set in a carefully neutral expression. Fine. He could be every bit as professional as she could. Brody reached for her, curving one hand around her waist, the other taking her free hand. They fit. They’d always fit.

  Somebody queued up the music. Tyler glanced down as if checking the position of their feet, which was ridiculous since she knew exactly where her feet were in the pitch black dark. The faint trace of color high in her cheeks gave her away. So she wasn’t as unaffected as she wanted him to believe. Brody could see the thrum of her pulse at the base of her throat, felt the answering echo of his own as she lifted her head again, focusing on his eyes.

  She was stiff at first, resisting his lead. They stumbled a few times. He missed several steps. Then she did. And then the song was over, and she was frowning, knowing they botched the number.

  “Okay, try it again, and this time, Tyler, remember you aren’t doing an impression of a fence post. Loosen up,” ordered Nate.

  She took a moment, closed her eyes as if to center herself, then nodded. With a roll of her neck, she shook out all her limbs. Brody felt the difference in her posture as soon as she took position again. The music swelled, and they locked eyes. On cue, they began to move, and at last, at long last, he felt like he was home. Everyone and everything faded except the music and the woman in his arms.

  He led, spun, dipped, and by the time she broke away into a quick shuffle tap, her eyes were sparking with fun and her cheeks were flushed with exertion. Brody found himself grinning, improvising in response, as he couldn’t remember this section of choreography to save his soul. He watched her, starting to follow her lead, mimicking, mirroring as they came back together and whirled around the stage. And at last they ended, Tyler in a deep dip over his knee, her face flushed and smiling, her chest heaving.

  “Excellent!” called Nate. “You’re remembering how to move together.”

  Something hot and dark flashed in Tyler’s eyes. Brody tugged her up, into his arms, and held her a moment too long, letting the awareness, the heat sink in. No, he hadn’t forgotten what it was
to move with her—on stage or in the dark. Neither had she.

  Her breathing faltered and she tugged away like he’d shocked her. She looked flustered and wary, which she’d never been at any point in their courtship. It was kind of adorable. Brody was wise enough to repress a smile.

  Eight years had done nothing to dim the chemistry between them. She clearly hadn’t expected that and didn’t know what to do with it, so the default response was retreat. But before her brain had kicked back in, she’d been smiling, having fun, just like they used to. He could work with that.

  Pick up your copy of Be Careful, It’s My Heart today!

  Other Books By Kait Nolan

  Contemporary Romance

  Meet Cute Romance

  Once Upon A Snow Day

  Once Upon A New Year’s Eve

  Once Upon An Heirloom

  Wishful Series

  To Get Me To You

  Be Careful, It’s My Heart

  Paranormal Romance

  Mirus Series:

  Genesis (an omnibus including Forsaken By Shadow (Mirus 1.1), Devil’s Eye (Mirus 1.2), and Blindsight )

  Riven

  Whisper of Shadow (Also available in the Magical Mayhem anthology)

  YA:

  Red

  Whisper of Shadow