Page 35 of A Breeze Over Rosewood Beach (Rosewood Beach #9)
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Sally sang quietly to herself as she arranged a bouquet of flowers on the counter.
It was another busy afternoon at Ocean Breeze Café, the kind that hummed with energy and the comforting clatter of plates and laughter.
Outside, sunlight gleamed on a dusting of freshly fallen snow, and the sky was a perfect robin’s egg blue, promising the coming of spring.
Inside the cozy café, the air was rich with the scent of freshly baked rosemary focaccia and the earthy, warm aroma of coffee.
It was the kind of day where everything felt alive and right, Sally thought to herself with a satisfied smile.
This was why she’d spent so many years pouring her heart and soul into her café—she’d created a place where people could gather together that felt like a home away from home.
She picked up an empty tray off the counter and then set off on her next mission, moving with speed, as if the dance steps of her life were moving to quick music.
She hurried through the dining area with practiced dexterity, her tray balanced in one hand, and her butterfly hair clip bouncing with every step.
Her eyes swept over the tables, checking in on regulars and new faces alike, and she was always ready to smile warmly at anyone who looked back at her.
Julia sat at one of the sun-warmed tables by the window, glowing and looking energetic and at peace.
She was wearing a purple sweater that fit comfortably, but wasn’t so loose that it hid the way her baby bump had started to show.
The light filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a golden halo over her dark brown hair as she swirled the coffee around in her mug.
Cooper, sitting beside her, looked equally happy as he gently rested his hand on hers.
“Order up!” called one of the workers in the kitchen, and Sally sashayed back to the window to grab the hot plates of food.
She noted that the meals were for Julia and Cooper, and she grinned, glad of an excuse to talk to the couple.
She set the hot plates carefully onto her tray and set off across the room.
“You’re positively glowing,” Sally said as she reached their table, setting down Julia’s plate with a flourish. “Your latest craving, madam—grilled cheese with extra pickles, pesto, and a touch of hot sauce, just like you ordered.”
Julia laughed, looking down at the food with obvious relish. “You’re a magician, Sally. I swear this baby’s appetite is turning me into a food critic.”
Cooper chuckled and leaned back. “At least I get to sample the inventions.”
“I should start writing a pregnancy cravings cookbook,” Sally joked. “You two would be the perfect first chapter.”
As they chatted, the door to the office near the back of the café creaked open.
Oscar stepped out, his tie slightly loosened, with a stack of contracts in hand and a spark in his eyes.
Sally noticed him immediately, her heart doing that now-familiar skip that it had started doing ever since they had fallen for each other.
He looked around the room with quiet pride before his gaze landed on her.
She caught his eye, and he flashed a smile, lifting his hand in a quick thumbs-up. It was a gesture that meant more than just business success—it meant shared joy, a confirmation that the deals he’d just closed with local suppliers would bring new success to the café.
Sally’s heart felt like it might burst with happiness.
She was becoming fonder and fonder of Oscar every day.
Although he was still often terse or grumpy, she could see that underneath his gruff exterior, he was kind, and he cared about her and the other people around her.
He was helping her with her business on a daily basis, and he brought so much joy to her life whether they were working together, strolling by the beach, or laughing over a late-night snack of peanut butter and chocolate pie.
Knowing that she didn’t have to face everything alone anymore gave her a new spring in her step and a new light in her eyes.
She had received more than she ever thought was possible, and it made her heart ache with gratitude.
I should have known it was possible, she thought. I wasted all those tears and sad feelings on the belief that I couldn’t find love again. But here I am, because I opened my heart and took the risk.
She turned back to her work, warmth spreading through her chest, but before she made it two steps, Oscar was beside her. He gave her a quick peck on the cheek.
“Definitely a successful day,” he told her, sounding pleased.
Sally turned her face toward his, her eyes playful. “You’re talking about business or the kiss?”
Oscar grinned. “Both.”
He turned to survey the dining room again.
Tables were full, the buzz of conversation never stopped, and the staff moved with the fluidity of a well-conducted orchestra.
Sally noticed the way his expression shifted slightly—still joyful, but thoughtful now, his eyes a bit distant as if watching a dream unfold.
“What’s on your mind?” she asked, her voice soft as she leaned closer, placing her fingers on his arm.
He glanced at her with a smile so full of love it made her breath catch. “Would you believe me if I said I don’t miss New York one bit? That nothing that I had there compares to what I have right here?”
Sally’s lips parted in surprise, then curved into a wide smile. “I believe it with all of my heart,” she said. “And it’s music to my ears.”
Their kiss this time was slow and sweet, as if sealing a promise. A promise that their love would grow day by day, little by little, until they’d built themselves something as remarkable and nourishing as the Ocean Breeze Café.
Just then, the bell over the front door jingled, signaling a new group of customers. They pulled apart, laughing.
“I swear,” Oscar said, “that bell has perfect comedic timing.”
Sally waved toward the door, already preparing to greet the newcomers. “That’s life in a busy café.” She turned back to him with a radiant smile. “But it’s the perfect life for me.”
The series continues in Under the Lighthouse Glow . Get your copy now and find out what’s next for the crew in Rosewood Beach!