Marie snorted. “Okay.”
They continued to work their way through the line, and Sabrina concentrated on the drinks in front of her. If she messed up any of them, she would have to start all over again, which would only delay her further.
“Good morning.” Cesare’s deep voice addressed Marie at the front.
“Good morning!” She answered cheerfully. Sabrina continued to pointedly ignore them.
“Is it always this busy in here?” He asked. “It looks like a mob hit this place.”
Marie shook her head ruefully. “A tour bus just arrived, so we’re doing our best to take care of everyone. But as you can see, the line is out the door.” She shrugged her shoulders.
“Do you need any help?” He asked. Marie gave him a smile and shook her head. “We can manage, but thank you. Would you like a cinnamon roll?”
“I would, thank you.” He answered.
Sabrina put a lid on top of a Frappuccino and placed it on the counter. “Order for Mike!” She shouted out. She then turned in Cesare’s direction and sighed. “It’s good to see you, and I’m glad you came, but we’re swamped. I can’t really talk now.”
Cesare gave her an evaluating look before rolling his sleeves up and walking around the counter.
“What are you doing?” Sabrina asked, raising a brow.
Cesare went straight to the hand sink behind Sabrina and washed his hands. She caught a waft of a musky, woodsy cologne as he grabbed a spare apron hanging on the bread rack beside the sink. He deftly tied it behind his back as he met Sabrina’s questioning gaze.
“I am helping.” Cesare shrugged nonchalantly. “How do you think I paid for things during college?”
Sabrina blinked. “You were a barista?”
“I was a busboy and then I was a bouncer.” He leaned in closely with a roguish grin that made Sabrina’s breath catch. “I was very good at following directions.”
Sabrina cast a quick glance at Marie, who simply grinned and turned to face the next customer.
“And here I thought you liked to be the one giving orders.” Sabrina mused out loud.
“Oh, I enjoy it thoroughly.” Cesare’s voice was low, and his eyes slightly hooded as he looked her over. “But we’re in your wheelhouse now.” He took a step back, creating a respectful distance and making a more serious expression.
“Just because you’re capable of doing it on your own doesn’t mean you have to. And rumor has it the job comes with free cinnamon rolls.” Cesare grinned.
“You are too persuasive for your own good.” Sabrina muttered. “Any tickets that make sense, feel free to make; anything you’re unsure about, give to me.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He nodded, reaching an arm around her as he pointedly brushed the side of her hip. “I’ll just be taking this ticket here.”
Sabrina turned her back to him in response, trying to ignore the tingles shooting down her side from where he had touched her. She faced the crowd once more and returned to making drinks, fervently hoping that this would end well.
The next hour was a flurry of movement as the three of them fell into a comfortable rhythm, and orders were filled much faster than they could have hoped to do on their own. The tour group eventually finished moving through, and the rush of customers dwindled back down to the locals, military, and the occasional tourist.
Sabrina watched Cesare as he worked quickly, methodically, and with ease. She found herself watching his hands for the simple pleasure of enjoying the way they moved, and more than once caught herself wondering how they would feel on her body.
Cesare’s phone rang frequently, and he typically pulled it out, forwarded it to voicemail, and immediately returned to the task at hand. Occasionally he would answer, say his name, and then listen with a few grunts interspersed here and there.
The whole time, he was accurately making and finishing the orders he had chosen from the queue. He was, it seemed, a man who could multitask.
Sabrina snorted at the thought, drawing a curious look from Cesare. She gave a rueful shake of her head. When he silently hung up the phone, he leaned in with a twinkle in his eye. “I can see the wheels turning in your head, Sabrina.” He muttered in her ear.
“My thoughts are none of your business.” She answered lightly, scrawling a new name on the cup in her hands.
“Is that so?” He asked in the same unaffected tone.
“It is.” She nodded, a smile playing on her lips.
