The Magnolia Cafe(55)

Now he’d just blurted out his feelings. Like a fool. Going in unprepared. That wasn’t like him. He should have planned it out. Brought flowers, taken her to a romantic place. Not just thrown it out there in the middle of her kitchen.

He held his breath, his gaze locked on her face, waiting for her reaction.

“I… I wasn’t expecting that…” Bella shifted in her chair.

His heart dropped in his chest. He’d rushed it. He was no good at relationships and had never felt this about anyone before. Someone ought to teach him remedial boyfriend or something.

He twisted his watch band, then stopped himself. His tell for nervousness. Don’t let them see how you feel. He knew the rules. He’d broken them. He’d shown his hand.

He could hear the clock on the wall tick away the seconds in the deadly quiet of the room. Each tick mocked him.

“Owen?”

“Um?” He swallowed, unable to speak.

“I love you, too. And yes, I’d like more than just dating when you come to town.”

He could finally fill his lungs with air again. “You do? You would?” He could feel a foolish grin stretch across his face. “Really?”

“Really.” She got up and came to stand right beside him. She reached up to touch his face. “I have for a long time. I was just waiting for you to catch up with me.”





CHAPTER TWENTY





Keely stood in the doorway of her office, looking out into the cafe. Four in the afternoon. The dinner crowd would start soon. She glanced through the French doors and saw the tables on the patio all decorated with flowers and candles. Natalie’s idea.

Her mother had balked at the expense of flowers, of course, but Becky Lee had brought in cut flowers from her garden. They’d strung white Christmas lights along the railing surrounding the patio. The liquor license had come through, and they were stocked with a small selection of wines and beer.

She turned when she heard someone come into the cafe. Hunt. He was dressed in a nice button-down shirt and khaki slacks. She sucked in a quick breath when he flashed her his lopsided grin and winked at her.

He crossed the cafe in a few long strides, took a quick glance around, then kissed her. “That’s for luck.”

“Oh, that’s a new thing? A kiss for luck?”

“Yep, everyone’s doing it,” Hunt teased.

“Then I guess it’s okay.” She smiled at him.

“You look a little nervous.”

“I am. A bit. I just want everything to go well.” She wanted everything to be fabulous, and her mother appreciate it. Acknowledge it. She’d tried so hard to make it up to her mother. Maybe this would be the night. She wanted her mother to smile at her and be proud of her. She craved it. Just this once. So she would know her mother had forgiven her.

Katherine and her mother came in the cafe at that very moment. Keely could feel herself holding her breath.

“Keely, everything looks great. There are fliers up around town about the opening. I bet we’re really busy tonight.” Katherine wheeled up to her. “Doesn’t it look nice, Mother? Have you seen outside? The patio looks wonderful.”

“Well, we’ll see. Won’t we?” Her mother glanced around the cafe. “The tables are awfully close together. Katherine can’t make it through there, can she?”

“Mother, the tables are fine. I can get around fine.”

“Well, I just came to drop off Katherine. She insisted she needed to be here. I’m headed home now.”

With that, her mother turned and walked out the door, without so much as a glance at the patio and taking all of Keely’s hopes of approval right out the door with her.

~ * ~

Keely stood behind the counter a few hours later and looked out over the cafe. The surprisingly empty cafe. A few tables of customers were scattered here and there, but not the crowd she’d expected. She was at a loss. She’d put ads in the paper, there had been signs up at the cafe for a month touting the grand opening. Her regulars had even seemed excited.

Katherine came up to her. “I don’t understand. I thought we’d have a great crowd.”

“I don’t know, Kat. I just don’t know.” Keely could hear the defeat in her voice.

Hunt came in from the patio where he’d been sitting nursing a beer. He’d said he wanted to stick around tonight in case he was needed. Needed for what? She probably could have run the cafe all by herself tonight with the few people that had come in.

“You doing okay?”

“Sure. Just peachy.” Keely tried to keep the disappointment from bubbling over, because she was just on the edge of tears.

Hunt came around behind the counter and gave her a quick hug. “I’m not sure where everyone is. I’d figured you’d be packed.”