SWEET SPOT - (NEW BEGINNINGS SERIES) - BOOK 2

---

A/N: Dear readers, Lisa's story is finally here! **I'm so excited** :D This book is a stand-alone, and book 2 in the New Beginnings Series. Hope you enjoy it! ❤

---

Ding Dong Ding Dong Ding Dong Ding Dong

I ignore the bell ringing as I gulp another shot of tequila. The burning sensation in my throat, both familiar and comforting, is able to fill the little void in my heart and to silence the voice in my mind telling me how stupid I am for thinking I would ever find love in the comfort of Greg's arms. Or any other man, for the matter.

Ding Dong Ding Dong Ding Dong Ding Dong

What is it that my mom always says? Men will always find a way to break your heart, intentionally or not. And damn, isn't she right? I scoff as I suck on a lemon wedge.

Ding Dong Ding Dong Ding Dong Ding Dong

Jeez, can't they see we're closed?

"We're closed!" I groan, my head spinning so hard I'm afraid I might throw up if I move. I knew better than indulging in tequila after a workday, but God knows I really needed it after the day I had today.

Ding Dong Ding Dong Ding Dong Ding Dong

Jesus H. Christ! I stand up and take a deep breath before walking down the stairs that lead to Sweet Spot, the coffee shop I proudly turned into the cutest bakery in town.

As I look around, I still can't believe how much my life has changed in the last couple of years. If you had told me I'd leave my boring but steady office job to become a baker, I'd laugh so hard at your face you'd think I'm a hyena. Have you realized how they always seem to be laughing?

Yeah, I'm definitely drunk.

Anyway, thanks to the best friend in the world and her amazing husband's and mom's support, I finally got to do something I've always loved but was never brave enough to get, and the best part: I'm living just five minutes away from my favorite couple.

Yeah, I desperately needed to start over and make some sense of my life, so being near them and far from the mistakes I made was the best thing I've ever done.

Now, if only my heart got the memo once and for all...

Ding Dong Ding Dong Ding Dong Ding Dong

"Okay! Okay!" I hurry to the entrance of the shop.

"Dude, where is the fire?" I open the door and ask myself how drunk I really am. Why is there a hot guy knocking on my door?

"Oh! Thank God! Please tell me you guys still have some triple chocolate cupcakes? I'll double pay you for a dozen of them!" Hot guy says, and I can't help but give him a once over.

He's the opposite of what I've ever found attractive in a man, yet something in his amber eyes draws me to him the moment our gazes meet. He has a carefree aura with his five o'clock shadow and longish dirty blond hair tied up in one of those fashionable man-buns.

He's wearing a pair of black leather converse, washed jeans, and a black button-up shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. His broad shoulders and muscular chest and arms tell me he clearly works out, and something in his posture exudes confidence and virility.

It takes me a moment to process my feelings. It's been quite some time since I last felt any sort of interest in men, and it throws me off for a second. What is wrong with me today? Yeah, he might be attractive, but he's still a guy at the end of the day.

And guys equal only one thing: trouble.

"So, uh?" He clears his throat. "Do you?"

"I'm sorry, what?" I blink at him, wondering if the room is spinning a little.

"Uh... triple chocolate cupcakes... I need a dozen of them, please." He gives me a small smile.

"Oh, sorry! We're closed-"

"I know. But this is an emergency! Like a real emergency! My sister is pregnant and she'll kill me if I can't get them." He rubs his face, and I see in his eyes how tired he looks.

"I'm sorry. I sold them all earlier..." I touch my hand to my forehead. My body feels weird and now I'm sure the room is spinning around me.

"Are you okay?" I hear him asking me but I don't have time to answer because I suddenly live what I know will be the most embarrassing moment of my life. My body, seeming to have a mind of its own, doesn't register where I am and unexpectedly throws up all over his shoes.

Yeah, kill me now! A very quick death, please!

"Oh! My... I... Fuck!" I hear him murmur as he pulls my hair from my face, then turns me to the side.

"Jesus! I'm so, so sorry," I whisper, my eyes watering as I wonder if it's possible to die from embarrassment. I can't believe I just...

"Are you feeling better?" he asks, his voice calmer than I would expect.

"Yeah... I'm sorry!" I say again, lamely looking around for an escape.

"Uh, that's okay, I guess. But can I just use your bathroom for a moment?" I hear him ask, and my first instinct is to say no as I'm alone in the shop and he's a total stranger. But when I look at the stage of his shoes, I feel my head nodding yes.

"Uh, yeah, sure! Of course! There's an employee restroom in the break room you can use," I say, pointing to where he needs to go.

I take the time to clean up the mess I made and kind of put myself together. I have no idea who this guy is, but I remind myself I'm protected here. There are cameras all over the place, and I did take self-defense classes for a year.

It's all under control. I just need to be alert.

Once I'm done, I stop in front of a small decorative mirror we have by the door, and I can't help but groan. I look like I've been to hell and back. My hair is a tangled mess on the top of my head, and what the hell is that on my glasses?

"Dear God..." I murmur, as I reach for a bottle of pepper spray behind the counter, and discreetly put it in my back pocket.

"Are you okay?" he asks from behind me, startling me.

"Oh, yeah! Sure! Thanks! Uh, I'm really really sorry, you know..." I say, pointing to his shoes.

"Nah! No problem. They're just shoes... Sorry for barging into your shop like that. It's just that I'm visiting my sister who is pregnant and she's on bed rest and... you know, she's being a pain in my ass, but I love her. And well, she can't stop talking about your cupcakes and how her kid is going to hate me because I was saying no to driving for thirty minutes to get them." He gives me a small smile again, his eyes going all soft.

"Okay, I know what you're doing, dude!" I try to sound serious, but feel myself smiling.

"Just saying... I wouldn't want to have that in my consciousness. She really loves your shop, and comes here every other week..." he says, and I kid you not, he gives me the freaking puppy eyes.

"Really?" I chuckle, my eyes rolling.

"Drove for thirty minutes to get here..." He smiles and reaches for his phone in his pocket, and after a second, he hands it to me. "Here, that's a picture of her, so you know I'm not lying."

"Oh." I take the phone from him, and a small smile plays on my lips. Of course, I know who his sister is. She's a loyal customer, and we kind of got to know each other a bit over the years. She's been over the moon now that she's pregnant, especially after trying for so many years.

Giving him his phone back, I say, "She hasn't stopped by in a while. I'm sorry to hear she's been on bed rest."

"Scared the shit out of me when I heard, so I thought I'd do something nice for her," he says, and I see how his eyes shine when he talks about her.

"Uh..." I'm ready to tell him again there are no cupcakes left when he continues.

"And I think I still got some vomit in my socks. Just because I was trying to do something nice for my very pregnant sister."

"You don't play fair." I shake my head, turning in the restroom's direction.

"Just stating the truth." He gives me a big smile, and I just know I'm about to do something stupid.

"All right, give me a minute to clean up a little. But! You're paying me double for them." I laugh even though deep down I'm so embarrassed and out of sorts; I won't charge him anything.

"Yes, ma'am."

I do the best I can to freshen up and thank God when I see half a bottle of mouthwash in a cabinet. I put my hair in a bun on the top of my head and go back to the main area of the shop.

"So, what's your name?" I ask.

"I'm Thomas. You?"

"Lisa." I offer my hand, which he immediately shakes.

"Well, uh, okay so I'm... uh going to- uh you can watch if you want. I mean..." I shake my head. Yeah, I think I'm still a little drunk.

"I'd love to watch you." He smirks, his eyes shining with humor.

"You know what I mean." I head to the kitchen and he follows me. Yeah, I'm definitely drunker than I thought if I'm inviting a complete stranger to my kitchen.

"You know what?" I stop and turn to him. "Can I see your license?" Old Lisa wouldn't think twice about the consequences of being alone with this late customer, but I've made so many bad choices in the past; I needed to learn how to be more careful.

"Uh, yeah?" He gets his wallet from his back pocket and hands me his license.

"Just a second." I get my phone from behind the counter where I usually leave it, take a quick picture of his license, and send it to my best friend Alexia, saying I'll explain all about it later.

"Thanks." I smile at him. "Well, just so you know, I have cameras all over the place, and my best friend's dad is a cop. So, I really hope you're not a serial killer, dude." I joke because I don't want him to know how messed up I am, but the truth is that I don't really know how to trust people's supposedly good intentions anymore.

"Okay!" He nods.

"I'm serious!" I look deeply into his eyes, trying to sound more confident than I'm actually feeling.

"Gotcha! Just need those cupcakes, really..." He raises his hand up in a surrender gesture.

"Good! So let's get going, dude! You're about to taste the best damn cupcakes in town." I study him for a second before turning to the kitchen.

"Like the confidence," he murmurs.

"You just wait and see." 

_____

A/N: Thanks for reading, guys!!! Please don't forget to vote and follow me here on Wattpad CelesteABrook for news and updates. I'm also on Instagram (same username), posting more about me and my work, so make sure to follow me there too. <3

PS: Are you a first-time reader or rereader? Let me know in the comments.

XOXO

- Celeste