Page 101 of A Cup of Autumn
Raine wiggled her toes. “Thank you.”
Margot took another sip. “Do you have the sachets for sale yet?”
“I do. I finished them before you arrived. I can bag them now.”
“Perfect. I’ll pay on my way out.”
Raine headed behind the counter and prepared the tea for Margot.
The bell jingled.
Someone gasped.
Raine looked up to see Emmett.
He came up to the counter. “Hi, Raine.”
She stared in disbelief. “What are you doing here?”
“Wanted a cup of my favorite coffee from my favorite barista.”
His jeans and boots were the same, but he’d cut his hair and trimmed his beard, so it was more like scruff. He wore a maroon Henley with the sleeves pushed up on his forearms as if to show off his tattoos. “You haven’t answered my calls or replied to my texts.”
She waited for regret, attraction, something to hit.
Nothing did. “Been busy.”
I’m over him for real.
That gave her hope she would be over Keaton soon.
Raine poured him a cup of coffee with a dash of almond milk and a splash of vanilla syrup. She handed it to him. “Here you go.”
He took a sip. “My favorite. I’ve been to more than a dozen coffee shops, and nobody gets the ingredients right. They come close, but…thanks.”
“Looking for another box?” Raine had no idea why he was here. She’d heard he’d been home to see family over Labor Day, but he hadn’t stopped by. Not seeing each other had taken effort on his part. Which was why his visit surprised her. “I’m positive you got everything out of my garage in July.”
He took another sip and smiled. “I’m not looking for another box.”
His smile used to make her stomach flutter. It did nothing for her now.
Emmett stared at her through his thick eyelashes.
Oh, no.She recognized that look. He’d been able to get her to try long distance twice, to store his stuff from his apartment when his mom said no, but no way would Raine go there again.
Yes, Emmett was still handsome. That bad-boy vibe was as strong as ever, but he did absolutely nothing for her.
Zero.
Welcome relief poured through her.
Raine had to be careful what she said. She wasn’t alone there. Whatever she said could be heard. Her and Emmett’s discussion would go viral on the Silver Falls gossip network in minutes.
As he leaned toward her, he gave her his best you-know-you-want-me look. “Raine.”
One word, but the way he said her name used to make her melt into a pile of goo. Only this time, it didn’t. Her ego did a happy dance, but her heart…
Wanted Keaton, not Emmett.
