Cupid's Coffeeshop Set One: Boxed Set: Books 1-4

by Courtney Hunt

  “Father! Miss Amy, come push me on the swing.” After scrambling down from the playhouse, Olivia dashed across the bridge and jumped. Ben’s heart stood still in his chest as Olivia’s tiny body lay suspended in the air, silhouetted against the darkening sky. She landed on her feet, like a cat, arms outstretched before running for the swings. Ben sucked air in, noting the rainbow foam padding that cushioned the area around the play equipment.

  “They’re daredevils at this age. She’ll be fine with the padding.” Amy patted his arm as Ben followed her over to the swings. Amy helped Olivia get seated and held onto the chains before pulling the swing back and letting go. After a few pushes, Amy edged closer to him, the enticing scent of vanilla wafting from her. She took his hand and gently tugged him toward the swings. When Olivia—no, Livvy—swung back towards them, Ben pushed her tiny, birdlike shoulders underneath his hands.

  “I thought you were going to teach me to play.”

  “I am. Play is supposed to be fun, like a flow state. Haven’t you ever been so involved in an activity that you lost yourself and all track of time…”

  In the fading twilight, her blue eyes darkened to indigo as her gaze dropped to his lips. Her pale cheeks flushed as she met his eyes again. He raised a single eyebrow at her. How interesting. So, he wasn’t the only one attracted here, if the biological signs were to be believed. She bit her lip and said, “Other than that.”

  “Other than that?” He chuckled, low and deep in his chest. “Well, sure. In the lab, I’ve lost track of time, even forgotten to eat, but I wouldn’t say it was fun. As for the other than that…well, I would say that can be quite a lot of fun, wouldn’t you agree?”

  “If memory serves.” Amy grinned and then flushed again. She smoothed her hand over her hair and shook her head. “That’s playtime for adults. I agreed to keep to strictly G-rated playtime.”

  “Fair enough.” Ben nodded, trying not to let his eyes wander. She really was uncommonly pretty.

  “So, for our next play outing, why don’t you all come over and we’ll play at my house?”

  “Do you have toys, Miss Amy?” Olivia—no, Livvy—called.

  “I do! I have finger paints and play dough and books to read and cookies to bake. Does that sound fun?”

  “Baking cookies? That’s not really playing, is it?”

  “Ben, anything can be playing. You gotta stop overthinking, okay?” Amy smiled at him and helped Livvy off the swing. “Well, it’s getting dark. Gotta get home to my Lean Cuisine.”

  “You’re welcome to join us for dinner. It’s just spaghetti and marinara sauce.” Ben said, noticing the shadows lengthening across the playground. Maybe he’d been more caught up than he’d thought. “I may not know how to play, but I’m a passable cook.”

  “Yuck. No mary-anna sauce for me.” Livvy said.

  “I’m with you, Livvy! No mary-anna sauce for me either. Tomatoes, yuck!” Amy made an exaggerated face at Livvy as they walked out of the park, just as the old-fashioned street lamps winked on. “No, thanks, Ben. Another time. See you all next Tuesday!”

  “Wait. I don’t know where you live.” Ben said.

  Amy pointed across the street to a charming yellow clapboard house, in a Victorian style trimmed with elaborate gingerbread in curlicues and swirls. A welcoming lamp in the window giving off a warm glow. “Just there. In the same house I grew up in.”

  “Deep roots.” Ben smiled. “See you next week.”

  Chapter Five

  The following gray and dreary Tuesday, Ben and Livvy arrived at Amy’s house. Through the heavy rain, the house glowed with welcoming warmth, buttery light streaming through the lace curtains to fall on the flagstone path. Amy opened the door, wearing a chef’s apron patterned with apples, her long hair scooped up into a messy twist. She smiled brightly, showing off her dimples, and awareness spiraled through Ben.

  Amy only grew more enticing every time he saw her. If not for their unorthodox playing lessons, he would’ve asked her out to dinner or a movie. Then again, a gorgeous woman as sparkling and vivacious as Amy wouldn’t have any interest in some dull and boring scientist. Pretty girls like Amy just weren’t attracted to guys like him. She waved them inside and took their coats before handing a plain red apron to Ben and a tiny oilcloth floral apron to Livvy.

  “This was my apron when I was little.” Amy confided to Livvy, as she tied a bow at the waist for her. “I thought we could make cookies and, while they’re baking and we’re waiting for them to cool, we could color.”

  Hand-in-hand, Amy and Livvy led Ben through what should have been a dining room and living room. Instead, wide white bookshelves lined the room, filled floor to ceiling with a colorful jumble of books, mostly children’s storybooks. At each end of the room, the two bay windows boasted cozy window seats, stuffed with pillows. Stacks of books sat next to every plush chair in the room and a colorful crochet afghan lay tossed over the sofa.

  “Miss Amy, you’ve got more books than the library.” Livvy said, looking around in apparent awe.

  “Livvy loves to read.” Ben put in, following along, holding his crumpled apron in his fist.

  “She loves story time at school.”

  “Lots of children’s books.” Ben observed. A mystery novel splayed over the arm of the squashiest chair, next to a half-empty cup of milky tea, indicated what Amy had been doing before their arrival.

  “My mom started the collection and Ava doesn’t have space for them in New York.” They walked into the warm kitchen that overlooked a tiny backyard. A cardinal darted to a hanging bird feeder, a splash of crimson in an otherwise gray world. Inside the homey kitchen, butter softened on the kitchen island, amid bowls piled with assorted ingredients and an oversized bright blue stand mixer.

  “What kind of cookies are we making, Miss Amy?” Livvy asked as she scrambled up onto a pint-sized chair set next to the counter, just the right size for her. Ben moved to her other side, hoping that Livvy didn’t take a header onto the hard tile floor. He’d learned in the last week just how quick a three year old could be. He removed his tweed jacket, placing it carefully over a kitchen chair, and rolled up his shirtsleeves before donning his apron.

  “I thought we’d make dragon toe cookies.”

  “Nooooo.” Livvy giggled and Ben sighed. If only, just once, he could get her to laugh like that.

  “How about fairy wing cookies?”

  “You’re so silly.” Livvy shook her head, her eyes sparkling as she beamed at her beloved Miss Amy.

  “Okay, I won’t be silly.” Amy promised and then made a silly face, sending Livvy into another round of laughter. “I thought we’d make oatmeal raisin. They’re my favorites.”

  “Raisins?” Livvy scrunched up her nose.

  “Yes, but I have my secret ingredient. Should I tell you what it is?”

  “Pixie dust!”

  “Didn’t you bring the pixie dust?” Livvy giggled again and shook her head. “Oh rats! We’ll have to use my secret ingredient instead. Chocolate covered raisins. Makes the cookies extra delicious. Now, you guys wash your hands so we can get some baking done.”

  Ben helped Livvy wash up at the sink and they returned to the counter as Amy whisked the dry ingredients together in a bowl. She handed Livvy a plate with the softened butter and encouraged her to toss it into the steel mixing bowl attached to the mixer. After she turned the machine on to cream the butter, Amy glanced at Ben as she and Livvy efficiently added the wet ingredients to the mixer.

  “How are things going?”

  “Good.” Ben answered automatically and then shook his head. “I’ve had her over a week now and she’s just so quiet around me. We video-chat to her mom every night and I’m beginning to get the routines down, but…”

  “Hey, don’t despair.” Amy patted his bare forearm, the warmth of her fingers lingering long after she’d moved her hand. “It’s a lot of change for a little one. For both of you, actually. How long will Lisa be gone?”

  “Just
to the end of the month.”

  “You’ll be back to normal before you know it.”

  Ben looked away quickly. What if normal wasn’t what he wanted anymore?

  Amy and Livvy added the rest of the wet ingredients to the creamed butter, as the mixer kneaded a soft dough together. Amy scooped a cup of the flour mixture into the bowl. Before either of them could stop her, Livvy reached into the flour and dropped a handful into the mixing bowl. It whooshed back upwards, covering them all with a fine white coating. Ben removed his glasses as Amy and Livvy whooped with laughter.

  “Sorry about the mess.” Ben said, grabbing a dishtowel to clean his glasses.

  “We look like ghosts! We should take a picture.” Amy passed out clean towels and wiped the flour off her face, leaving just a tiny smear near her jawbone.

  “You have a bit of flour left. Just there.” Ben pointed, careful not to touch her. She handed him the dishtowel and tilted her face up. He swiped at it awkwardly, the tips of his fingers brushing her cheek. So, her peachy skin was just as soft as he’d imagined it all week. He stepped away from the counter. “If you can manage without me for just a moment, I’m going to wash off my glasses. May I use your powder room?”

  “Sure, by the front door to the right.” Amy nodded and Ben fled.

  He tidied up as best he could in the bathroom, washing and re-washing his glasses. When he met Amy in Cupid’s Coffeeshop, he hadn’t been blind to her beauty. When he’d proposed this ridiculous play lessons arrangement to her, he thought he could keep his attraction under control. Seemed simple, until each time he saw her. Every glance, every touch, just left him aching for more.

  Of course, she was his employee and his daughter’s teacher… His miserable past track record with romantic relationships warned him not to start something. Especially not when the effects could be so far reaching when it all caved in, just like it always did. Best not to get involved.

  Plus, the play lessons didn’t seem to be sticking for him. He and Livvy were as awkward together as ever. Maybe he should just call it all off. He opened the bathroom door, steeling himself to tell Amy their deal was over, only to hear Livvy and Amy giggling together in the kitchen. Amy was good for Livvy, who adored her. He could bear being around his crush for his daughter’s sake, if only for a little while.

  Ben fixed a smile on his face and returned to the kitchen, just as Amy popped a tray of cookies into the oven. She piled the dirty bowls in the sink as Ben and Livvy wiped off the counter.

  “So, coloring or story time next. Livvy, you choose.”

  “Coloring.” Livvy answered immediately

  “Knew you’d pick that. Come on.” Amy waved her over to the kitchen table set in a bay window and covered with white paper. She scattered some crayons for Livvy before placing an enormous plastic box of crayons between her and Ben, picking up a brown one. She drew a few lines and then switched to a green crayon to top her tree with leaves.

  “Daddy, look! I drew a princess.” Ben glanced at Livvy’s scribbles that looked nothing like a princess. He froze and stared down at his smiling daughter’s upturned face. What was the right thing here? What should he say?

  “That’s beautiful, Liv.” Amy complimented her. “Tell us more about your picture.”

  “Once upon a time, a princess lived in a castle with her mommy and daddy and puppy…”

  “Not getting a puppy, Olivia—Livvy, I mean.” Ben interjected and Livvy’s face fell.

  “Did you draw the puppy yet?” Amy interrupted and handed Livvy a brown crayon. “Ben, tell us about your picture.”

  Ben looked down to find he’d drawn a fair approximation of Amy’s face. “Wow, I haven’t drawn in years.”

  “Do you like to draw?”

  “Sometimes. It used to help me think.”

  “So, maybe you do know how to play.” Amy grinned impishly at him and then winked. Ben longed to lean over and kiss that smile right off her face. Before he could do anything foolish, the timer beeped and Amy jumped up to pull the cookies out of the oven. She set them on a rack to cool and returned to the table.

  “Hey, Liv, let’s hang your picture up and have story time while we’re waiting for the cookies to cool, okay?” They headed into the living room turned library. “Come see my secret hideaway.”

  Amy headed over to a corner, draped with floral fabric. She lifted the edge to reveal a pile of comfy pillows in eye-searing pink and green. A battered stuffed rabbit and a large basket of books topped off the nook. “Mom made one for me and Ava as kids. I still sometimes crawl in there to read after a bad day.”

  Livvy dropped to her knees and crawled under the sheet, settling among the pillows. Amy handed her a book out of the basket and dropped the curtain. From within, Livvy’s muffled voice hollered, “I wish I had a reading nook just like this!”

  “I would have loved that too when I was younger.” Ben said. He loved hiding away from the world, just him and his books. Still did.

  “We could make her one, if you like?” Amy whispered, leaning in close to him, so Livvy wouldn’t overhear. She smelled of cinnamon, flour and something else. Something sweet and welcoming. It might be vanilla. Why did such simple scents make him dizzy? “It’s just curtains, a hula-hoop, and some pillows. We could do it on Sunday, if you’d like.”

  “Sure.” Ben nodded, swallowing hard and leaning away before he did something dreadfully dumb like kiss her. “That sounds great.”

  Amy went to the kitchen and brought Livvy back a plate with two cookies and a glass of milk. She carefully tugged up the curtain and placed the snack in with Livvy, who flipped through a second book. She waved Ben into the kitchen where a second plate of cookies waited on the table, beside two tall glasses of milk. She plopped down and he followed, trying to ignore the press of their knees together under the tiny tabletop.

  “I brought you these.” She handed him a small stack of books. “They’re on play theory and child development. I figured you might enjoy a more studious approach.”

  “Thank you. These are just what I’m looking for.” Ben couldn’t wait to get home and start reading. “If I could get her to laugh, just one time… it’d be worth it.”

  “You will. Don’t worry. We’ll find your silly side yet.” Amy bit into a cookie and Ben followed suit.

  “I must say, your secret ingredient is delicious.” Ben cleared his throat, struggling way too hard to be casual. “Your boyfriend must love it when you make these.”

  “I’m single.” Amy said softly, meeting his gaze. Ben smiled as a rare warmth radiated through his chest. Nothing could come of it.

  Amy lowered her eyes to the cookies. “What about you and Livvy’s mom? Are you two still close?”

  “Oh, Lisa and I are good friends. We sort of became more than friends for a while. When she got pregnant, we just went with it. Both of us are in our thirties and never meet people, after all. We live in our labs. I think we both figured it was our last best chance to have kids. After Olivia was born… well, we decided it was best for everyone if we left that side of the relationship out of it. Just be co-parents.”

  “Sorry. I shouldn’t have asked. None of my business…” This close, he was mesmerized by the scatter of freckles over her cheeks, stained with the faintest hint of pink.

  “No, it’s fine. Lisa’s a great mom. Much more natural at it than I am.”

  Amy patted his arm, letting her fingers rest on his bare forearm for just a few heartbeats longer than necessary. “We’ll figure it out. Don’t worry.”

  “Thank you, Amy. For doing this. You’re really wonderful.”

  When Livvy’s rapid footsteps fell across the boards in the living room, Amy dropped her hand from his arm and turned in the chair as Livvy walked into the kitchen, carrying her empty plate.

  “Can I have another cookie, Miss Amy?”

  “Oh my, don’t want to spoil your dinner. How about you take some home to have for dessert?” Amy stood and handed her a package with cheerful snowman e
mblazoned across the wrapping. “Now, I have to head over to meet my friend, Zooey, for dinner. Do you all want to walk with me?”

  Chapter Six

  The three of them bundled up and headed out into the January chill. Shadowy lace from the moonlight streamed through the naked trees, falling across them as they strolled and coloring their faces with shade and silver. The stars spread like glitter across the darkening sky as they strolled the two blocks from Amy’s house to the center of town. The bow windows of Cupid’s Coffeeshop spilled out glowing, beckoning warmth as they drew near.

  “Smells like snow,” Amy drew in a deep breath, inhaling the crisp, clear air. “And there’s a ring around the moon too.”

  “Ice crystals embed in the high storm clouds in the atmosphere. The moonlight bounces off them, turning the light into a halo. Thus the folk tale of the ring around the moon being a harbinger of snow is rooted in fact.” Ben said. “I did a science fair project on it once.”

  “Or it’s just the magic of Jack Frost.” Amy smiled down at Livvy walking between them. Quiet and solemn, she gripped Amy and Ben’s hands tightly.

  “Maybe so.” Ben agreed as they reached the door of the coffeeshop, deserted now in the pre-dinner lull. Inside, Joe worked behind the counter while Zooey wiped down tables. She looked up, waved, and pulled off her scarlet apron before heading to the coat closet. Outside, the wind picked up, rattling the dried leaves in the fountain. The trees shivered in the wind, clacking like dried bones.

  “What’s that noise?” Livvy asked and raised her mittened hands to Ben. “Up.”

  Ben swung her into his strong arms. Livvy rested her head on Ben’s shoulder and let out a crooked yawn before snuggling down against him. He rubbed his hand over her back, resting his cheek on her dark curls. Amy’s heart melted at the pretty picture they made together.

  “She’s getting sleepy.” Amy patted Livvy’s back.

  “Coming down from the sugar rush, I think.” Ben answered, rocking Livvy gently from side to side. Amy didn’t even think he was aware he did it, comforting her instinctively. Ben may struggle to relate to his young daughter but he obviously adored her. It was sweet to see a man so much in love with his child.