I squeezed her hands. “You don’t need to woo them. They need to woo you.”
Her black eyes bolted to mine. “Bueno.”
Feeling her composure strengthening, I let go of her hands. “Want me to come inside with you?”
“No. I will be all right.”
“Te quiero, Evelyn.” I rarely spoke Spanish but understood it perfectly.
Her eyes got all misty.
“Go.” I tipped my head to the restaurant. “I’ll wait out here.”
As she hobbled to the door, dragging her bad leg, she checked over her shoulder a few times as though to make sure I was really staying put. And I’d planned to, but when fifteen minutes had gone by and the scent of charred coffee beans and chilled milk ribboned toward me, I headed toward the coffee house next door.
As I waited in line for my order, I kept my gaze on the entrance of the restaurant. Which was probably the reason I didn’t see August until he stepped right into my line of vision.
“Hey.”
I tipped my head up, my heart whipping into gear. “Hi.”
His gaze was soft and bright, devoid of the darkness and tension from two nights ago. For some reason, that stumped me. Not that August needed to pine for me or harbor resentment, but he seemed almost . . . happy to see me. I mean, I was happy to see him too, but if the tables were turned and he’d done the breaking up, I’d probably not have been all too glad to run into him.
Which highlighted my lack of maturity.
Which highlighted his surplus of it.
His lips moved, and I’m pretty sure he uttered words, but I was so lost in thought I failed to hear them.
“What?” I asked.
“I was asking what you were doing?”
“Oh. Uh.”
The barista called out my name.
“Buying coffee,” I finally answered.
He smiled, and I swear it dimmed the noise level around me. “I can see you’re buying coffee. I guess I was wondering why you were in this neighborhood.”
“Oh.” I really had a way with words today. “Um. I was-Shoot!” I peeked around him just as the door to the restaurant opened and Evelyn limped out.
Shoot. Shoot. Shoot.
Not only was I not where I promised I would be, but I was with August. “I’m sorry, but I have to go.”
“Okay.” He frowned. “See you around, Dimples.”
The fact that he was calling me Dimples again made me feel like he didn’t detest me.
Right before pushing my back into the door of the shop, I asked him, “By the way, could I borrow some equipment from the warehouse? I wanted to sand down the floors of my old house.”
He shook his head a little. “I’m offended you feel the need to ask me whether you can borrow stuff from me. What’s mine is yours.”
What was his wasn’t mine, even if once upon a time, it had been my father’s.
“I’m headed back to the warehouse after I deliver coffee to the crew. Stop by whenever you want,” he said.
“Thanks?” I didn’t mean for it come out as a question, but his genial attitude stumped me. Had he already gotten over me?
I turned away before he could spot my anguish and joined Evelyn on the sidewalk where she was chatting with a man who looked to be around Jeb’s age. I pasted on my widest smile as I approached them.
“Sorry. Just went to grab us some coffees.” I extended her cup, then shot out my hand to the man and smiled. “Hi, I’m Ness. Evelyn’s granddaughter.”
I didn’t usually introduce myself this way, but seeing the breadth of Evelyn’s smile, I decided I should start doing it more often.
“Nice to meet you, Ness. I’m Trent.” His grip was firm and his expression friendly. “Grams told me we have you to thank for getting in touch with Evelyn,” he said, letting go of my hand.
“Glad to have been at the right place at the right time. Is your wife feeling better?”
“She’s feeling fine, thank you for asking. Anyway, I should get back to my accounting. I’ll see you tomorrow, Evelyn.”
“Sí. Tomorrow.”
After Trent was gone, I squealed and hugged her. “Told you so.”
She ran her enlarged knuckle down my cheek. “Mi nieta.” My granddaughter.
“You think your nieta can get a free meal in your new restaurant?”
She smiled, but then her tender expression warped as her eyes settled on a spot over my shoulder.
“Hi, Mrs. Lopez.” August was carrying two cardboard trays filled with iced beverages. “You’re looking mighty lovely this morning.”
“August.” As she said his name-none too congenially-her gaze traveled to me.
She probably assumed I’d rendezvoused with him in the coffee house, disregarding her advice.
“I should get this to my guys. Have a pleasant afternoon, ladies.”
Thankfully he didn’t say, see you later, Ness. If he had, Evelyn wouldn’t have believed our run-in had been random.
After he got into his car, I whispered, “Before you jump to any conclusions, there’s nothing going on between us.”
She took a sip of her milky beverage, wrinkles deepening around her eyes.
“You believe me, right?”