Page 142 of Snow Place Like Home

“Someone’s eager to get their caffeine fix,” Maggie mutters, but then she looks up and grins.

I turn, and my breath catches. Alex is standing outside the door.

After seeing him in jeans and sweatpants all week, it’s a shock to see him in a suit again—proof that we’re back in the real world.

Maggie hurries over to the door and unlocks it. “Come in,” she says, opening it wide. “But don’t start thinking you can take advantage of dating one of the baristas.”

He grins. “I can’t make any promises, Maggie.”

She laughs. “Well in that case, I suspect I’m not the one you’re here to see.”

“While I love seeing you, no.” His gaze is locked on me.

I step around the counter as he walks toward me, a grin spreading across his face.

“What are you doing here?” I ask, my cheeks warming.

“I know you’re not open yet, but I couldn’t wait to see you.” He pulls me in his arms and lowers his head, brushing his lips over mine in a tender kiss. “And I figured I wouldn’t be able to do that once you opened.”

I laugh, the last of my fear melting away. “Good thinking.”

He leans close, his breath warm against my ear. “I missed you last night.”

“I missed you too.”

He glances over at Maggie and Bethany. “I take it you two knew our fake-dating situation turned into the real thing?”

“We did,” Maggie says, beaming. “And for the record, I knew you two would be perfect together.”

“You’re a wise woman, Maggie,” he says.

“It’s about time someone figured that out,” she grumbles.

We both laugh.

I grab the lapels of his suit jacket and tug him closer. “Go conquer the world today.”

He smiles down at me. “And you keep them caffeinated.”

Funny how less than two weeks ago, he would’ve been embarrassed by my job. Now he accepts it’s part of who I am—at least until next August when I start nursing school. I found out I got the scholarship on New Year’s Eve. I’ll probably keep my phlebotomy job to help cover rent, but my classes will be during the day, which means my Beans to Go days are numbered.

I look up into his eyes, surprised how familiar they already feel. How right this feels. With our crazy schedules, it won’t be easy, but we’ll find a way.

I rise up on my toes and kiss him, still clutching his jacket. When I pull back, he stares down at me, beaming.

“You’re sexy as hell when you do that,” he says in a low rumble I feel down to my toes.

I kiss him again, wishing we both had the day off, but we don’t so I sink back down. “I’m gonna miss you today.”

He cups my cheek. “I’ll miss you too. But I’ll see you tonight when you get off work.”

“Tonight,” I echo.

He nods, smiling. “Tonight.”

I release his lapels then smooth them down. “Okay, you better go now before we give our customers a show they weren’t expecting.”

“We’re not complaining!” Bethany calls out.

Alex laughs, leans in for one last kiss, then he turns and heads for the door. He unlocks it and glances back at me, a smile lighting up his whole face.

The next two years might be tough, but I believe we’ll make it.