“Hell yeah we would,” Josh chimes in as he walks out the front door with a two by four over his shoulder. “Saving up for a sweet honeymoon for my girl. I’ll be all over more overtime if it’s offered. I don’t care if it’s a Sunday or not.”
“Oh.” I step over into the shade to the area that Charlie pointed out earlier. I move out of Josh’s way. This is getting hard. Everyone is being so accommodating to me today. They even spent their break over at Millie’s coffee shop eating us out of house and home. I was starting to feel guilty over the sparkles. I could sneak back over again to try and replace the paint. Unless they are painting soon. I don’t know how long these things take to construct but they look to be moving fast. “When will this dump open?” I ask. That might give me an idea of how close they are to painting. I’m guessing you do that when you’re almost done. The more I think about it, the idea of them having a shiny building no longer seems like a good one. Not only because I feel bad but because it will draw attention to them. I’ve made a mistake with my glitter paint plan.
Charlie raises his eyebrows at me.
“Not that your work is a dump.” Crap. Did I offend him? I don’t think about him doing the work on it. He only laughs. “I just meant I don’t like this place and it has crap coffee.” I actually have no idea if their coffee is good or bad. I’ve never had it before. I am now boycotting it.
“I just put them together. I have no idea when they open,” he answers when he gets his laughing back under control.
“Hopefully never,” I say as I continue to stand in the shade. It feels good to stand still for a few minutes. “Whoever owns Brewed Awakening is an idiot for opening next to an authentic coffee place.” I motion towards Millie’s place. Charlie’s smile stretches wide across his face. He looks as though he’s trying to stop himself from laughing again. I don’t get what he thinks is so funny. Maybe he thinks their coffee sucks too. My thoughts are cut off when I hear a man speak from behind me.
“You need a seat, miss?” My arms immediately get goosebumps at the sound of a deep male voice. My curiosity gets the best of me and I turn my head to see the most handsome man I’ve ever laid eyes on. My mind goes blank as I look him up and down. He’s holding a chair in one hand and a cup of enemy coffee in the other. He sets the chair down for me. My legs tell me to sit but my brain has other ideas.
“You can’t have that here.” I reach out and smack the cup out of his hand. My mouth falls open as coffee splatters all over his pants. “Oh God. I’m so sorry.” I can’t believe I did that. Something is wrong with me. “Don’t call the cops. I’ll pay for the dry cleaning and I’ll get you new coffee. Better coffee even! I told Mike I’d stay out of trouble,” I plead.
“Who’s Mike?” His face, which remains calm even though coffee is splattered all over him now, seems to be angry at the mention of the sheriff.
“The sheriff.” I am lucky that Millie’s husband Mike holds that position or I may have already been in a world of trouble. When he found out I was protesting he told me to keep it civil. I’m not sure breaking and entering is civil but it’s just a little glitter. Plus I have the keys. So I’m technically letting myself in. Right?
“I’m not calling the sheriff.”
Relief fills me. I don’t need Mike poking around here.
“Come with me. I’m so sorry. I’ll get you new coffee and some napkins.” I glance to Charlie, who is silently laughing.
“Don’t let anyone take my sign,” I tell him. “I’ll bring you back a treat.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Charlie keeps on smiling before he gives a nod to the man who was nice enough to get me a chair.
“Come to Millie’s. She’s got the best coffee in town. I even make the treats.” I grab his arm. He willingly comes with me. It’s then I notice how tall he is. I have to tilt my head way back to look into his dark eyes. He isn’t just handsome. He’s sexy too. It’s a mix of the suit and his laid-back attitude that is doing it.
“My dog Bear will watch your sign.” The man’s head turns and I see a giant dog sitting behind him that lives up to his name. He’s big and fluffy and I want to lay down on top of him and cuddle. I might want to do that to his owner too.