I pretended to consider, then reached for a mug. “We have a Sumatra roast that’ll curl your hair, or there’s a pour-over if you’re feeling less aggressive.”
He leaned one elbow on the counter and studied me with an easy, open look that I wasn’t expecting. “Sumatra. I could use the extra voltage today.”
I nodded, turning to the pot, doing everything I could not to look like I noticed the way his biceps pulled against the sleeves when he leaned in. “Rough night?” I asked, a little more gently than I meant to.
“Nah, just a rough town,” he said, though there was no bite in it.
I handed him the mug, careful to avoid the accidental touch that would probably short-circuit my brain. “It’s on the house.”
He looked at the cup, then at me, brow slightly raised. “That’s very generous.”
“It’s not, really. Damon’s punch was worth at least a free cup.”
Ford’s eyes crinkled at the edges. “Everyone’s still talkin’ about it, huh?”
“I think everyone in town saw it. Or, at the very least, heard about it before lunch. Or watched it on Tiktok?—”
“Alright now?—”
“—or Instagram. I think it was shared to the town’s Facebook group too.”
He laughed and rolled his jaw once, testing the bruise. “He always did have a solid right hook. Guess some things don’t change.”
I realized I’d been staring, so I blinked and grabbed a fresh pastry from the rack behind me, then slid it across the counter. “Have a scone. It’s my own recipe. Orange cranberry and cinnamon.”
He looked at the pastry for a second, then at me, almost like he was trying to figure something out. “Sure. Thank you.” His voice softened a little on the last word. He reached for his wallet, but I shook my head.
“That’s on the house too. It’s not charity,” I said, when I could tell he wanted to argue. “It’s bribery. If you tell Sutton you liked it, she’ll let me experiment more and I might get a raise.”
He snorted, and it was the first real, unguarded sound I’d heard him make. “You got yourself a deal.”
I watched him take a slow bite of the scone, chewing thoughtfully. He seemed like the kind of guy who never said anything unless he’d decided it was worth saying. The rest of the customers had gone back to their crossword puzzles or their phones, but I knew they were all still listening. That was the thing about small towns. You could pretend to have a private conversation, but the walls were made of ears.
He swallowed, then looked back at me with a sudden intensity. “It’s good. Like, really good.”
I smiled, trying not to blush. “Thanks.”
“I mean it. Tastes like fall.” He sipped his coffee and grimaced, but then nodded approvingly. “You weren’t lying about the voltage.”
I laughed. “Nope.”
When he didn’t move to sit at a table, I busied myself with stacking plates, pretending not to notice the way he stared into his coffee like it might hold the answers to life. His hands were big, but careful, cradling the mug with a delicacy you wouldn’t expect. His knuckles were pale with old scars, like maybe he’d gotten into one too many fights years ago.
Then, after realizing I was ogling, I made myself busy with the pastry case, which had absolutely zero need for rearrangement.
The front door swung open again, this time bringing in a gust of chilly air. Caroline, my closest friend, was clutching a laptop bag and blowing hair out of her eyes. She made a beeline for the counter, but not before clocking Ford with one of her quick, assessing glances. Not judgmental, but medical. She had this thing where she looked at people and saw every one of their old injuries, like she was scanning their bones for hairline fractures only she could see.
She gave Ford a sideways look, then turned to me with a bright smile. “Morning, Lily. I’ll have my usual.”
I grabbed a green tea bag, dropped it in a to-go cup and called, “Coming up,” over my shoulder.
“Hey,” she said, setting the bag down by her feet. “How’s your jaw?”
Ford barked out a laugh. “I’ve had worse.”
“Damon has a mean right hook.” Ford’s mouth quirked at the same observation he’d made just a moment ago.
“Ford, this is Dr. Caroline Cressley.” I said as filled the cup with hot water, added a lid, and placed it in front of her.
