Cadence of Cranberries - Valerie Comer Page 0,66

they weren’t anywhere near her house. She looked around in the dark, but the hill was steep until he rounded the final curve and parked the Mustang between the roastery and the house.

“I’ve spent a lot of time at your house, and that’s as it should be. But I want you to know where I call home sweet home.”

“That sounds fair.”

“When I bought this business, they’d just had a kitchen fire.” Charlie gestured toward the house. “The house wasn’t really habitable, so I added a makeshift apartment above the roasting kilns.” He hesitated. “The house has been fully renovated since then, but I haven’t moved in. It doesn’t feel like a home. It’s lacking… something.” And he knew exactly what.

He hurried around the car and opened Winnie’s door. “Let’s pop in at the roastery to see where the magic happens, then I’ll show you upstairs. I’ll save the house for last, okay?”

Winnie nodded and slid her hand into his as they walked across the plowed parking area to Redband Roasters’ front doors.

“This is really Murray’s domain. I’ve learned a bit about the process, but he knows a thousand times more. In fact, I was so worried about losing his expertise I gave him a pretty big raise.” He pulled open the heavy wooden doors and flipped on the bank of lights.

She stepped inside, her face lighting up as she took in the stainless-steel drums and bagging area. She took a deep breath. “Ah, this smells amazing. I’d love to see it all in action sometime.”

“Sometime. I promise.” He tugged her close to his side from where she’d wandered off. “We can do the whole process for you from raw beans to a salted caramel latte.”

“I might never want to leave.”

Swallowing was impossible. Go for it now? Or hold to his game plan? Hold. “You might not have to,” he said lightly, and turned her to the door for the upstairs apartment. “This was partially set up when I bought the business and property. The couple who owned it was having marital difficulties, and I think he was camping up here quite a lot. Then when they had the house fire, they just gave up on everything. Business, marriage, the works.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.” Winnie glanced around the small apartment and wandered over to the huge window overlooking the river. “Great view.”

“I love it.” He slid his arm around her again. “I have to admit I’ve sometimes felt guilty for buying the business at their asking price. Like I was contributing to the end of their marriage, the death of their dreams.”

She turned and rested her hands on his hips. “I think that was on them. I remember the couple. They overextended financially to start the roastery and then couldn’t agree which direction to take it.”

“Still feels like I took advantage of them.”

“You didn’t. Not unless you lowballed your offer.”

Charlie shook his head and brushed a kiss on Winnie’s lips. “Anyway, there was a ton of work to do on the house. I got a contractor up here first just to add a small kitchen and make the space livable, but it’s sort of become home, you know? Then the contractor’s team started work on the house. Want to see it?”

“Sure.”

He tapped into his phone for a second. At her raised eyebrows, he grinned. “Might as well have the doors unlocked and the lights on when we get there.”

“You really don’t live like the rest of us.” She chuckled.

Charlie held his tongue, reveling in the sharp bite of the February night air to cool his flushed cheeks and dry his clammy hands as they crossed the parking area. This was it. He swung the door open.

Warmth met them along with the golden glow of lamplight. The gas fireplace flickered through the archway in the great room beyond. And the strains of The Cranberries’ famous song, “Dreams,” flowed from the full-house sound system.

“This is nice, Charlie.” She toed off her boots and allowed him to take her jacket. “You picked all this?”

“With the help of an interior designer, yes. Come see the kitchen.” He guided her in the right direction with his hand on the small of her back.

On the granite island stood a massive bouquet of gerbera daisies with a cloud of heart-shaped balloons floating above. Two pieces of cranberry cheesecake stood beside them with a bottle of red wine and two sparkling wineglasses.

Charlie heard her sharp intake of breath as she finally read the message on the balloons.

Will you