Page 34 of A Cup of Autumn
“In my department, the newest faculty members help with events. Not large-scale ones, but I have a surprising amount of ‘event’…” he made air quotes “…experience. Outside of work, I planned Garrett’s bachelor party. Not a family-friendly event though.”
“Wait. How did you have a bachelor party when he and Taryn surprised everyone and eloped?”
“It was a post-elopement bachelor…” Keaton rubbed his chin. “Let’s call it a groom party since they’d said, ‘I do.’”
Why hadn’t Raine thought of doing something like that? Probably because she’d been overwhelmed then too. “We should have thrown Taryn a wife shower.”
“It’s not too late.”
“True. Though ordering dessert would have to be done sneakily. Maybe once I hire more people and get past the Boo Bash.”
“Remember, no more thorn in your side. Unless you think I’ll be one.”
“I’ll have to let you know.” Raine was cautiously hopeful, but Keaton could turn out to be an even bigger thorn.
He reached for the lid. “Ready to see what’s inside?”
*
So much foropening the bin.
The bell on the door didn’t stop jingling. Keaton sat at the table, waiting for Raine to finish with the rush of customers that appeared. He was here to help so he didn’t mind waiting.
Keaton could open the bin himself, but where was the fun in that? He pulled out his laptop to work on his manuscript. His gaze, however, kept straying to Raine. He hated the change in her.
As more people stood in line, weariness creeped back into her face, and her smiled turned forced.
All he wanted to do was grab an apron and help her out.
What was wrong with him?
He couldn’t do that after what he’d said yesterday. She’d laugh in his face and rightly so. Still, he snuck another peek in her direction.
The tip of her tongue stuck out between her teeth. Whatever she did behind the counter—he couldn’t see her hands—she was focused on the task.
Hard at work as usual.
Raine was different from the women he knew. She kept glancing his way. Not an is-he-a-serial-killer look either. Her gaze lingered longer than it should, and he enjoyed that, more than he should. If she didn’t appear so wary, he might think they were in one of those rom-com movies Callie enjoyed watching.
Uh-oh. If he weren’t careful, Margot would think her matchmaking scheme was working. Still, his volunteering to help with the Boo Bash had been a good idea.
Raine hurried over. She placed a plate with a cookie on it and another coffee on the table. “This is for you. Sorry to make you wait again.”
“Not a problem. I’ve been working.”
“On your book?”
He nodded.
She eyed the lid on the bin. “You didn’t open the bin?”
“It’s taking all my patience not to open this bad boy. I was the one who found all the Christmas presents my parents hid, but they blamed Callie.” Keaton patted the lid. “But I was good. I didn’t peek. I wanted to wait for you.”
“That’s…” She wiped her hands on her apron. “Thank you.”
“I have nowhere to be today.” Or any day. Which was odd and disconcerting and a million other things Keaton wanted to forget. “But we should open this before someone else needs a coffee.”
She remained standing. “Go for it.”
