Cafe Love: Cupid's Cafe Box Set Books 2-4

by Ashley Lauren

  “Wow, what’s all this?” he asked, feeling like he'd start drooling just by looking at the sugary treats laid out in front of him.

  “Pastries. I thought I told you.” Sarah looked at him quizzically, wondering why he was eyeballing the table so hard.

  “Right, right you did… It must’ve slipped my mind,” he said, taking a seat.

  “Well, would you like anything? My treat.” Sarah offered and sat beside him, her hands on her knees, trying not to stare at him too much.

  “I wouldn’t mind another piece of shortcake.”

  “Coming right up!” Sarah beamed, putting a slice on a plate. She decorated it with fresh whipped cream and sliced strawberries. “Here you are.” She passed him the plate and a fork. Danny almost immediately licked his lips, his eyes glittering with excitement. Moments later, he was stuffing his mouth with the sweet pastry.

  “This is amazing…” he moaned, a look of contentment on his face. “It’s different than the one you gave me before,”

  “It is. Better?”

  Danny dipped his fork in again and scooped another bite to his mouth. He consulted his memory. “Hmmm. I’m not sure. I might have to eat this entire cake to be positive.”

  Sarah laughed. “Go ahead. Let me know when you figure it out.”

  Danny continued to taste test each bite. The look on this face was one of pure bliss, and Sarah smiled knowing that she’d done that. Didn’t Grandma always say that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach? If so, Sarah was well on her way. That thought alone kept Sarah on cloud nine.

  Danny stuffed the last bite in and refocused on Sarah. “My expert opinion, as an admitted sugar-aholic, is that this version is better.”

  “Really?” Sarah asked.

  Danny nodded, turning toward Sarah. She began to giggle.

  “What?” Danny asked.

  “You have whipped cream smeared along your jaw.”

  Danny reached and wiped at his cheek. “Did I get it?”

  “Nope.” Sarah reached out and ran her fingers along the right side of his jaw bone.

  Danny sucked in a breath. His eyes captured Sarah’s, and she felt the heat in his gaze. It seared through her, and she slid her thumb along his cheek, feeling the tiny pricks of stubble. She curled her fingers just under his jaw and began to reel him in for a kiss that would rock his world.

  A cough came from in front of the table shattering the moment.

  Chapter Eight

  Sarah yanked her hand back from Danny’s face like she’d touched a hot stove. Oh, I had definitely been playing with fire. Slowly, Sarah turned to look at her waiting customer. She called on every bit of her willpower to keep herself from blushing.

  “Sorry, I just wanted a cream puff… uh… before you got too busy,” a tall and painfully thin teenaged boy said.

  Sarah closed her eyes and counted to three. I will not be embarrassed. She opened her eyes and forced a smile. “Of course,” Sarah said and handed the boy the dessert.

  When, the kid was gone Sarah stared at the array of pastries in front of her and made a wish. She had no intention of taking back the moment she’d just shared with Danny. Oh, no. Sarah fervently wished that she’d gotten to kiss Danny. That would at least make the humiliation worth it!

  Danny didn’t know whether to laugh, cry, or be angry at himself for letting that kiss almost happen. He’d wanted to kiss Sarah for over twelve years, and the first opportunity he got, he’d been interrupted by a teen who wanted dessert. Danny rubbed at his face and decided to be angry with himself. He wasn’t exactly sure why he was on this pseudo date with Sarah, other than the fact he hadn’t had the willpower to say no to her. But to let himself go as far as kissing her, especially in public with a bunch of kids and parents around, was unforgivable.

  He had to get this whole night back on track. I should talk about high school. That’s a safe enough topic. Danny put his blank mask on, covering all traces of upset or embarrassment and said, “Can you believe that it has been ten years since we were here as students?”

  Danny looked around at the football field, remembering when he had tried out for the team. He hadn’t made it, even when his best friend Robert was the captain. The coach must have known his heart wasn’t in the game. He’d only tried out for Robert’s sake.

  “Yeah. It feels like it was just yesterday we were on those bleachers, cheering on Robert,” Sarah said.

  Danny nodded, a bittersweet expression on his face. He remembered those days well. The nights were always chilly. They would bring an old blanket and huddle together to keep warm. It was moments like those that Danny had yearned most to wrap his arm around her back, to kiss her lips, and be hers. He had never mustered the courage to reveal his true feelings and had lost the opportunity forever.

  “Danny, can I tell you something?” Sarah asked.

  There was something in her eyes that made him nervous. Danny gulped, feeling like a piece of that strawberry shortcake was lodged in his throat. Even though he feared her question, he nodded for her to continue.

  “Well, well if it isn’t Fitz and Sarah!” a man called out. He approached the table escorting a woman. Both faces looked vaguely familiar to Danny. The couple reached the table and the man offered a smile, saying, “We always knew you two would get together in the end.”

  “Who? What…?” Sarah stuttered.

  “Sorry, it’s Jeremy and Rachel. I know I’ve lost half of my hair, but Rachel is still as beautiful as ever.”

  Rachel rolled her eyes, but at the same time fondly patted Jeremy’s shoulder. “Don’t be ridiculous, honey.” She turned to Sarah and said, “So good to see you, Sarah. I’ve been in your store a couple of times, but I must have missed you. You have fantastic cream puffs, by the way.”

  It took Sarah a moment, but she managed to place Jeremy and Rachel. They’d been completely inseparable all through high school. They had started dating during the second month of freshman year and, by the look of the ring on Rachel’s finger, they were going to be together for the rest of their lives.

  “Those are the work of my assistant, Ming,” Sarah said. “But Danny and I aren’t---”

  “Wow, would you look at that pass!” Danny shouted suddenly, pointing to the quarterback.

  Everyone turned their attention to the game, except Sarah. Danny’s interruption didn’t make sense. Throughout their time together, neither one of them had paid much attention to the field, but now, Danny couldn’t seem to keep his eyes off it.

  “Nice pass. Now, how about two cupcakes?” Jeremy asked.

  Sarah nodded, handing them two chocolate cupcakes and adding the money to her stash. Rachel waved goodbye, and the couple headed to the stands. Sarah glanced over at Danny, still wondering about Danny’s odd behavior.

  “Danny?” She turned to him, her voice soft, barely audible over the commenter’s voice. She had to know. “Can I ask you something?”

  “Sure…” he answered, but his voice didn’t sound very steady.

  “Why did you interrupt me when I was about to tell Jeremy and Rachel we weren’t together?”

  Sarah’s mind was a jumble of emotions. She wanted him to say it was because he had feelings for her. But if he said that he’d developed a huge interest in sports over the past ten years she’d be heartbroken.

  Danny didn’t say anything. He just stared at the football field. Please, please don’t say you love football. Love me instead! Sarah wanted to shout at Danny and make him answer her question. Still, he remained silent.

  “Did you do it on purpose?” Sarah’s blue eyes were fierce as she demanded an answer. The not knowing was driving her crazy.

  Danny gazed at the football field. He had no idea which team had possession nor did he care. His mind was recalling all the nights he lay in his cot in Afghanistan looking at Sarah’s senior year photo. She’d laughingly put it in his wallet, and since that moment he’d never gone anywhere without it. Her sunny smile had gotten him through the worst of it.
If he’d seen too much death that day, he’d flip his wallet open and look at her face. It reminded him of what he was fighting for. When he was relearning to stand, he’d stare into her eyes and tell himself he could stand on his prosthetic leg for one more minute. Her eyes helped keep the pain at bay.

  Danny knew he had nothing to offer Sarah, but he wanted her in his life so badly. With her by his side, he thought he might actually find some contentment. Mitchel kept telling him to stop thinking of himself as crippled, but that’s what he was! It wasn’t fair to Sarah that he wasn’t whole, and it was absolutely weak and selfish of him, but he just didn’t want to live without Sarah anymore.

  “Yes,” Danny whispered.

  “Why?”

  Danny stood silent for a few minutes. How could he convey what he felt for her without sounding crazy or overwhelming her?

  “Please… tell me,” Sarah pleaded. She placed her hand on his knee.

  Jolts of electricity shot through his leg, and directly to his heart. He took in a deep, steadying breath before looking up, his eyes locking with hers. Time seemed to slow down for a moment. For once, it felt like all was right with the world.

  “Because…” he paused, trying to find the right words. “I want to be with you, Sarah.”

  Chapter Nine

  Sarah’s heart skipped a beat at his words. She couldn’t quite believe what she had just heard. There was something in his eyes though, something that told her he was serious, but she had to ask.

  “Do you really mean that?”

  “Yes.” Danny looked away and down at the table. He grabbed a strawberry shortcake.

  Sarah waited. There was weight behind the word yes, and she was curious to hear what else he had to say. Danny played with the strawberry for a bit, moving it toward his mouth and then throwing it onto the plate.

  He looked up, a fierce expression gripped his eyes. “I’ve always liked you, Sarah, ever since we were in high school. One of the many reasons I took off was it hurt to see you and Robert together. I just couldn’t stay and watch.”

  Sarah let the words sink in. She’d had no idea that Danny saw her as more than a friend. We’ve wasted so much time. Well, not anymore. Sarah lunged forward and wrapped her arms around Danny, hugging him tightly.

  “You don’t know how happy that makes me,” she whispered into his ear, laying her head down on his shoulder.

  Danny felt stiff in her arms, but she didn’t let it bother her. He said he’d wanted her, and he couldn’t take the words back now. After a few moments, the tension bled out of his shoulders, and he rested his hand on the small of her back.

  Sarah sighed. “I’ve been waiting forever for you.” Sarah figured she might as well confess her stupidity. “I suppose it never occurred to you that I dated Robert just so you would see me as a female rather than a girl who was your friend?”

  Danny pulled back and stared at Sarah. “Are you serious? As soon as you said yes to Robert you were off limits. I don’t stab friends in the back.”

  Sarah bit her lip. “It wasn’t my brightest idea. I just didn’t know how to get you to see me, not Sarah in pigtails.”

  Danny smiled and pulled at a lock of her hair. “I always thought pigtails were sexy.”

  Sarah pulled the bit of hair away from him. “I doubt that… but can you forgive me for being foolish?”

  Danny cupped her face in his hands. “There’s nothing to forgive. We’re together now.”

  The way the words rolled off Danny’s tongue sent shivers through Sarah. They were like velvet, wrapping her in delicious warmth. He’s so close. I’m not going to regret missing the opportunity twice. Sarah threw caution to the wind and kissed him. She didn’t care who was watching.

  The soft impact of Sarah’s lips sent Danny spiraling back to the first time he’d realized he was in love with Sarah. They were fifteen and Danny had been walking Sarah home from school. He’d done it a million times before and nothing was particularly different about that day, but when he walked her to the door, she turned to wave goodbye. The afternoon sun caught her face, lighting up her smile. Danny remembered having the fierce desire to kiss her.

  And after thirteen plus years, he was getting his wish. Danny put every ounce of his longing and love into the heated kiss he shared with Sarah now.

  An abrupt surge of applause slammed into Danny, reminding him that they were not alone. He pulled away, but still cradled Sarah’s face in his hands.

  “That was just the first of many kisses, but I’d like to try it without an audience next time,” Danny said.

  Sarah grinned. “I’d be okay with that.”

  Danny and Sarah spent the rest of the game talking, not paying any attention to the game. Customers came by and picked up sweets, but mostly Danny felt like he had Sarah all to himself, a situation he relished. Eventually, the clock ran out, and Berkeley High beat its opponent by seven points.

  He leaned over and gently kissed her cheek. “I had a lot of fun tonight,” he said softly.

  “Me, too.”

  “I want… I mean, I hope you’ll go out with me again soon.” Danny waited, letting her think about it. Despite what had happened this evening, he still worried she wouldn’t want to see him again.

  “Of course. How else am I going to get the rest of those kisses?”

  Danny blinked. He’d almost forgotten his earlier promise. “I guess you’re right. A promise is a promise.”

  “Good, then it’s a date, but this time, you pick where we go, okay?”

  She tilted her head, her long black hair framing her cheeks, making her look angelic. Danny couldn’t keep his eyes off her, and his breath caught in his throat. He nodded dumbly, his heart racing.

  “Alright,” he breathed. He could barely think when she was looking at him like that. He’d have to come up with the perfect date idea later.

  “Well, just call me when you’ve settled on something.” Sarah began packing up the rest of her pastries. She had just about sold out, but there were still a few shortcakes left.

  “Oh don’t bother. I’ll gladly take those off your hands,” Danny said, trying to grab some money from his wallet. He had eaten so many sweets during the game that he felt guilty.

  “That’s fantastic. Put your wallet away. They’re yours.” She packed them up for him, handing them over.

  “Are you sure?” Danny asked, feeling bad about taking them for free. “You worked so hard to make them…”

  “Nonsense. You’re saving them from being thrown away. Now, do you want me to carry them to your car?”

  Danny saw he wouldn’t be able to win the argument. He sighed and then struggled to get up, leaning on his cane.

  “No. I got it,” Danny said, gritting his teeth against the pain. He didn’t need or want pity. He was missing a leg, but he still had two hands that worked just fine. He balanced the cakes in one hand, while the other maneuvered his cane.

  Sarah watched his struggle. She was dying to rush forward and help him but refrained, knowing his pride was on the line.

  Together, they walked down the hill at a snail’s pace. Sarah didn’t mind. She was walking away from the football stadium once again, but this time, Danny wasn’t just a friend anymore.

  Everything about the world around her seemed bright and full of life. Sarah looked up at the sky. A million pinpoints of light shone down on her. The moon looked like the white smile of a Cheshire cat.

  “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” she said, pointing upwards.

  “Yes, it is,” Danny said, looking straight at her.

  Chapter Ten

  Danny pushed his way through Cupid Café’s door. The diner, as usual, was filled with its friendly banter. Customers, both young and old, were enjoying each other’s company while Katy whisked around the restaurant, managing to be in more than one place at once.

  “Fitz!” she called out, suddenly appearing behind the counter. “Can I start you off with coffee?” she asked.

  He nodded, making sur
e to sit down on the stool closest to the sugar dispenser this time.

  “How has everything been?” Katy asked, smiling, her face crinkling with laugh lines.

  “It’s been good. Great actually,” he admitted. “I went on a date with Sarah Mallory after all these years…” he sighed happily, looking up at Katy. “Can you believe it?”

  Katy’s green eyes shone with excitement, and she nodded. “I always knew you two were meant to be. You used to look at her like she was the only girl in the world.”

  “Was I really that pathetically obvious?”

  Katy poured him some coffee, leaving more than enough space in the cup for Danny’s copious amounts of sugar. “You were nothing of the sort. I just have a sense of these things and could see it easily.”

  Danny was giving her an odd look. She’d probably given him too much information. Katy decided it was time to change the subject before Danny asked any prying questions.

  “So, tell me more about this date. Did you two do anything exciting?”

  “Yeah. We went back to Berkeley High for a football game.”

  “Right. Sarah sells her pastries at the games. Did you sit with her at her table?”

  “Yes. But I wasn’t much help. I probably ate half of her inventory.”

  “I’ve noticed your sweet tooth.” Katy chuckled. “Can I get you anything to eat? Maybe something to combat the sugar in your coffee.”

  “How about a basket of your world-famous fries?”

  Katy smiled brightly. “Coming right up!” she chimed, disappearing into the kitchen.

  Danny sat there, his hands wrapped around the coffee cup. He closed his eyes, remembering that awful moment when Sarah realized he was missing a leg. He had been so certain that the news would send Sarah running away, but luckily, that wasn’t the case. He hadn’t lost her after all.

  Danny took a sip of his sweetened coffee and smiled to himself. Oh, he knew he should send her away. Sarah was too good for a kid with a deadbeat father, an ex-soldier, and a man with only one good leg. But somehow, whenever Sarah was near him, he forgot about all of his baggage. She gave him hope that there could be something wonderful and special in his future if he would only reach out and grab it.