Fated to Espresso

Chapter 3

Inside, I saw the two delivery man putting the photo booth in ideal location, exactly as I'd instructed.

"I'll stay there," Lily replied. I nodded and watched her moving away from me. I shook my head, thinking she was hungry the whole time, then headed for the counter to begin making orders.

"Ma'am, two cappuccinos for us." The customer at the counter asked.

"Okay po, coming right up." I said, taking two cups and making a shot of espresso strong. I ground the coffee, steamed the milk, and poured it over the espresso. The foam at the top was smooth and creamy, just right.

A minute or two later, I made my way to hand them their drinks. "Here you go, two cappuccinos."

Then, I brought Lily her match espresso. She smiled and drank.

"Ahh… you really know my favorite flavor" she said, drinking again. "But I can't stay long, I have somewhere to go."

"Okay, ma'am," I said and smiling. She shook her head and as she walked away, I began cleaning the counter.

Then I finished cleaning and started wiping down the tables. Glancing around, I smiled at the familiar faces of our regulars. I adored this routine—small-town living at the Steamy Mug café, its cozy, inviting atmosphere.

Then I heard the doorbell, letting me know another customer had arrived. I glanced up and noticed a tall man entering. He wore a coat that was stylish but didn't fit right with the relaxed atmosphere of Willow Creek. I dried my hands on my apron and straightened up a bit, preparing to greet him.

"Good morning," I greeted him with a wide smile, both welcoming and reserved. New people were not common in Willow Creek, and they always put me on edge.

"Morning," he said, his deep voice smooth and even, a complete contrast to his assertive personality.

" I've heard that this place has the best coffee in town. I thought I'd come and see if the rumors are accurate."

I raised an eyebrow, entertained by his statement. "Oh, really?"

"I did," he replied, leaning forward a bit. "And I'll tell you something else. I'm a coffee snob. " He smiled as he spoke.

"Well, you're in the right place! " I replied, winking and picking up a cup.

"What'll it be, Mr. Snob?" I teased.

"Ethan," he told me, still grinning. "Ethan Blake. And I'll have whatever's your best seller."

I observed him for a while, he seated near the window where he can see the view of the crowd on the street outside, taking note of the way he sat one leg on top of the other, the teasing spark in his eyes. I couldn't help but have this odd interest in him.

As I poured his drink, I felt a quick shock as our hands touched as I was giving it to him. It was just for a second, but it was like an electric sensation and I could feel my heart beating. What is that? What does it signify? Am I falling in love with a gesture like this? Am I inlove? Is this what they called love at first sight? Whatever that feeling it is, I just have to manage it.

I went on cleaning. Occasionally, I would look back at him, he still hadn't moved from his seat. He was looking out the window, but upon catching my eye, he smiled at me with a smile that simply made my heart pound even faster. s**t! Stop that with that eyes.

I tried to concentrate on cleaning the counter while I attempted to suppress the strange sensation that I felt.

"So, what led you to Willow Creek? Are you passing through, or did somebody bring you here?" I asked, attempting to relax the situation.

"I'm staying a bit, actually," he replied matter-of-factly, speaking softly as if sharing a secret.

"My family recently purchased some property here."

I paused in the middle of wiping my hands, bewildered by his statement. "Wait, your family purchased land here? What business do they have?

He leaned in closer still, his voice going even lower. "We're… investors," he told me with a mischievous grin.

My heart missed a beat as he strolled up to the counter and leaned in even farther, the space between us almost gone. I could smell his aftershave, and everything seemed more real.

"You might say we have our hands on a lot of powerful pies," he replied, shrugging casually, as if it didn't matter at all.

I raised an eyebrow. "So, you're telling me you're an heir to an empire?"

He smiled, his voice sending a shiver through me. "Well, you could say that."

His words hung in the air, and I couldn't help but speculate what was truly happening behind that cocky exterior. I watched him walk out with his money at the counter, like nothing was wrong. Tch, so arrogant…

I shook my head and simply concentrated on my customers, which was almost evening.

As I walked out of the coffee shop and locked the door behind me, I glanced back at the window. The encounters of the afternoon that day still lingered in my thoughts. I couldn't help but remember the image of the enigmatic stranger who had entered my café and caused my heart to skip a beat. Ethan Blake. A man of secrets—or so I imagined. The chemistry between us was palpable, and I couldn't help but relive our short conversation in my mind over and over again.

But was it possible? Was he telling the truth? I shook my head, banishing the thought. No way. Guys like him didn't fit into places like Willow Creek. If he was really who he claimed to be, why would he end up here? He must have had some other reason for being here. After all, this was a town built on peace and quiet, where people came for long walks by the creek, not for fortune or fame.

"Good morning," I said to Lily, who had just arrived, clearly out of breath from running.

"You’re just in time," she replied, and I saw her standing in the same spot outside. I opened the door for her, and we entered together.

"By the way, I had a customer yesterday. He seemed like a newbie here, but I’m pretty sure he won’t be coming back," I said, focusing on making her matcha espresso. But when I looked up, I realized she was sitting in the same spot as the stranger from yesterday. I couldn’t help but remember how our fingers brushed together and how it made my heart race.

"Really? But why are you so affected?" Lily asked, crossing one leg over the other and giving me a teasing look.

"It’s not that. I felt a bit strange because there haven’t been many notable visitors to the café lately. Plus, for a long time, we've had people who insulted our town, and…" I trailed off, but before I could finish, she suddenly cut in.