You Smiled Read Free Page B

you’re serving is any good?”
    “Well, I trust my baristas - they’re all avid coffee drinkers, and if a given drink passes all of their palates, it’s in.”
    Alex nodded. “Did you always want to own a coffee shop?”
    Grace thought for a moment. “I knew I wanted to have some kind of a shop or gathering place. And I’ve always loved the idea of coffee. Yeah, I guess it was always in the back of my mind.”
    “Have you thought of serving more of a variety of food?”
    “Still regretting that pastry?”
    He laughed. “No, it was very - good, with my coffee.”
    She gave him a wry smile.
    “A sandwich shop might do well here - along with the coffee, of course.”
    “They have a great little sandwich shop called ‘Theo’s’ in town, and the locals are very loyal to it. I wanted to do something completely different. You can get coffee at the bakery and at the service stations, of course, but there were no straight up coffee shops when I came looking around in the spring.”
    “So, when did you open up?”
    “July first.” She sipped her tea, marveling. Was she into her fourth month, already?
    “I imagine you have a great tourist season, since you’re right on the coast.”
    ‘ You’re right on the coast’ - yep, he’s from out of town. “Yeah, the summer was great. We were just getting everything figured out - still hiring and everything - and we were packed every day.”
    “How’s business been in the fall?”
    “Progressively slower.” Grace considered the room with a sigh. “I have a few regulars, which is great, but unless I get the local folks behind me, I’ll never last. I’m barely paying my staff now, and I’ve already cut back from the summer.”
    “There’s a college in the area, right?”
    “Yes, there’s a community college close by.” She could hear her tone begin to stiffen.
    “Have you geared any activities toward them - made a point to let them know you’re here?”
    “Interesting idea. Can I ask you a question?”
    “Sure,” he smiled.
    “Why are you asking me so many questions? About my business, I mean. You did it the other day, too.” She sat back and regarded him. “It’s making me a little nervous.”
    “You prefer personal questions?”
    She tried to think past his eyes. “No … It just seems like there’s something behind all this. What do you do for a living?”
    He regarded her steadily. “I’m a troubleshooter.”
    “A troubleshooter.”
    “Yeah. I go into businesses and analyze them; give them suggestions for improvement.”
    The breath left her body, and she couldn’t remember how to get it back. That’s why he’d been hanging around all week? To analyze her business?
    “Did my parents hire you?” She stood on shaky legs, feeling betrayed and angry.
    He started to get up with her.
    “No, sit,” she said. “Who put you up to this?”
    “Grace,” his voice was quietly insistent as he sat down. “Nobody sent me - I’m not here on business at all. You asked what I do and I told you.”
    She looked hard at him and finally felt her shoulders relax the slightest bit - more at the tone of his voice and the look on his face than because of what he was actually saying.
    “I may have come across like I had a motive for my questions, but that’s just how I operate. Doesn’t matter where I am, I’m always analyzing. I sometimes wish I could stop myself, but ...” He paused, slowed down. “I was just trying to get to know you, and talking about your shop seemed like a safe place to start.”
    He seemed sincere. She wanted him to be sincere, but hardly knew what to think. She slowly sat down in her chair.
    “Then why have you been here all week?”
    He continued to look at her earnestly, but didn’t have an immediate reply.
    “Grace?”
    She turned slowly to acknowledge Jen, who materialized out of nowhere at their table.
    “Did you want to look at that coffee order? I need to call before 4pm.”
    “Oh, sure. I’ll be right