AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He waved, then slipped out the door as quietly as he arrived. Delphi sighed. She felt for him. She’d lost her father a year earlier, and the pain resonated just as harshly even now.
“Okay, you can do this.” She looked at her watch and chewed her bottom lip. She had just enough time to grab the loaf out of the oven, then head to the bakery to meet Jupiter. “Maybe Jillian can man the front. Or I will.” She winced at the thought but couldn’t afford to hire anyone, even temporarily. “I’ll get through this. A little hiccup, is all.”
She walked back to the kitchen, praying she was right. It’d been problem after problem ever since she’d opened the bistro. She smiled at the picture of her with her parents on her graduation day. “Don’t worry, Dad. I’ll manage. I always do.”
The scent of fresh bread wafted to her, and she hurried to take the bread out before it burned. The timer had four minutes left, but she knew from years of training that her nose was always the best judge.Except when it comes to men.
She placed the loaf on the cooling rack, determined to keep the redheaded Macha bartender out of her thoughts. It would’ve been easier if his scent didn’t linger on her jacket. She couldn’t help but put it on before walking down the stairs to the bistro hours earlier. Inhaling deeply, Delphi closed her eyes and let out a curse. Spicy cologne mixed with Guinness and a hint of mahogany sent her heart racing.
“Stop it.” She shook her head and quickly put the dirty dishes in the sink since the dishwasher was still running before locking the door behind herself and walking down the snowy street. There’d be no more thoughts of Brewer or his mesmerizing eyes. She rounded the corner and groaned as the very man she meant to forget came into focus as he entered the bakery.
For a split second, she considered bailing, but the better half of her dissuaded it. Jupiter would miss her and vice versa. Delphi straightened her shoulders and trudged forward. She could handle one Macha man.How hard could it be?
* * *
Entering Heaven’s Treats,Delphi decided to make a point of avoiding eye contact with Brewer. He didn’t even give her the chance. He stood to the left of the line at the counter, bending down looking at the goodies in the display case. From her viewpoint, he looked like the most delicious treat. Wearing dark-wash jeans and a blue hooded sweatshirt with his Macha cut overtop, Brewer had caught more than one woman’s eye in the shop.
“Delphi, you made it.”
Glancing away from the finest male specimen in the small space, Delphi walked up to the right of the line where Jupiter stood with an apron loosely tied around her waist.
“Of course, I wouldn’t miss our breakfast date.” She jutted her chin at the crowd. “And I’m glad I made it when I did. You guys are busy.”
Jupiter ran her fingers through her hair. “When I got here, Yasmina looked about ready to fall over. The nymph we hired called in sick, so I hurried in to help.”
“Good thing you did, too, or I’d never leave,” Yasmina said in her thick Eastern European accent. She waved at them as she rang up the next sale, and then she focused on the next customer.
“Let me get caught up, then we’ll have breakfast,” Jupiter promised, heading back to the register.
Moving to the front of the store, Delphi sat in one of the tall chairs at a long table facing the window, ideal for sitting and watching Snowshoe’s streets come to life. Light snowflakes fluttered onto passing cars. With the sun cresting the buildings, the pastry shop would slow down once people made it to work and school.
“It really is a great view.”
Delphi suddenly wished she’d bought a cup of coffee, if only to calm her nerves by sipping on it. The sound of his voice sent shivers to the tips of her fingers in the best way.
“Mind if I sit?” Brewer took the seat next to her before she could answer. A woodsy scent clung to his sweatshirt. It overwhelmed her on the first inhale and made her stomach swirl.
“What’s a bartending biker guy like you doing up this early?” She swiveled toward him, her left brow lifted in question. “Shouldn’t you be banging some club bunny or sleeping it off?”
“Zing! You got me again, girl,” Brewer teased, clutching his chest. He reached over and bopped the tip of her nose. “Why so growly? Is it ’cause nobody’s banging you?”
Delphi’s body went hot. “You son of a— “
“Save it, sweetheart.” He sat back and chuckled. “I just like getting a rise out of ya. Don’t mean no harm. You’re fun to tease.” He pointed to her. “You’re beautiful when you’re pissed. You get all red and your eyes flash blue fire.”
Not fully immune to his form of flattery, she slowly felt herself calm. Any other guy, she’d tell him to get lost. Brewer’s kind of attention meant trouble. Yet she found herself leaning closer toward him instead of the opposite.
“Look, I’m sorry.” He pulled off his black stocking hat, and the shock of red hair made her smirk. Static clung to his curly locks, making them fly in every direction but down. “Can I buy you a coffee or something while you wait?”
“I suppose.” She unzipped her jacket. “Jupiter knows how I like it.”
In one swift move, he stood and walked soundlessly to the line. She watched him apprehensive. He made small chat with the guy in front of him and complimented the little old lady behind him. By the time he made it to the front of the line, the entire shop was eating out of the palms of his hands.Very rugged ones, I bet.
Letting out a slow breath, Delphi closed her eyes and did her best to keep her attraction under lock and key.
“Here ya go.” Brewer placed the large purple mug on the table just as she opened her eyes. “Smells pretty fancy to me. What is it?”
Picking it up, she licked the whipped cream and took a timid sip. “Vanilla bean latte with an extra shot of espresso.”
