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The next morning, Luke stopped by the truck. Tall, with auburn hair and gorgeous green eyes, he made Maddie’s heart race.
“Hi, Maddie.” He smiled at her.
“Hi,” Maddie replied breathlessly.
They’d just handled the morning rush and right now, he was their only customer.
Although she and Luke had been dating for a few months now, she still got blushy and flustered in his presence. Suzanne thought it was cute.
“That will be three-ninety, big brother.” Suzanne held her hand out for the money. “If you want your usual regular latte.”
“No health balls?” He scrutinized the counter.
“No.” Suzanne sounded glum for an instant. “Some of our customers thought the weather was too hot for them. So we’re serving iced coffee and lemon water instead.”
Maddie had already set to work making her boyfriend’s drink.
“We’re still on for tonight, right, Maddie?” Luke handed his sister some cash.
“Yes.” Maddie smiled at him, sure that everyone in the whole world could tell she was blushing right now.
“Mrrow!” Trixie waved a paw in his direction.
“How are you today, Trixie?” His lips twitched.
“Mrrow,” she answered playfully.
Maddie was thankful that Trixie seemed to like Luke just as much as she did. She didn’t know what she would have done if her familiar had disapproved of him.
Maddie handed Luke his drink, wishing she could take a peek at his future. But how could she, when he didn’t even know she was a witch? Somehow, doing the Coffee Vision spell for her unknowing boyfriend seemed different to doing it for an unknowing customer. If she saw something good or bad on the surface of the coffee, she told them in a way that she hoped didn’t raise suspicion that she had witchy abilities.
“What are you two doing tonight?” Suzanne asked, her face alive with curiosity.
“We’re having dinner,” Luke told his sister.
“At that little bistro in the next block,” Maddie added.
“Ooh,” Suzanne sounded wistful. “I wish I had a dinner date with someone.”
“Why not ask Ramon?” Maddie suggested mischievously, immediately feeling guilty when Suzanne’s face lit up, then fell.
“Ramon?” Luke enquired as only a big brother could.
“You know,” Suzanne waved a hand in the direction of Ramon’s salon at the other end of the square. “He’s a masseur. And Spanish. And gorgeous.”
“Isn’t he a bit old for you?” Luke’s eyes narrowed.
“Luke,” Maddie whispered. She didn’t want to get in the way of Suzanne and Luke’s conversation, but she felt responsible for starting this topic in the first place.
Suzanne and Ramon had a flirty thing going on, but to Maddie’s knowledge it had never progressed beyond that. She considered Ramon a friend, and thought Suzanne did too – although she did get dreamy-eyed over him.
“I’m twenty-seven, big brother. I think I’m old enough to date whoever I want.” Suzanne firmed her lips as she looked pointedly at Luke.
“Okay, okay.” Luke held up his hands in surrender. “But he better not take advantage of you, that’s all I’m saying.”
“Not much chance of that,” Suzanne muttered.
Maddie’s heart went out to her friend. It had been a few months since they’d met Ramon and although he seemed interested in Suzanne, he hadn’t asked her out.
Luke chatted with them for a couple more minutes, then picked up his coffee and headed to his vehicle restoration workshop.
“I’m sorry I brought up Ramon.” Maddie touched Suzanne’s arm.
“It’s okay.” Suzanne summoned a wan smile. “You know how dreamy he is, and it’s been fun flirting with him, but I guess I have to accept that’s all it’s going to be. And I’m okay with that. Really.”
Maddie didn’t know who her friend was trying to convince.
“Mrrow,” Trixie sounded sympathetic.
“Thanks, Trixie.” Suzanne stroked the cat. “I’ll be fine. But maybe it’s time I got out there more.”
“Where?” Maddie poured an espresso shot, then turned it into a mocha by adding quality chocolate powder and steamed milk with a spectacular foam. “Here.”
“Thanks.” Suzanne took a sip and closed her eyes in enjoyment. “Why does chocolate make everything a little better?”
“Because it’s awesome.”
“Just like best friends.” Suzanne smiled.
“Mrrow!”
Suzanne became serious. “I think it’s time though, Mads. You and Luke are together, and I love that, because I’m sure we’re going to be sisters one day, but if I want a special guy, I might have to do a little looking.”
“You know I’ll help you any way I can,” Maddie said.
“Mrrow!” Trixie agreed.
“Thanks, you two.” Suzanne beamed at Maddie and then Trixie.
“I know!” Grinding and hissing ensued as Maddie poured another shot. “Put that drink down and I’ll make you another. And this time I’ll do a Coffee Vision spell.”
“Yes!” Suzanne plunked her cardboard cup down on the counter. “This is one of those times I’m glad we don’t have any customers right now.” She peered out of the serving hatch. “At least Claudine has gotten rid of her stand.”
Maddie realized they’d been so busy that morning when they’d opened that she hadn’t given Claudine’s temporary iced coffee stall a thought.
“That’s good news.”
“Definitely.”
Maddie finished making Suzanne’s new mocha and focused on the cup, quieting her mind.
“Show me,” Maddie whispered, brushing back her hair as she stared at the top layer of foam on the mocha. The foam swirled, then cleared.
“What do you see?” Suzanne tried to peer over her shoulder.
“Ramon.”
“Really?” Suzanne looked hopeful, then her face fell. “That doesn’t mean anything, though.”
“He’s talking to you,” Maddie said.
“Anything else?” Suzanne asked eagerly.
“No.” Maddie shook her head. “But it means you might see him in the next twenty-four hours.”
“I guess.” Suzanne picked up the cup and took a sip. “Yum.” She blissfully closed her eyes, then sighed. “I wish I could make coffee like you do, Mads. Or else have—” she lowered her voice “—magical powers like you – and Trixie.”
Maddie automatically looked around to check no one was listening. But the three of them were alone in the truck and there were no customers waiting to be served.
“You can do lots of things,” Maddie pointed out. Sometimes she wished she were more like Suzanne, fearless and confident.
“But I don’t think I’m super good at them, like you are with coffee.”
“Well, we know I’m not super good with magic,” Maddie murmured ruefully, still worried a passerby might overhear them.
“But you’re getting better,” Suzanne pointed out. “And Trixie is great at it.”
“Mrrow.” Trixie seemed to preen a little at the comment.
“But you’re good at looking after our accounts,” Maddie said, trying to cheer up her friend. It was unlike Suzanne to show self-doubt. “And if it was your idea that we go into business together.”
“That’s true.” Suzanne brightened.
Maddie was so intent on their conversation that she didn’t notice their new customer at first.
“Hello, Maddie, and Suzanne.” A male with a deep, rich voice greeted them. His faint Spanish accent made everything he said sound enticing.
“Ramon.” Maddie smiled.
“Hi.” Suzanne also smiled but Maddie noticed she didn’t bounce to the counter like she usually did when Ramon visited the truck.
“I have been hearing a lot about your iced coffees, Maddie,” Ramon said, his gaze mostly focused on Suzanne. He was in his early forties and was tall, dark, and gorgeous. And single. He looked cool and comfortable in tailored chinos and a short-sleeved navy shirt.
“Then you should try one,” Suzanne said, working the register. “Would you like cream on top?”
“No, I think not,” Ramon replied, shifting slightly.
“Coming right up.” Maddie gazed from her friend to Ramon and back again. Usually Suzanne and Ramon’s flirty banter seemed to flow effortlessly. She knew her friend was disappointed that her flirtationship with the massage therapist hadn’t evolved, but Ramon seemed a trifle ill at ease today. Or was it just her imagination?
“Mrrow,” Trixie called, as if wanting Ramon to notice her.
“Ah, Trixie.” He greeted the Persian. “And how are you today?”
“Mrrow,” Trixie said coyly, waving a paw at him.
“That is good,” he replied, a ghost of a smile on his lips.
“Here you go.” Suzanne slid the icy cold caffeine in front of him.
Maddie noticed her friend was careful not to touch Ramon’s fingers.
“Thank you.” Ramon reached for a straw, then paused. “Suzanne, there is something I must ask you.” His dark, liquid eyes captured her gaze. “I was thinking, perhaps we could go out to lunch sometime? When Maddie does not need you here.”
Suzanne’s expression brightened. For one unusual second she seemed lost for words.
“I’d like that,” she said demurely.
“Then we must make a date.” Ramon took his phone out of his pocket. “What about tomorrow?”
Suzanne looked at Maddie with a wide-eyed expression.
“Yes,” Maddie said. “I’ll be fine on my own.”
“Excellent.” Ramon pressed buttons on his phone. “I shall pick you up here at – twelve-thirty?”
Suzanne nodded, a dreamy expression on her face.
“Until then.” He smiled at Suzanne, looking so handsome that Maddie had to suck in a breath. She just hoped Suzanne’s legs were still able to hold her upright.
“I am so going to marry that man.” Suzanne sank down on a stool and fanned herself.
Maddie noticed the rosy pink flush on her friend’s cheeks.
“It looks like you mightn’t have to go out searching for a special someone after all,” she teased.
“I thought I was going to die when he asked me to lunch.” Suzanne dramatically put a hand to her heart. “While at the same time, all I could think of was, “Yes!” and then, “About time!” She giggled.
“Mrrow!” Trixie put in.
“You’ll be okay by yourself tomorrow, won’t you, Mads?” Suzanne looked anxious for a second. “Maybe I should have said Saturday instead – or Sunday. But that’s three whole days away!”
“I’ll be fine,” Maddie assured her friend. “Trixie can keep me company tomorrow. If you want to, Trix,” she added to the cat.
“Mrrow!” Trixie seemed keen on the idea.
“What am I going to wear?” Suzanne’s eyes widened. “I hope it’s not going to be too hot tomorrow!”
“You’ll have plenty of time tonight to decide,” Maddie soothed her friend.
“You two will have to help me,” Suzanne declared. “Right after we close up this afternoon.”
“Mrrow!” Trixie agreed.
“Okay. But don’t forget I’m having dinner with Luke tonight.”
“Oh – yikes! Well, I’m sure we’ll have plenty of time to choose an outfit before dinner,” Suzanne said.