Page 44 of The P*ssy Next Door
That was something I could smile about. “The game was really amazing. I got to fly out on their jet, and I met Kelsey Best, who is actually super nice, and the Manniways, and Sara Jayne Jerry.”
And did some serious fooling around with Hayes at the hotel. But they did not need to hear that part.
“Right, right, right,” Liam said waving away my brushes with fame. “I want love life deets, baby girl. Are you officially seeing Hayes Kingman?”
Okay, so they did want to hear that part. “I... am?”
“Honey, don’t answer like it's questionable.” Liam frowned, leaning closer to the screen. “Willa, what's wrong? You know you can tell us anything.”
George glared through the phone. “He's not being some sports star asshat, is he? I expect better of a Kingman.”
“No. Hayes is perfect. Not a single red flag. I'm the one being an asshat,” I confessed. I was the one who said we shouldn't have labels this morning when he was clearly so excited to call himself my boyfriend. Who did that? Scaredy cats, that's who.
“I'm scared of getting too attached when I'm supposed to be leaving in a few months. I'm afraid I'm already...” I almost said that I was already in love with him. But I wasn't ready to admit that out loud. “I already have some serious feelings for him.”
Liam leaned back and smiled softly at George. “Willa, let me tell you something. Love, when it's real, is always worth the risk. Don't let fear rob you of something beautiful. Something that can make your life so much better than it ever could be alone.”
George's bottom lip wobbled a little and he wrapped an arm around Liam. Then he cleared his throat and said, “Embrace love and happiness wherever you find it, darling. Life's too short to do otherwise.”
Their words settled into my heart, a comforting warmth chasing away the chill of my doubts. if anyone knew about love, it was these two.
I full-well knew how to take risks. I told my parents I wasn't going to college even though that's all they'd ever wanted of me. I moved to foreign countries without knowing a single soul or a word of the language. I taught six-year-olds around the world how to read! Despite them having no idea what I was saying.
I was fearless... in everything but love. It was time to stop holding back and fully commit to this wonderful, terrifying, exhilarating thing I had with Hayes.
“Ooh, look at her face, Liam,” George sing-songed, “She is having a moment. Go get 'em, wild child.”
We said our goodbyes and I looked around the empty shop with fresh eyes. It was time for a change, time to take some risks of my own. If I was going to make this thing with Hayes work, I needed to make some plans too.
I started brainstorming ideas on how to make the coffee shop profitable, scribbling them down in a notebook. I could partner with local bakeries for fresh pastries. Offer specialty seasonal drinks. It was easy enough to update the menu, but what we needed was more customers.
What made people like to hang out at a coffee shop, besides the food and drink? What did I even like to do when I hung out here? The comfy chairs tucked in the corner by the very small lending library caught my eye.
I liked to read.
And then it hit me. A book club. Ooh, even better, a spicy romance book club. I could host it right here in the shop, creating a fun, flirty atmosphere that would be perfect for coffee and steamy reads.
Excited by the prospect, I scrolled through my contacts, looking for the perfect person to help me spread the word. Trixie. She was writing a romance novel, and she was a former librarian. I'm sure she had connections. I sent her a message.
A dozen ideas of drinks I could pair with books I'd read flew around in my head. That would make for great social media posts. Gasp. I could do the same with the cats from the cat shelter. That would be fun too. I was going to need a brand new InstaSnap and a FlipFlop account for Cool Beans.
But one book club and one playdate with shelter cats wasn't going to be enough to really make the business profitable. I could ask Hayes to do something with the Mustangs again. Or, yes, Marie Manniway had specifically given me her card and said she wanted to host a Cowgirls and Cowpals meeting here. If I could make that a regular thing, that would bring in a whole crowd of women who could afford fancy coffees and teas. This could be the perfect opportunity.
I fired off a text to Marie, finally following up on her request, asking if she'd be interested in stopping by the shop this week. Her enthusiastic response came minutes later, and I did a little victory dance right there behind the counter.
Watch out, Denver. Willa Rosemount was about to make her mark, one latte at a time.
The rest of the day passed in a blur of list making, graphics creating, and my first few social media posts. Even if I only had two whole customers that afternoon, I was still hyped. By the time the bell above the door jingled that evening signaling a new customer, I was so engrossed in my plans that I almost didn't look up.
But I'd know those footsteps anywhere. Hayes, freshly showered, sporting a Mustangs hoodie and swagger that made me swoony crossed the shop to lean across the counter and steal a kiss. “Hey, sweet thing. Ready to close up shop? I've got plans for you tonight.”
I grinned against his lips, my earlier worries and fears melting away in his presence. “Just about. What kind of plans?”
He shrugged, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “Oh, you know. Just wanted to see if my girlfriend wanted to come home with me and spend the night.”
A brand new thrill zipped through me, like the warmth of hot cocoa laced with Bailey's, at the way he said girlfriend.
“All night?” I batted my eyelashes at him. “Whatever will we do?”