“How’s Emma?”
“Still solo honeymooning.”
“When I think about all of the things Chandler did… Did you know he once double-charged me for breakfast, and I thought it was just that I forgot to pay the first time, but he was actually a shithead who double-charged all of us sometimes?”
“That’s awful. I’m so sorry. You should mention that to the new boss and see if he’ll give you a coupon for a free meal. He’s over at the corner table by the windows. Be right out with your drink. I need to set these down.”
Off gossip.
Sure, she is.
I snort softly to myself.
Concentrate. Kombucha. Equipment. Suppliers. Contractors. Change.
Ignore the scent of heaven coming from the kitchen.
Ignore the little violin playing a sad song deep in my gut with lyrics to match, suggesting that Chandler betrayed her as much as Vince betrayed me.
“Excuse me, are you the new owner?” Isabella asks.
Can’t ignore that.
I look up and nod.
She’s maybe thirty or thirty-five, an average white lady with brown hair and eyes, in a puffy vest over a long-sleeve shirt, hiking pants, and boots.
And that nod is all the permission she needs, apparently, to crush me in a hug with my cheek smushed to her breast.
“Oh my god, thank you. I don’t know if you know how much this place means to all of us here in the Tooth, but we would’ve just died if it went away. This is such an institution here, and to think Chandler would’ve let the government auction it off to pay for the taxes…”
“My pleasure,” I choke out.
I should be doing my work in the kitchen, but Sabrina’s there, and I thought I could be left in peace out here in the dining room.
Wrong.
Zen makes a noise somewhere behind me that says they’re completely and totally amused but trying hard to stifle a laugh.
“Do you see that view?” Isabella says, still cradling my head to her bosom with one arm while she sweeps the other out to indicate the snowcapped mountains and blue sky above us and the frozen lake in the valley below us. “This is the most coveted real estate in all of Snaggletooth Creek, and it could’ve gone to someone awful. We’re so grateful you’ve kept the café running for us.”
For now.
Zen’s idea.
Keep the café running to profit off of it while we wait for all the pieces to fall into place for the renovations. Integrate ourselves in the community so they’ll want to support us.
Zen’s fucking brilliant.
“Isabella, not everyone likes to be touched,” Sabrina calls.
One more good deed for her today.
Isabella leaps back. “I’m just so happy, I forgot myself. But he’s cute too. Are you single, Grey?”
“He’s very single,” Zen supplies.
I glare at them while they pretend to be counting mugs on a tray behind the counter.
“But not currently interested in dating, thank you,” I say.
“Oh, I wasn’t asking for me. I was asking for everyone else in town.” Isabella winks. “You’re going to be very popular here for saving Bean & Nugget.”
“How popular?” Zen asks.
“We don’t get a lot of single fresh blood in town. Not permanently, anyway.” Isabella looks over at them. “And who are you? I missed your name, but you’re clearly new too.”
Zen freezes.
“This is Zen,” I supply. “They’re my personal assistant, and you should feel free to go to them if you have any concerns.”
“I’m a nepo-hire, so I don’t actually have to be good at my job,” Zen says.
If I were drinking, I would’ve just choked on my tea.
Zen being a sass-hole? Yes. All the time.
Zen being a sass-hole in front of a room of strangers?
Never.
Not out of respect for me and want for us to look like we have a respectful boss-assistant relationship.
More because they have an inherent distrust of the world in general. You don’t get the real Zen, any part of this Zen, until you’ve earned it.
Which means either this place is magic, or they’re just pissed enough at me to let down their guard in the name of shoving me under the bus.
No matter how much they’re excited about a kombucha bar, they’re not a fan of me trying on this new role as Super Vengeance Man.
Considering how well they know me, they probably have a point, but it’s not a point I’m willing to concede yet.
“Coffee and scone are ready, Iz,” Sabrina calls.