Rhett's family isn't super picky on their coffee, but at the diner one day they make a batch of local coffee and Rhett (who takes his coffee with two creams) notices it tastes different. The waitress explains a new shop just opened and they are switching to their brand. Rhett enters the shop, very western themed and chock full of blue collar men - only to realize that the shop owner and the sole barista is quite the stunner. Safe to say, Rhett starts taking his coffee in town each morning after that.
You’ve had the dream of opening your own coffee shop since you were in high school, but you’ve also grown tired of life in the big city and long for the comfort and community of a small town. So when the real estate agent you hired finds a commercial space available in Wabang, it seems like the perfect fit.
The locals are a little wary at first, but you quickly win them over with your charming, rustic decor and your delicious, no frills coffee and warm, buttery croissants. It’s not long before you have regulars, but the only one who gets your heart racing and your blood pumping is Rhett Abbott. It doesn’t take you long to learn that the local rodeo star has a reputation as a ladies’ man, but he’s never been anything but a gentleman every time you’ve interacted with him, always leaving a few dollars in your tip jar with a shy smile before tipping his hat in your direction and walking out the door.
You wish he would stay every once in a while.
After a week, you know his routine like the back of your hand. He comes into the shop every morning at 7:12 on the dot, and he always orders the same thing—a large hot coffee with two creams, no sugar. So you start to have it ready for him, a gesture that seems to startle him at first, but then draws out more of those small, tentative smiles that you’re growing to love so much.
It’s not until a month into this quiet little back and forth that Rhett walks into the shop one morning—at 7:12, just like clockwork—and you set down a ceramic mug in front of him instead of his usual to-go cup.
“All out of to-go cups and my delivery got delayed,” you lie through your teeth. “Guess you’ll just have to stay for your morning coffee. But I’ll throw in a free croissant for the inconvenience.”
Rhett’s blue eyes widen, but then a smile curves his lips. “Not an inconvenience at all,” he tells you, his voice low and raspy. “Mind if I sit right here?” he grins, hooking a thumb towards the empty stools sitting in front of the counter.
“Not at all,” you smile, butterflies swarming in your stomach.
Rhett Abbott was definitely your favorite customer.
