Why did someone knowing my name give me this feeling?
“Yes, I’m Dakota. How else may I help you?” I asked, hoping my voice wasn’t as chilly as it sounded in my head. The light in the man’s eyes dimmed, and I had a feeling it was precisely as icy as I thought.
“Just thought I’d say hi. I heard your coworker call you by name earlier. I’m sorry if I startled you.”
I shook my head and smiled, relieved that had been why he knew my name. I shouldn’t be so jumpy. It wasn’t like I had problems with anyone but Adam and his crew. The other girls had had issues. If fear-drenched pain could be called an issue. Maybe that’s why I’d reacted how I did.
“I’m sorry. Long day. I hope you enjoy your coffee.”
“I’m sure I will. And since I’ve startled you, I suppose asking you out wouldn’t be the best idea.”
I froze for a second and then noticed his eyes dim just a bit more. “Oh. Well. I’m sorry. I’m well...you know. Uh.” Clearly, I couldn’t form words.
He quirked a smile. “Let me guess. Boyfriend? I should have known you wouldn’t be free. I see you in here every time I come in. I love your shop. I’m sorry if I was too forward.”
I shook my head and ran my hands down my apron. “Oh. Thank you. I love my shop, too. I hope you love your coffee. I need to go. Thank you again!”
He frowned for a second, and I knew everything I said likely made no sense. I waved and then scurried back to the counter where Jason stood, rolling his eyes.
“Subtle,” he said.
“I think I just ran away instead of saying no,” I panic-whispered.
“Pretty much. You completely ran away instead of telling the guy you weren’t taken.” He paused. “Unless you are taken. If you are, Pop and I are going to need notes.”
His humor allowed my shoulders to relax—marginally. “Stop. I need to get back to baking.”
“I thought you were going to work on coffee orders with me.”
“I think I need to go hide in the back,” I replied honestly.
I may have just lost a customer forever. Or perhaps he was made of sterner stuff. Either the man with the blue eyes would be persistent, or we’d pretend it never happened. I honestly didn’t know what would happen.
Or what I wanted.
“Coward,” Jason whispered under his breath, but I still scurried away.
I’d go back out to the front and have fun with my favorite customers, but I needed a moment. Pop was in the back, her hands elbow-deep in dough when she looked at me.
“What’s that face for?”
I put my hands on my cheeks. “What face?” I asked.
“The slightly embarrassed, oh my God, what is going on face?’” She paused. “Is it Macon? Is he here? Are you finally going to tell us what happened on your date?”
“I don’t know how that’s any of your business,” I said primly, doing my best Myra impersonation.
“You mentioned in passing that you went on your blind date last week. With Macon Brady. Yet no details. You growl or blush whenever it comes up in conversation, but you haven’t told us anything. And now you walk in here looking all embarrassed and flushed... I only have to wonder if I’ll see that very sexy man standing out there and glowering if I pull my hands out of this dough and walk out.”
“He’s not out there,” I grumbled. “And I do not look like that. Whatever it is you said.”
“You do look embarrassed. So, what happened? Do I need to punch someone?” She pulled her hands out of the dough and punched her hand into her fist once more.
“First, you don’t need to hit anyone. Second, why do you do that? Do you enjoy hitting people?” I didn’t have the same fear I did when I thought about Macon getting into fights. And I honestly didn’t know what that said about me.
Her piercing twitched. “I’ve never hit a person in my life. I just like making the motion because I’m tiny, and it makes people laugh.” Pop must have heard something in my voice earlier. She lowered her hands, concern on her face.
I sighed. “I’m sorry for acting odd. Or odder than usual. Anyway, I just got hit on by a man with pretty blue eyes and I wasn’t expecting the offer. I ran away before I could even answer.”
Pop just looked at me and shook her head. “Wow. You sure are popular.”
“Stop. That’s not even close to being true. I feel like I’m making stupid mistake after stupid mistake. I cannot believe I ran away like that. I’ve seen that man in that exact booth numerous times. Now, he’s probably never going to come back because I shunned him and then ran away like I was scared.”
“He might have come back repeatedly because you’re a hot piece, but he probably also came because you make some of the best coffee ever. Is he the caramel macchiato guy? The one with the pretty blue eyes and the tight ass in those gray pants?”
I blinked at Pop. “Really? You noticed his ass from way back here?”
“I came out to deliver some pastries to the front. Of course, I noticed Blue Eyes’ butt. Who wouldn’t notice how he fills those pants?”
“I didn’t look at his butt.”
Pop blinked at me again. “Really? You must have a thing for Macon if you’re not checking out other asses.”
I threw up my hands and went back to work. “That is not why I didn’t check out Blue Eyes’ assets. It’s because this is my place of business. I shouldn’t ogle and sexually harass my customers.”
“That’s not how this works.”
“Not how what works?” I asked, being obstinate.
“Now you’re just being weird and going way off subject. Are you deflecting? You still haven’t told me what’s going on with you
