Charlotte slipped the lid off the Tupperware to sneak another pastry as Callan came up from behind me. If it wasn’t for her eyes lighting up at the sight of him, I would have known he was there by his sheer presence. My back thrummed with warmth like a heating blanket was draped over me and the man wasn’t even touching me.

“Cal, sweetie, help Sage with her things,” Charlotte got out after a quick swallow of her bite.

“Already on it,” he said, moving around me to take a stack off the table. My shoulder brushed his chest as he did and, not knowing how to get out of his way with the table on my other side, I leaned to grab the other stack. 

He angled his head and nodded in the direction of the door, signaling me to go first. He followed behind, only coming around to open the doors on our way out. 

The sun had disappeared, the lamp posts and moon lighting up the street. Propping a knee up, I balanced the Tupperware on my leg while I felt around for the latch on the trunk. Callan was glancing both ways on the sidewalk when my trunk lifted. We both set our stacks in, and he reached up above me to close the hatch. 

Before he pulled it, he looked down at me, his face faintly illuminated now that night had fallen. Though the light was dim, I could see his eyes on me, and without blinking, he closed the trunk.

“Thank you for your help tonight,” I said.

“My pleasure,” he replied, then added, “The scones were amazing, by the way.”

I gave a small smile. “They’re definitely a favorite.”

He rolled his lips together as he stuffed his hands in the pockets of his vest. “Get home safe, Sage.”

I nodded once. “You, too.”

Taking that as our goodbye, I turned, but before I could make it past my taillight, he said, “You look pretty tonight.”

I stopped in my tracks, taking a step back to look at him. “Thank you. You do, too.”

He smiled, and I was thankful it was dark out because I knew my cheeks were a deep shade of pink. 

I just basically called the man pretty.

I got in my car and locked the doors before driving away, and through my rearview mirror, I saw that Callan still stood there, watching me go with his hands tucked in his vest.

He was just being nice. That’s all the compliment was. 

But some part of me couldn’t help the pull of my lips on my drive to pick up Avery, a smile etched into my face the entire way.

He called me pretty.

10

Sage

The cafe had been slow all day, but that didn’t ease the stress weighing on my shoulders like a cinder block. Gemma had come in for her shift early, which shocked me, but since our boss was here today, I figured that was the reason for it. Erica ran a few places scattered along the eastern side of Idaho, so she wasn’t here very often. Despite that, she ran a tight ship, so when she did decide to pop in, it meant my day was always difficult.

Gemma barely lifted a finger around here. I was honestly surprised she was able to keep the cafe functioning when I wasn’t around, but maybe she only worked hard when others weren’t looking. 

I highly doubted that, though.

“Are you heading home for the day?” Erica asked me as I came through the door to the back. Gemma was up at the register, taking over for the day.

“I am. I have to pick Avery up from her friend's house.” Sometimes I was lucky and able to arrange a playdate for Avery, and I was thankful today was one of those days where it worked out. The last thing I needed was Avery running around here while my boss was in town.

“You have a minute before you leave?”

My hands fumbled with the tie on my apron. “Yeah, what’s up?”

She was leaning back against the small counter that housed our microwave and sink, her hands braced on either side of her. Erica was a tall woman, with pin straight black hair and somehow even darker eyes. You honestly couldn’t guess she was in her forties unless she told you.

“I just want to make sure you’re able to handle this job.”

My fingers froze on the tie. “What do you mean?” Penny and I were the two that practically kept this place afloat. If Erica had anyone to worry about, it was Gemma.

She moved to cross an ankle over the other. “I’ve heard you’re having some troubles at home.”

My brows shot up. “Excuse me?” I dropped my hands to my sides. To hell with this apron. “Who told you that?”

It had to be Gemma.

She ignored the question. “I want to be sure your performance won’t suffer due to issues in your personal life.”

“My personal life is no one’s business.” I shouldn’t be getting defensive to my boss, but this was unbelievable.

She straightened, pushing off the lip of the counter. “I’m not asking about your personal life, Sage. As I’m not able to come into the cafe often, I want to be sure my business will stay afloat in the hands that I’ve trusted to run it.”

My jaw clenched. “It won’t interrupt my performance.” 

It was what she wanted to hear.

Nothing was even going on at home to make Gemma tell her this anyway, but sitting here defending myself wouldn’t get me anywhere.

“Good.” Erica grabbed her small black purse off the counter, looping the dainty chain over her shoulder. “I’ll check in in a few weeks, see how things are going.”

I gave a stiff nod as she passed me, disappearing through the swinging door.

My hand felt around in my purse, closing around my phone before I dialed Penny.

She answered on the third ring. “Another baking emergency?” she teased.

“Far from it. Can I come by your house before I pick up Avery?” I needed to cool down before I showed up at her friend's house.

“Uh oh.” There was background noise as she moved on the other end. “Sure. I’ll be here.”

“Thanks.” I hung up, stuffing my phone back in my purse before exiting the cafe, not bothering to even glance at Gemma on my way out. I didn’t want to get into it with her today, or any day, really.

After pulling up to Penny’s light blue home, I got out, heading up to her door. She swung it open before I could knock. “Porch or couch?” She held up two glasses of wine.

“This is why I love you.” I took one of the glasses from her, heading over to the wooden chair she had outside. She closed the screen door behind her, sitting in the one beside me. 

“What happened? Was it Gemma?” she asked. She disliked Gemma’s attitude as much as I did.