Cappuccino Mugs and Fire Fighter Hugs (The Coffee Loft Series) by Katie O'Connor

Author:Katie O'Connor [O'Connor, Katie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Snarky Heart Press
Published: 2024-02-21T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

Drinda stumbled through the snow and up the front step. She jabbed her key at the lock. Cupcake liners, she was tired. So tired. Exhaustion beat at every pore of her body. And hunger. She’d feel better once she ate … if she could muster up the energy to order something. She sure didn’t have the strength to cook. Not after her busiest day yet. Elation battled exhaustion. If this kept up, she’d be a success! She’d had to put in an extra supply order and have it rushed in. She’d never survive if her coffee shop ran out of coffee beans.

Maxi was a great help today, but she was still in school and was studying for a big exam. Drinda had sent her home with the admonishment that school came first.

“Hey, Drinda. How are you?”

She jerked around, nearly falling off the step. “Oh. Ford. I didn’t hear you come up.”

“Sorry about that. Lost in thought?” he asked.

She clutched the railing for stability and looked at him. He wore a navy-blue fire department-issue winter jacket, heavy looking pants, and thick boots. Despite the snow dusting his hair and shoulders, he looked ready to tackle anything.

“Just tired,” she said without meaning to.

“Long day?” He stopped where the sidewalk split to go to their separate doors and looked up at her.

“A very good day but busy. So busy.” She grinned. “That’s a good thing.”

“I’m glad business is good. Have you eaten?” he asked. “I was about to order something. Maybe pizza. Maybe sushi. I’m too lazy to cook. It’s my last day of six. I’m going into four days off. You could join me.”

Two-thirds of her wanted to say no. She was exhausted. But she was starving. If he ordered, she could eat. Food would probably revive her enough to feel human again.

“You know what, that would be great. I’m famished. I could eat a Volkswagen.”

“Remind me not to give you silverware,” he joked. “What do you feel like? I’ll order it while you change.”

“Change?”

“Honey, you’re covered in flour.”

She glanced down and sure enough, her legs were liberally dusted with flour. “Oh my. I had no idea. I wonder when that happened.” She rolled her eyes. “It was a day today. I’ll eat anything if it isn’t too spicy. Order whatever you want.”

“Well, options are limited. Indian, Greek, Italian, sushi, pizza.”

“Oh, Greek sounds good. Get some souvlaki and maybe some Stifado. I love a Greek stew. Wait, I didn’t know we had a Greek restaurant.”

“Opened last weekend. It’s over by the hardware store on Third Avenue. Go, get changed, and I’ll order. Did you want wine?”

She hesitated. She didn’t drink very often. “One glass, if it’s open. If not, I’m more than happy with tea, or decaf.”

“You and your coffee,” he chuckled.

“Ha. Ha.” She wrinkled her nose and jogged inside. He did make her laugh. Probably more often than he wanted to. For a moment, he even took away her worry about Oscar. She hadn’t seen him today. She prayed he was okay.

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