Page 60 of Jenna's Protector
I get to work on my creation, steaming milk until it reaches a satiny perfection, extracting shots that drip with molten goodness into pre-warmed cups. Each gets topped with a latte, and I add an artful flourish imbued with care and attention.
As I prep Carter’s coffee, I steal glances at him sitting in the booth. He’s chatting on the phone with someone. Max sits at his feet, ears perked as if he understands every word.
It strikes me how effortlessly Carter has woven himself into the fabric of my life. Just days ago, we were virtual strangers.
He came in every day like clockwork, and I had his order hot and waiting for him. We were casual strangers.
Today, however… Well today, we crossed an invisible border into becoming something else.
I assemble a variety of scones prepared earlier by Malia—some plump with berries, others fragrant with a bit of zest, and, of course, one with chocolate chips nestled inside. I plate them alongside a drizzle of honey and a dollop of clotted cream. A sprig of mint adds the final touch.
Perfection.
Minutes later, I carry a tray laden with steaming cups and freshly baked scones. Max glances up at me, eyebrows twitching and nose going a mile a minute.
“Breakfast is served.” I present the entire thing with a dramatic flourish. “And not a crumb is burnt.”
“Smells amazing.” Carter takes a deep inhale and closes his eyes, taking a moment to enjoy the rich aroma of the espresso before diving in.
“One coffee for you.” I pass Carter his drink. When our eyes meet, a flash of heat burns within me. “And one doggy treat made with extra love for you.” I grab one of the scones I make for all four-footed friends who enter my shop and hold it out to Max.
Max takes the treat eagerly, but there’s no teeth and no bite. I don’t know how a dog like him accomplishes such a feat, considering he’s all tooth and fang, but he’s got the softest mouth when it comes to me.
Carter takes a sip of his coffee and closes his eyes as the savory flavors hit his tongue. When his eyes open, they fill with barely restrained heat.
“This is incredible.” His words are simple, but they’re exactly what I need. “It actually tastes good.”
“Good? Just good?”
“Absolutely delicious. You may convert me yet to this foul-tasting brew.”
“Well, if you’d told me you weren’t a coffee fan, I could’ve converted you before now.”
“Ah, it was worth the wait.” He takes another sip. “This is really good.”
I slide into the booth opposite him and take a sip of my drink. Soon enough, we’re settled into our own world.
Malia is a good employee. I should make her a partner. She takes care of the shop while Carter and I finish our breakfast. His steamy gaze never leaves me, and those molten eyes of his hold mine with unspoken promises and lecherous thoughts that gobeyond breakfast. It’s hard not to squirm in my seat when he looks at me with a knowing smile on his face.
We talk about small things—music we like, books we’ve read—allowing ourselves this pocket of time to be a normal couple sharing coffee and scones.
It’s a bubble of normal, only slightly adjacent to the small part I may or may not play in bringing his missing girls home.
He asks how the shop is doing. How it is that I make the best scones in the world. I answer those animatedly.
We don’t talk about the heavy things, like his case or what happened between us. As we slip into comfortable conversation, I wonder if this isn’t how life could be—filled with simple moments like these.
I like that more than I’m willing to admit.
Max rests his head on Carter’s knee while my foot finds its way to Carter’s under the table. We play a dangerous game of footsie as if testing whether what happened this morning was a one-and-done kind of thing or the start of something new.
Something exciting.
My heart says the latter.
I don’t get a sense Carter’s the kind of man who does one-night stands, but if I’ve read things wrong, I’m willing to make that mistake. I do so because life’s too short, too fleeting, not to take a chance.
When his hand reaches across the table to take mine in his, his strong, warm, and reassuring grip puts any fears to rest.