Must Be Fate: (Cody and Clover) (A Jetty Beach Romance Book 3) by Claire Kingsley

blended green tea latte all over him.”
    Natalie winces. “That’s too bad.”
    “Well, to be fair, it was a really small shop and always super crowded. And I swear, I’ll try so hard not to drop anything if you hire me.”
    “I appreciate your honesty, and if the worst thing about you is that we lose a few mugs, I think we’ll be doing fine.”
    I sit up a little taller and try not to make any squeeing noises.
    “If you think you’ll be living in Jetty Beach for a while, I’d love to give this a try,” Natalie says. “You’re very personable and I think you’d fit in really well here. I suppose I should ask how you are at making coffee.”
    “I make the best coffee in the world,” I say. I’m totally and completely serious. I really do.
    Natalie smiles at me again. “That settles it, I suppose. When can you start?”
    My hand drifts up to the bump on my head. It is so polite of her not to mention it. I figure Cody would say I should wait until next week before I start working, but the sooner I start, the sooner I’ll be back on my feet. I figure I’ll split the difference. “How about Saturday?”
    “Perfect,” she says. “If you can, come in Friday afternoon. We’ll fill out some paperwork, and I can show you around.”
    “I will, definitely,” I say. I’m having a hard time containing myself. “Thank you so much, Natalie. This is amazing.”
    “Thank you, Clover,” she says. “I almost feel like this was meant to be.”
    Hell yes, it’s meant to be. “I do too. Thank you.”
    She leaves me to my coffee and muffin, although I’m not hungry anymore. I’m too excited. I have a job. A job means money, and money means a place to live, and a place to live means I can stay in Jetty Beach. I have to tell Cody.
    I leave the rest of my coffee and take my muffin in a to-go bag. I’m not sure where his clinic is, but my mapping app finds it and I drive straight there, passing through the rest of the downtown strip. I already love this town—it’s so cute. Maybe Cody and I can go to the beach to celebrate. I practically bounce in my seat, I’m so thrilled.
    I go into the clinic and walk up to the front desk. The lady behind the counter is wearing a bright blue blouse and her hair is pulled up in a bun.
    “Hi,” I say. “I need to see Co—I mean, Dr. Jacobsen, please.”
    “Do you have an appointment?” she asks.
    “Oh, no, I just want to see if he’s available for lunch.”
    “Is he expecting you?”
    “Nope,” I say with a smile.
    The front desk lady’s brow furrows and she glances at a nurse in purple scrubs grabbing something off a printer behind her. “Is Dr. J with a patient?”
    “No, he’s in his office,” the nurse says.
    Front Desk Lady picks up her phone and presses a button. “Hi, Dr. J. There’s someone out front who would like to see you.” She looks up at me. “What’s your name?”
    “Clover,” I say.
    She looks even more confused. I don’t understand what the big deal is. “She says her name is Clover. Okay, I’ll let her know.” She puts down the phone. “He’ll be right out.”
    “Thank you,” I say with a big smile.
    I take a seat in the waiting area and pick up a trashy magazine. They’re the best thing about waiting rooms. I thumb through, glancing at the pictures of celebrities in beautiful clothes.
    Cody comes through the door next to the front desk. “Clover, what are you doing here? Are you okay?”
    I practically drool. He looks so good in his pale green button-down shirt and striped tie, with the stethoscope around his neck. So serious and doctory.
    I stand. “Yeah, I’m fine. I’m great, actually. Can you grab lunch?”
    “What?” he asks. “No, I have patients to see.”
    “Oh. Sorry. I thought…”
    He glances at Front Desk Lady, who is clearly staring at us. “Let me walk you out.”
    I’m so surprised, I go out to my car without saying a word. I haven’t had a chance to tell him my great news.
    He stands next to the