Looking to make sure there were no more drink orders coming down the bar, I smiled at the famous Gigi, happy to finally meet her. “Thank you for the cupcake, by the way. It was delicious.”
“I hear you’re a fan of the Arnie Palmer one, but that maple one was just for you. It was a one-off, but since it passed your taste buds, maybe I’ll make it a regular.”
Sneaking a peek out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Zara watching us with interest. Refocusing on Gigi, I said, “Well, this is Vermont after all. I would think a maple cupcake would go over well.”
“Yes, but you know, I’m on this Goldbelly delivery thing for my Arnies. It’s been amazing, but I need more of an online presence. Who would believe little old Colebury represented on Goldbelly?”
I nodded. “It’s all the rage. I know from when I lived in New York.”
A customer walked in and ordered a regular drip coffee, and Zara poured it for him. Cup in hand, he walked toward the peach sofa just as Rita walked through the door. Her eyes widened and she scurried over to her seat, tossing her bag down and seated on the sofa before the guy even made it there. Not missing a beat, he changed direction and headed over to one of the tables by the window and cracked a book open.
Lost in my thoughts, I tried to think about that happening in the Big Apple. Maybe on a Sunday with the Times, but someone would be clamoring for the table after not too long.
“Can you help me?” Gigi said, pulling me out of my fog.
Mentally, I tried to catch up. “Help with what?”
“With social media. Like Hunnie. I’ll pay you.” Her topknot bounced from side to side with her excitement. “You see, I just got married and need to save some time for my sweetie.”
In a flash, I saw an Instagram campaign focused on falling in love with cupcakes set for this coming autumn. Before I could even say I didn’t have a lot of time to give or ask how much she was going to pay me, I was nodding my head in agreement.
“Great.” She clapped her hands with delight and did a little jig. “Hunnie said you usually meet at her place, so maybe I could join in? Isn’t it so cool? Her shed?”
“It certainly is, but I need to swing by your shop first to get a feel for it.”
“Of course, anytime. It’s Oh, For Heaven’s Cakes, just down the street from here.”
I chuckled. “I know. I’ve been avoiding it. As if the Arnie cupcakes here aren’t bad enough for my waistline.”
“Lucky you,” Gigi said with a big grin. “Now you get free cupcakes anytime you want. Listen, think about what you want to charge and send me a text. Here.” She held out a business card. “That’s my information.”
Stunned, I reached for the card. “Okay,” was all I could say before she whirled around to leave.
“Catch you later,” she called out over her shoulder with a wave.
I couldn’t help but notice her cute pink high-tops and wondered if Hunnie scolded her for those like she had my white shorts.
As I washed my hands, I didn’t hear Zara come up from behind me.
“Pretty soon, you’re going to need a business card.”
Drying my hands, I tried to stifle a giggle. “I doubt it, but I’m definitely having fun with this.”
Zara’s hair was pulled back, all shiny, black, and tight. With bright cheeks and a broad smile, she always looked happy. Another one lucky in love, making all their dreams come true.
“Do you still want to work here?” she asked, as up front as always.
Swallowing my pride, I leaned against the counter by the sink. “Yes, I do. I need to.”
She gave me a serious look. “I get it’s not what you went to school for, and I don’t want to hold you back.”
Shaking my head, I said, “I want to be here. I like it here. Actually, I had an idea. It may be silly, but I was thinking we could host a book club here.”
“Oh yeah? So you’re not only dreaming up ideas for Hunnie and Gigi?”
“Making coffee is my number one priority,” I said with a smile. The shop was still quiet, but that usually meant any second we would be slammed, so I decided to hurry up and tell her my idea. “Yeah, a book club. I’ve been reading a lot lately. Chick lit, romance, sometimes steamy, sometimes not . . . I like it all. Even the historicals. Seriously.”
“Is that so?” Zara asked with a smirk.
“Yes. It’s such a great escape. I’m actually loving it, and I’ll bet we have a lot of readers in the area. I was thinking we could choose a book and set a date, maybe a Friday or Sunday, and then have a little discussion here. Everyone would buy coffees, and we could come up with a specialty dessert. Oh, maybe Gigi could help with that.”
“I like it.” Zara nodded thoughtfully. “It would definitely be so nice for the community.”
“And . . .” Before I lost my nerve, I shared the rest of the idea. “I saw this thing on the internet on matching makeup and nail colors to the book cover. The trend started in New York, but it’s spreading around. Bloggers are picking it up. It could be fun. Colebury is ready for it,” I said, taking a long breath when I was done.
“It’s definitely a stretch for here, but I’m willing to give it a try. You’re the resident big-city girl. Does this mean you’re putting down roots here?”
Swallowing the giant lump in my throat—there was that word again, roots—I shook my head. “I’m definitely growing to like it here more and more every day, but eventually I’ll take my experience back to a city. Not New York, but somewhere I can make my own name.”
Zara raised an eyebrow. “What about Ben? I see the way
