Page 75 of The Pumpkin Spice Cafe

‘Jesus, Annie. Just get on with it.’

She pursed her lips in displeasure. ‘What did you do?’

‘Why do you assume I did something?’ He tossed the dirty rag in the sink and crossed his arms over his chest.

Hazel’s gaze tracked his movements. His body language was defensive. That’s what she’d say if she wasn’t letting Annie do all the talking. For now.

‘Well, for one thing, you and Jeanie were all cute and cozy at the festival, and then,poof, you disappeared.’

‘I didn’t disappear. I’m right here.’

Annie frowned. ‘And for another thing, Jeanie has been significantly less perky than usual, but she won’t talk about it.’

His heart twisted. ‘What do you mean?’

She blew out a sigh, like it was difficult to talk to someone so stupid, which was probably true. ‘I mean, that Jeanie has been working her butt off this past week since Norman left but she—’

‘Wait a sec, Norman left?’

‘He quit,’ Hazel piped in.

‘Why would Norman quit?’

Hazel shrugged. ‘All Jeanie would say is that he decided to explore other options. It was weird.’

Logan shook his head, sinking into a seat at the table. Annie slid him a banana chocolate-chip muffin. His favorite. At least she brought snacks on this harassment mission.

‘I don’t get it. Why would Norman quit and leave Jeanie in the lurch like that?’

‘Seems obvious to me,’ Annie said. ‘He didn’t like the new management.’

‘Everyone likes her,’ Logan growled, hearing exactly how unhinged he sounded but not able to stop it.

Annie raised an eyebrow. ‘Some more than others.’

‘She’s not gonna stay, Annie. I didn’t feel like dragging it out this time.’

‘What makes you so sure?’ Annie looked like she might snatch his muffin back to punish him. He pulled it closer.

‘She’s considering selling. She could make a lot of money, too.’ He shrugged. ‘This whole thing was just an experiment for her. Eventually, she’ll get tired of it and go back to her real life.’

For a small bookish woman, Hazel moved like a freaking ninja. He didn’t see the slap to the side of his head coming until her hand made contact with his skull.

‘Ow! Haze, what the hell!’

Annie stifled a laugh.

‘This is her real life! Why would she be killing herself to keep the café open all week – even though they’re crazy short-staffed – if she was leaving? Why would she be joining the book club and signing up for baking classes, if she didn’t like it here? Why would she be falling in love with you, if she didn’t plan on staying?’

Logan choked on the muffin he had been shoving in his mouth while Hazel delivered her gut punch of a speech. Muffin crumbs spewed out of his mouth. Annie brushed them off the table onto his newly swept floor.

‘She doesn’t love me,’ he rasped between coughs.

‘Maybe not yet,’ Hazel said with a shrug. ‘But I’ve seen the way she looks at you – and the wayyoulook at her, by the way – and it’s not nothing. It’s not the way someone looks at a passing fling.’

He swallowed hard.

‘At some point, you’re going to have to try again,’ Annie added. ‘Take the risk. Jeanie’s worth it.’