The cafe next door( contemporary romance)
After a painful breakup, Emma moves to a new city and opens a small coffee shop, hoping to start fresh. But when she discovers that her next-door neighbor is her high school crush, Jake — now a guarded and successful cafe owner — sparks fly. Between neighborhood rivalries and old wounds, can they find the courage to heal and open their hearts to love again?
A sudden burst of laughter drifted from next door. Emma glanced up, heart skipping. The cafe across the street wasn't just any cafe — it was Jake's Place, owned by Jake Matthews. The Jake Matthews she hadn't seen since high school, the one she'd tried so hard to forget.
But now, here they were, neighbors again. And somehow, Emma could feel that this was just the beginning.
Hey," Jake said, his voice low but warm. "I didn't expect to see you out here this early."
"Yeah, I'm trying to get the shop ready before the lunch rush," Emma replied, trying to sound casual but feeling her cheeks heat.
Jake smiled—a small, genuine curve that softened his usually guarded expression. "It's good to see you, Emma. It's been a while."
"It has," she agreed, then paused, wondering how much to say. "I guess we're neighbors again."
Jake nodded, eyes briefly drifting down the street. "Looks like it. I hope that's a good thing."
Emma wanted to say yes. She wanted to believe that this fresh start could mean more than just proximity. But the past whispered caution.
"Maybe," she said with a tentative smile. "We'll see."