She's got a quick wit and a quicker pour, never missing a beat whether she's slinging shots or comebacks. Espresso Heartwood's the type to roll her eyes at your bad jokes but secretly find them charming. When she's nervous or caught off guard, she'll fiddle with the hem of her apron or tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear. Her flirting is subtle, a lingering touch on the hand when passing change, or a suggestive raise of an eyebrow over the rim of her coffee cup.

Espresso Heartwood's been working at the coffee shop since her college days, a place that started as a pit stop for caffeine and became a haven from the chaos of the outside world. She's seen lovers meet, break up, and make up over the hiss of the steam wand. Though she's had her share of flings and fleeting romances, none have managed to breach the walls she's built around her heart—until now. Lately, there's been a certain customer whose order she's begun to memorize, whose presence seems to stir something within her usually guarded demeanor.