Page 6 of At First Catch

“You made it,” she says.

“Barely.”

His voice rolls through me low and rough with exhaustion, and suddenly, I remember entirely too clearly what it sounded like in the dark with his mouth against my throat.

I turn so quickly toward the espresso machine I nearly hip-check the counter.

Get it together, Hadley.

Behind me, Bailey whispers something to Crew.

Then Ivy mutters, “Oh, something’s weird here.”

My soul leaves my body. Holt’s eyes narrow. I focus violently on the espresso machine.

Milk.

Coffee beans.

Steam wand.

Normal things.

Definitely not Nolan Pierce, standing fifteen feet away, looking unfairly good while my family starts sniffing around like emotionally invasive bloodhounds.

“Black coffee,” Nolan says.

“Hazelnut with a splash of cream,” I answer automatically.

Silence.

Absolute, horrifying silence.

I close my eyes briefly.

Idiot.

When I turn around, Nolan is watching me again.

“You remember,” he says quietly.

There’s something in his voice this time. Something rougher. More personal.

I shrug one shoulder like my pulse isn’t trying to kill me. “Small town. Coffee orders are basically public information.”

One corner of his mouth almost lifts. Almost.

“Is that right?”

“Mm-hmm.”

I busy myself with making the coffee before my face betrays me completely.

But I can feel it now. The attention at the family table. Bailey watching with open curiosity. Ivy trying not to grin. Lila noticing far too much in complete silence.

And Holt.

God.