“Talk to me, brother.”
I try to listen, but I can’t hear a thing, only Riggs’ end of the conversation.
“What? Fuck me. I’ll be there in two minutes.”
He hangs up the phone and turns, striding over to me still sitting on the desk, bare from the waist down. He walks over, curling his hand behind my head and bringing me forward for a long, but rough, kiss. Then he pulls back and growls, “I’ll finish this later.”
“Is everything okay?” I ask.
He glances at me, and for a minute it almost seems like my question has thrown him. Like my concern for his wellbeing isn’t something he ever thought he’d hear from me. He nods sharply, almost as if he’s pissed off, and then he turns and walks out.
What the hell was that?
I get dressed and clean up my desk before going out to set up the café for the morning. Riggs plays on my mind until Gabe and Darcy come in for their shift. We get right to work, and the customers pile in. One of those customers includes Carmen, who I met last night. She rolls in looking beautiful and perfect, smiling with a radiance that is almost addictive. I feel for any man who falls in love with her—she’d probably crush his heart with one simple glance.
“I had to come in after our date last night.” She smiles when she reaches the counter. “I wanted to see the place you’ve created. It’s spectacular.”
I beam. “Thanks so much. Let me give you one of my cupcakes, you’ll love one. Do you like coffee?”
She laughs with an eye roll. “Do I like coffee?”
“Of course you do.” I chuckle. “I’ll bring you a treat, on the house. Take a seat, look around, there is plenty to see.”
She does just that, walking around and checking things out, admiring the cool retro pieces I have hanging on my walls, the jukebox, the stage, and all the amazing art that has been donated over the years. There is always something to look at when you come here, and that’s exactly how I want it.
I get my best cupcake of the morning, make Carmen my favorite caramel latte, and take it over to her when she finds herself a table near the window. I place it down, and she stares at it, eyes wide. “It’s going to take a good lot of running to work this off, but, man, that looks good.”
“It’s pretty sweet.” I laugh. “A few laps around the block will sort that out for you.”
She nods. “Oh, yes, I do love a good run.”
I stare at her. “I knew it.”
“What?”
“You were crazy. I wondered why you just came up and talked to me, and now you’re telling me you run? You have to be insane.”
She bursts out laughing. “It’s not so bad, you just have to give it a try.”
“I did,” I say, scrunching up my nose. “I ran around the block, fell over, and that’s how I met the biker next door.”
“Oh, juicy. He saved you?”
I snort. “He insulted me. Or I insulted him. I can’t quite remember.”
“From small things, big things grow,” she teases.
“That’s what she said,” we both say at the same time.
I like her.
Yeah, she’s going to become a great friend. I can feel it.
“I went over there just before,” she tells me. “My car is playing up, so I thought I’d take it in and scope out those bikers you speak so highly of. They’re something else, aren’t they?”
I nod. “Oh, that’s putting it mildly. Those guys are heaven on earth, you wait until you get lucky enough to take a roll in the hay with one of them ...”
I’m grinning at her now.
She smiles back but doesn’t answer me.
I hope that wasn’t a bit too much.
Oh, well.
I am who I am.
“I’m going to let you eat that cupcake and enjoy your coffee. I better get back to work.”
I carry on with my day, feeling as high as a kite. I’m walking on air. Everything is going so well—the guys next door have been quiet and respectful, I’ve made a new friend, and there is that weird thing going on between Riggs and I that I just can’t get enough of. I’m certainly feeling things for him I didn’t think I would.
It’s all going so well.
“Yo, sister.”
I am mid-way through clearing a table when Dom strolls in with Bridget behind him. I get a text every day telling me how in love with her he is. Good for him; everyone deserves to find that someone they bond with.
“Dom!”
I hug my brother.
He pulls back and stares at me. “Why are you hugging me? What happened? What did you do? Who did you hurt?”
I laugh. “Nobody, I’m just having a great day. Come and meet my new friend.”
I take him over to Carmen’s table, she’s busy texting with someone. She looks up, face slightly flustered, but she quickly replaces it with a smile.
“Carmen, this is my twin brother, Dom, and his lady, Bridget.”
Carmen extends her hand with a beaming face. “Twin. How exciting.”
We chat for a few minutes and then a new line of customers come in. “I really should get back to work, Dom, is everything good?”
“Perfect, just wanted to come by and say hi. You should come out with Bridget and I soon, we need drinks.”
I hug my brother again. “Sounds good.”
Then I get back to work.
With the biggest damned smile on my face.
I STROLL TOWARD THE party that Riggs is currently holding at the clubhouse. It’s quite late, but I was bored at home and decided to come and join in. Why the hell not? They’re having fun, and I could use some time to let my hair down. I’m sure he
