Take Three (The Jilted Bride #2)(20)

“I love you too.”

She squeezed my hand. “Was that really Matt Sterling’s baby?”

Chapter 8

Ethan

I stared at the blonde woman lying on the floor of Autumn Wonder and tried not to laugh. I’d never seen someone literally fall backwards before. One minute she was yelling at my coworker, and the next she was falling on her head and her heels were in the air.

“Is she okay? Is she talking about suing us?” Lola called from across the store. “Do you think corporate will fire me if she sues? You think I should put in an application at Starbucks before they do that?”

“I think she’s okay,” I bent down and touched her forehead. “Do I need to call 911?”

She didn’t answer. She was busy mumbling something to herself, shaking her head back and forth.

I gently shook her shoulder and her eyes fluttered open.

Wow…

She was a vision. I could gaze at her all day.

She had the most amazing gray eyes I’d ever seen—her irises were the color of stormy rain clouds, with deep green speckles that glimmered like glass, the type of eyes that could see right through me.

She seemed to be in some type of trance. It looked like she was slightly puckering her lips at me, like she wanted me to kiss her, but I made myself believe I was only imagining that.

I helped her to stand up, ignoring the sudden jolt I felt as soon I touched her hand. I asked her a few questions about how she was feeling, but she simply stared at me and turned bright red.

She looks very familiar…Where do I know her from?

I brought her a new coffee and demonstrated how the door opened: the word “PUSH” was boldly written on the handle bar and etched on the glass. Before I could ask what her name was, she rushed out to the patio.

I wanted to follow her, to ask her out to dinner—tonight, but I sensed Lola behind me.

“Well, at least she’s okay,” Lola patted my back. “Thanks for filling out paperwork on your off day, Ethan! You are already one of my favorite coffee beans!”

I’m getting out of here by the end of the week…

“Anytime Lola,” I headed for the employee exit.

I stopped by the local bookstore and purchased The Art of Small Talk and a few romance books. Barry claimed that brushing up on romance novels would help me with my spontaneity and clue me in to what women expected on dates. He also suggested that I watch a few romantic comedies, but I refused.

I promised myself I would never watch another one of those brainless films ever again.

I exhaled and opened the door to Theo’s American Kitchen. I knew that one kooky date wasn’t enough to justify keeping my checklist, so when a cute customer asked me out to dinner, I obliged.

Her name was Rachel and she was a graduate student at the University of Arkansas. She was fair-skinned and blue eyed, and her long auburn hair fell right below her shoulders.

I walked over to her table and took a seat. “How are you this evening, Rachel? Did you order already?”

“I’m great,” she smiled. “No, I didn’t order yet…I wasn’t sure if you had any allergies or not.”

Excellent…

I looked over the menu. “All of this looks pretty amazing. What do you prefer?”

“Spicy calamari to start and grilled salmon for the main course?”

“Sounds great,” I signaled for the waiter.

After he took our order, Rachel leaned back. “So, how does it feel to work at Autumn Wonder? Don’t you hate it?”

“No, it’s actually quite interesting.”

“I hated being a barista,” she shook her head. “I used to work at Starbucks and the customers were so mean in the morning.”

And she hates Starbucks? Even better...

I laughed. “Well, that happens with any fast-paced business. I’ve found that there are usually more happy customers than angry ones though.”

“True,” she suddenly looked serious. “Doesn’t it make your blood boil when you realize that these big companies use the cheapest ingredients in their food and charge top dollar for it? Doesn’t it make you want to scream when you realize that the profit margin on a cup of coffee is four hundred percent?”

What? Where did she get that ridiculous number from?

“Um…”

“I’m starting a personal revolution against all fast-food and coffee chains,” she whispered. “They should be donating their money to third world countries and helping our nation’s poor instead of getting rich.”

I sighed. “I’m pretty sure Autumn Wonder donates six hundred million a year to social programs and invests—”

“That’s a lie!” she reached over the table and put her finger against my lips. “Don’t be fooled by their propaganda, Ethan!”

Oh god…

“Okay. I’ll take your word for it.”

“Good,” she moved her finger back. “I’m glad you came out with me tonight.”

“Me too…”

The waiter set our calamari on the table and I picked up my fork.

“Don’t you dare eat that!” Rachel swatted it out of my hand.

“What? Why not?”

“Brothers and sisters!” she stood on top of her chair. “Friends and family! Slaves to the almighty dollar! Join me in the fight against these trite food corporations! Put down your forks and fight with me right now! No more eating cheap food and paying top dollar for it! No more funding these corporate big wigs’ pockets! All of you stand with me! Stand with me right now!”