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“You sure he won’t mind?”
“He knows I’m doing my heroic duties.” His voice trailed off, growing quiet as he spoke. “Julian can call if he needs…” He was asleep before he finished the sentence.
I’d be sticky when I woke, but it’d serve as a reminder of how the morning had gone from horrible to magical. I gave him another kiss on the forehead, listening to the steady in and out of his breathing. Leaning my face against his, I followed suit, drifting off to sleep, safe in the arms of a handsome bear.
12
I checkedthe time on my phone. Nearly three in the afternoon, and I found myself sitting outside a posh cafe on the rich side of town. I shifted my seat, trying to use the narrow umbrella to block the sun. I’m sure if Chad saw me, he’d have a heart attack and claim I betrayed him. Baristas were so melodramatic.
The server stopped at my table wearing a button-down maroon dress shirt with a black tie and apron. It looked incredibly stuffy, and before he opened his mouth to take my order, I longed for Chad who knew my order before I spoke. He’d see me walking in the door and by the time I sat down in my usual seat, there’d be a cup of coffee and a bagel.
“May I take your order, sir?”
“Spicy whatever you have. Hold the sir.”
He raised his eyebrow, unsure how to process the order. I might as well have been speaking Spanish. “Surprise me.”
As he walked away, Bernard appeared, pausing the man to deliver his order. I woke up this morning, sad to find Theo had vanished at some point in the middle of the night. I didn’t have time to dwell on it when I received a cryptic message from our den father. It had been a couple weeks since I spent quality time with him outside of the breakfast club. This meetup was long overdue.
“¡Papi!”
His ever stoic face, framed by a bushy beard, faltered. I always enjoyed watching the lines on his forehead deepen while his eyes narrowed. Bernard didn’t have a mean bone in his body, but watching him get moody was one of life’s little treats.
“No.”
“What do you mean, Papi? I can’t imagine Papi telling his favorite person no. Isn’t that right, Papi?”
I batted my eyelashes while he sighed and shook his head. The amusing part was, even without his armor, massive axe, or the ability to summon lightning, he could still reach across the table and knock me halfway across the city. But for all that power packed into this hirsute man, he was still a teddy bear.
“Okay, I promise to behave.”
“Don’t make promises we both know you can’t keep.”
The server returned with a tray and two fancy white mugs. Setting them down, he vanished before either of us could ask about the sugar or cream. I took a tentative sip, testing the temperature.
“Pumpkin spice? Really? It’s not even fall.”
“Basic bitches, am I right?” Bernard looked away as he took a swig. I nearly spit out the coffee at his zinger.
“So why did you drag my butt out of bed? I was having such a good dream.”
“Something bugged me about yesterday, and I didn’t want to bring it up in front of Griffin and Xander.”
“I swear, I didn’t do it.”
He raised an eyebrow. “What?”
“Sorry.” I went back to my coffee, trying to not enjoy the delicious nectar with a hint of cinnamon. “Force of habit.”
“Are you doing okay?”
That was the million-dollar question. I just had an amazing night of sex and fell asleep next to a beautiful man. There was a hero keeping an eye on me, making sure I wasn’t getting in trouble. Scarlet selling the club? That wasn’t so great, but it was hard to focus on that right now.
“I don’t like the idea of having to find another job. Nothing will ever be as good as the Alley. I mean, maybe I could stay on with the new owner. But it won’t be the same.”
“It’s too bad you can’t buy it.”
It was the second time becoming the owner had been suggested. The thought of that much responsibility, being in charge of a staff and ensuring they were paid, made me hot under the collar. It could also be the scorching heat and this puny umbrella’s inability to actually block the light.
