Cadence of Cranberries - Valerie Comer Page 0,15

to.”

“If it’s won over connoisseurs like your young man here” — Charlie nodded at Michael — “then it sounds like the recipe of the hour. Also, they smell good.”

They did, at that, the mingling of sweet and tart and cinnamon.

Charlie patted his pockets and shook his head. “What kind of guest am I? I brought you a hostess gift and totally forgot to give it to you.”

“Oh, you didn’t have to...”

“Of course, I did. Just a sec.” He went to the foyer and returned a moment later with a small gift-bag, which he handed to Winnie.

She kept her fingers from touching his as she accepted it. “What have you got here?” But she could smell the coffee even before she drew out the cranberry-colored mug with the Redband Roasters emblem on the side. Inside it was a small brown bag. She raised her eyebrows at Charlie, who just smiled and beckoned her to open it.

“Chocolate-covered coffee beans? Oh, those look great. Smell great. You shouldn’t have.”

“I think we covered that. My grandmother taught me to always bring a gift. I apologize it took me this long to remember I brought it at all. I don’t get out much.”

“And the mug, too. Thank you.” She dared a glance at him, hoping the kids weren’t watching. But they would be, for sure. “My morning coffee will taste so delicious out of this.”

“Your salted caramel lattes, too?”

A flush bloomed over her cheeks. “Oh, those are a special treat when I go out.”

“Didn’t know you liked those, Mom. Have you tried pumpkin spice? Even better. ’Tis the season.”

Winnie could be thankful for Gabriella’s interruption. The moment had become much too personal, revealing secrets of her Wednesday night escapes to the market... and the Redband Roasters coffee truck.

“Never mind that.” Brittany’s finger toggled back and forth between Winnie and Charlie. “How did you know about Mom’s secret obsession?”

Uh oh. If everyone hadn’t been watching before, they sure were now.

Winnie raised both hands. “Guilty as charged. I may have ordered a salted caramel latte from the coffee truck at the Night Market a few times.”

“Just to be clear, you met Katri’s dad before today?” Brittany should have gone into criminal prosecution.

“Sort of? But not really. I had no idea who he was other than the coffee guy.” The very sweet coffee guy who brightened each Wednesday. The one she refused to look at now.

“And you.” Brittany turned back to Charlie. “You just happen to remember everyone’s coffee orders?”

“Not everyone’s.” The man seemed to be enjoying himself. “But there was the college guy with the poodle who got a flat white every week.”

“College guy with a poodle?” Landon’s voice dripped disgust. “Way to lose the man-card, dude.”

Winnie began plating pie slices. “If anyone doesn’t want whipped cream, speak now before Brittany puts it on yours.”

“I love whipped cream.”

Why couldn’t she resist glancing at their guest? And, when his finger swept over his upper lip as his eyes twinkled and his smile deepened, her blush deepened with it.

Brittany dolloped whipped cream on the first slice. “Mikey, grab forks, will you?” Then she leaned close to Winnie’s shoulder. “You’ve got some ’splainin’ to do.”

Winnie straightened her back and looked her daughter in the eye for a second. No. No, she did not.

“Best pie I’ve ever tasted.” Charlie pushed his plate away, so stuffed he couldn’t have slid in one more bite.

Katri chuckled. “First time you’ve ever had homemade, I’m guessing. It is for me.”

“That, too.” He couldn’t help watching Winnie down the table, though she seemed to be avoiding looking at him. Had the revelation they’d innocently met before today exposed something to her kids that he couldn’t understand? To him, it was an incredible coincidence he’d be delighted to tell anyone about. Especially if her heated cheeks indicated anything other than an overly warm kitchen.

Not that he should read too much into it, but in the light of Katri and Dominic’s engagement, nearly anything seemed possible. His baby girl was moving nearby where Charlie could keep an eye on her and her marriage and make sure everything went smoothly. Maybe he’d give them the nearly renovated house. He could stay living above the roastery.

Worth a thought.

Katri leaned on Dominic’s shoulder and gave a wistful sigh. “We’d like to get married here, not in Seattle. This is going to be our home, and we don’t have that many friends there other than people we work with.”

Brittany laughed. “If you want a small wedding, don’t do it here. The Santoro