Free Unlucky in Love by Maggie McGinnis

on the counter. “You’re my favorite kind of customer, then.”
    Gunnar pointed at a neat pile of bread and rolls behind the counter. “Ma asked me to pick up her order, if it helps. Said Roscoe’s not having a great day?”
    Jenny’s face fell a little bit, and Lexi felt sympathy for this woman who was losing her father in such a painful way.
    “Actually, that’d be great. Thanks, Gunnar.” She looked back at Lexi. “How about I put together a taster box? Little bit of everything?”
    “Oh, God. Please, no. My arteries will hate me.”
    “I use only the finest artery-clogging materials here, thank you very much.” Jenny started placing items in the box. “Your arteries will
love
me. So will your taste buds. And if you find yourself addicted to my baking—which is a common occurrence around here—there’s a nice little workout studio three doors down. Skylar will be happy to set you up with a personalized program for the summer.”
    Lexi laughed. “Are the two of you in cahoots? You fatten the tourists up, Skylar trims them down?”
    “Shh.” Jenny snapped the box closed and put a sticker on the top. “Our little secret.” Lexi pulled out her wallet to pay for the box, but Jenny waved her off. “This one’s on me.”
    Lexi shook her head. “You just boxed up, like, ten pounds of bakery heaven here. I can’t just take it for free.”
    “Oh, yes, you can.” Jenny winked. “I consider it an investment. You’ll be back.”
    “Well, thank you. Wow.” Lexi balanced the box as Jenny handed it over the counter. Despite the volume of baked goods she’d stuffed into it, the box actually felt almost as light as air.
    “Just watch the peanut butter cookies around Gunnar. Between him, Cole, and Decker, I can barely make enough for paying customers.”
    The phone on the counter rang just then, so Jenny said her goodbyes. Gunnar held the door for Lexi, then led the way down the block toward the artsy little Java Beans sign on the corner.
    “Next, coffee. Jasper’s is the best in the West, as he’ll tell you, should you argue.”
    Lexi made a lip-zipping motion. “I wouldn’t dare.”
    They stepped inside the café, and it reminded her of an old hardware store-slash-soda fountain. She’d been in one once, somewhere in New Hampshire, and this one had the same feel. Creaky wooden floors, mismatched tables and chairs, and omigod, a coffee smell that might just send her to her knees.
    All she’d had yesterday was bad airport coffee and a lukewarm Coke somewhere over Ohio, most of which had bounced out of her cup and onto her tray table. Ma’s coffee this morning had been good, but a little bland. She glanced behind the counter at shelves full of tall glass jars, each brimming with fresh coffee beans, and inhaled deeply.
    “I have found nirvana.”
    Gunnar laughed, stepping up to the counter. “Hey, Jasper. This is Lexi Maguire, Whisper Creek’s new ranch nurse.”
    Jasper wiped his hand on a white bar rag, then stuck it out. “Welcome to Carefree, Lexi. Gunnar tell you we’ve got the best coffee west of the Mississippi?”
    “He did.” She smiled.
    “Good. He’s right.” Someone signaled from down the counter, so Jasper put up a finger toward Gunnar and Lexi. “Be right back.”
    Lexi watched him walk toward two older women seated way down at the back end of the café, and was struck by the realization that Carefree, Montana, seemed to have a lock on good-God-gorgeous men. Jasper wasn’t her normal type, with his sandy brown hair and green eyes, but she could totally see Katie going all flirty with him.
    One minute later, he was back. “What’ll you two have?”
    Gunnar leaned on the counter. “What’s on tap?”
    “I’ve got your favorite Sumatran.”
    “Sold.” Gunnar turned toward Lexi. “What’s your poison?”
    “Darker the better,” she answered.
    “Two Sumatrans.” Gunnar smiled. “You want cream or sugar?”
    “And pollute the best coffee west of the Mississippi?”