It wasn't a typical building. It seemed like an artistically designed one. The brown colors used in the exterior served as a flawless complement to the wooden bars on it. The building had both a contemporary and rustic feel to it. The wooden bars were developed to fit as a patio for outdoor seating.
"This is The Village Grind. It's the best place for handcrafted coffee, perfectly brewed espresso, and not to mention their Baristas. They also offer the best selection of mouthwatering baked goods". Damian stated with arms in his pockets.
"You should have told me we were going to a coffee place. Regardless, I love this place already. Come on, let's go". I said beaming with smiles as I ran to the entrance.
I turned and saw Damian standing there, with Treasure in his arms. He didn't say a word as he watched me. I saw him smile again. But as quickly as it came, it left. He walked up to where I stood and opened the door for me.
"This is lovely". I said as my eyes widened in amazement.
It was unbelievably neat for a cafe. The floors were polished and they displayed the luminescence of the bulbs above. It was very cafe-like but it was different. It was a Wrightwood cafe. It had that rustic charm to it. That was its distinction.
We walked to the counter and placed our orders.
"What pastries are you famous for?". I asked the lady.
"Our Cinnamon rolls and Blueberry scones, miss". She replied with a smile.
"I'll have a cup of coffee with one cinnamon roll and some blueberry scones". I glanced at Treasure. "Oh and can I please get fresh blueberries for my Dog". I pleaded.
"Sure miss. I'll be out with your order soon. And what would you like to have sir?".
"Just a cup of coffee for me, please ". Damian responded.
I looked around. There were a few seats left.
"Let's go sit". I said to him.
"You can't sit here Diana. If you truly wish to enjoy your coffee, the outdoor patio is the best place. A delightful cup of freshly brewed coffee in hand, while taking in the stunning view of the San Gabriel mountains. It's truly comforting".
At times like this, he amazed me. He sure knew comfort. But was it because he wanted to experience comfort or he needed to?
The view was spectacular. "It's so beautiful. Have you seen anything more beautiful than that view?". I asked in awe.
"Yes, I have". He answered, but he wasn't looking at the view, he was looking at me.
I turned to look at him. I stared at him as I waited for him to switch again, but he didn't. He was looking at me and he didn't stop. He made it clear that he was talking about me.
"Here's your order". The waitress announced as the atmosphere switched to one that was filled with delightful aromas of pastries and fresh coffee. I poured some blueberries into a plate for Treasure.
"Why did you order only one Cinnamon roll?". He asked as I noticed that the look was gone from his eyes.
"I know I'm a chef but I don't like cinnamon. I've never liked it anyways. I don't think anyone else knows this about me. I ordered it because I wanted to give one of their famous pastries a try". I stated.
"You're one silly lady. Okay, Diana, take a bite".
I took a bite out of it and I stopped. I looked at the roll in my hand.
"What is it?". Damian asked with a raised brow.
"Did this cafe just make me love these?". I asked in bewilderment.
"You like them?".
"I love them. Gosh these are amazing".
"That means a lot coming from Chef Diana".
I didn't hear him speak. I was too late engrossed in what I was eating.
"I'll be right back". He said as he got up to leave.
He came back a few seconds later with a box.
"It's a box of cinnamon rolls. Just count it as a souvenir snack".
'Did he get me this because he knew I loved them so much?'. I thought to myself.
My phone rang before I could respond. It was from my restaurant in Spain.
"Buenos dias señor Carlos. Cómo está el restaurante?".
("Good day Mr. Carlos. How's the restaurant doing?")
I asked as I realized that I hadn't been in touch with the restaurant. I sighed.
"Muy bien, Chef Diana. Estoy un poco decepcionado de que no hayas visitado últimamente".
("Very well, Chef Diana. I am a bit disappointed that you haven't visited lately".).
I could sense the disappointment in his voice.
"Lo siento mucho, señor Carlos. Últimamente he estado atado. Prometo estar allí lo antes posible".
("I'm sorry, Mr. Carlos. I've just been tied up lately. I promise to be there as soon as possible.
"Espero que sí, Chef Diana. El propósito principal de mi llamada fue recordarles que nuestro evento formal anual se llevará a cabo en dos semanas y deben estar aquí para asegurarse de que funcione sin problemas. Estamos teniendo problemas con los preparativos".
("I hope you do, Chef Diana. The main purpose of my call was to remind you that our annual formal event is coming up in two weeks and you need to be here to ensure it runs smoothly. We're having trouble with preparations").
It broke my heart. 'Was it worth it?'. I asked myself. Was all these worth neglecting my first restaurant and even my favorite event?
I looked at Damian. 'I may have just made a bad decision coming here. I think I'm falling for him'. I thought to myself.
"No puedo creer esto. Lo siento mucho. Me aseguraré de tomar el próximo vuelo posible a España".
("I can't believe this. I'm very sorry. I'll make sure to get on the next possible flight to Spain".) I promised him.
"Okay. Chef Diana. We'll be seeing you".
He ended the call.
I wanted to cry. I wanted to stand up and run out. I wanted some kind of reassurance that I'll be able to get through it. But i couldn't do anything. I just sat there.
"Why are you just sitting there?". Damian asked. His question snapped me back to reality.
"Huh?".
"You should be booking your next flight to Spain at the moment. Come on, I'll drive you home. You need to pack". He said as he held my arm and pulled me up.
I stood up but I didn't move.
He turned to look at me. It happened almost naturally and before I could stop it, it was done already. I ran into his arms and hugged him. I just did. I didn't care what the repercussions would be.
I expected him to be shocked, and he was. What I didn't expect was for him to hug me back. He did and it felt warm. It felt right to me at that moment. I needed it. I so darn needed it.
"It's okay, Diana. I'm here for you". He whispered.
The tears I fought so much to hold back finally came loose and it got him consoling me even more.
"It's okay to cry when you want to. Let it all out. You'll feel lighter after a good cry, Diana". He murmured.
He was right. I did feel better. I could even breathe properly. He drove me back to the hotel.
"Make sure you're packed and ready to go Diana. Get enough sleep too. You'll need it".
"Thanks, Damian. Thank you for everything. I had a wonderful day today, Thanks to you".
"Sure... And...No llores más Diana. No soporto ver tu hermoso rostro cubierto de lágrimas".
("Don't cry anymore, Diana. I can't stand to see your beautiful face covered in tears").
He said with a smile as he turned on the ignition and drove off.
I must've forgotten that Damian was also Spanish because all our conversations were in English.
My cheeks were red. My heart raced with excitement. And a smile crept up on my face as I walked towards the hotel.
"Till we meet again Damian". I murmured.