Page 18 of Hot Shot
Chapter eight
Madison
Thismorning,Iwokeup excited for my coffee date with Hunter. I’m excited to spend time with someone new.
Someone I’m hoping will be a new friend, another person to add to my extremely small circle. I’m hoping that it’s as easy to talk to him as it is to text him. I hurry through the morning baking, trying to keep myself busy so I don’t keep glancing at the clock. At ten on the dot Rachel shows up to cover for me.
“Thank you for agreeing to this. I really appreciate it.”
“It’s no big deal, Mads. I told you that last night. Where are you headed?”
“Well.” I hesitate. “I have a coffee date. It’s not exactly a date. We’re just friends. New friends.”
“Is this the guy you were talking to a few weeks ago? The hunky one who came in with another guy.”
I nod, staring down at the countertop and tracing the pattern in the tiles with my finger.
“Good for you! That’s awesome. I’m happy for you.”
She’s grinning and I find myself smiling too. “Thanks. I’m going to change so I’m not late.” I hook a thumb toward the bathroom.
“Have fun,” Rachel says.
When I walk up to the coffee shop twenty minutes later I spot Hunter leaning against the brick wall outside the entrance, sunglasses and a hat with a logo I don’t recognize pulled down low on his head.
I take a moment to check him out as I approach. He’s wearing black cargo shorts that seem like they were made for him, paired with a blue T-shirt that shows off his sculpted arms.
I wonder if the rest of him is as muscular and chiseled as his arms and legs.Calm down, Madison. Now is not the time or place.
I take a deep breath, trying to stop thinking about Hunter and his muscular body. Nope. Not possible.
“Hi,” I say when I reach him.
He pulls off his sunglasses, his blue eyes sparkling. “Hey. These are for you.” He hands me a bouquet of multicolored flowers, which I hadn’t noticed.Because you were too busy checking him out, I scold myself. “I didn’t know what your favorite flowers were, but I saw these and thought they were pretty.” A slight blush tints his cheeks.Cute.
“Tulips,” I answer. “My favorite flowers are tulips. But thank you for these. They’re beautiful.” I lean down, smelling the flowers to hide the huge grin on my face, internally squealing.
He bought me flowers.
Flowers.
The last time a guy bought me flowers was my boyfriend in high school.
“Let’s go in.” Hunter reaches for the door and holds it open for me. I’m hit by the smell of coffee brewing and freshly baked pastries, two of my favorite things, the second we enter.
“Have you been here before?” I ask, glancing around at the dimly lit interior.
“No. My buddy Holt suggested this place. He comes here pretty often. There’s a bookstore attached apparently.”
I make a mental note to stop in before I leave. Not that I need any more books, but I can never resist a bookstore.
“Welcome in! Take your time. Let me know when you’re ready,” the cashier says when we step up to the counter.
We study the menu in silence for a couple of minutes before ordering—an iced coffee with almond milk for me and an espresso for Hunter. After we get our drinks, he leads me to a small table tucked in the back of the nearly empty shop.
“This place is cute.” I glance around at the different seating options.
There’s even a couch along one wall. Another wall is all windows and through it I see a small courtyard filled with tables. Quite a few of the tables outside are taken although I think it’s too hot to sit in the sun, but I bet it would be nice in the winter with a cup of hot coffee and a good book. I should come back when it’s cooler so I can enjoy the patio.
