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“Ready for the day?” she asks, a hint of something in her tone and a change of subject. I don’t know her well enough to place it, though.
“Yeaaah,” I reply with an inflection at the end, subtly questioning if she plans to elaborate. Not knowing if I should pry further or just drop it.
Instead of responding right away, she unlocks the door, and we head inside. The rush of warm air wraps around us, and it feels amazing. The weather here has a bite to it anyway, but at four in the morning, that bite is more like a mauling.
We take off our jackets, but I leave my scarf on again. Charlie and I go around flipping on light switches and machines, powering the place up for us to start.
“He looks at you,” she says after a long while.
“What? Who?” I reply, confused.
She scoffs as she gives me an incredulous look. “Jack, silly.”
That catches me off guard, but I do my best to remain unbothered on the outside. I walk into the storeroom and grab the items needed to start on the baked goods.
When I return, I decide to be chill about this. After all…I can’t crush on the sexy law man.I need to ignore it all the best I can. Seem uninterested because Iamuninterested.
Yeah…
Maybe if you think it enough, you’ll actually convince yourself of that. Liar.
“Of course, he looked at me. I was handing him hot coffee.”
She laughs. “No, Andi. Helooksat you.” She wiggles her eyebrows suggestively.
Heat blooms in my cheeks as a blush spreads across them. I laugh at her answer, and the goofy look she gives me.
“That’s a cute thought, but there are other reasons, you know. First, he’s a detective. I’m a new person in his town. I’m sure if he’s looking, it’s clearly from a dutiful standpoint. Second, again, he’s a detective. It wouldn’t take much to figure out I’m a mess, living in a motel, and have no stability whatsoever.” I eye her, hoping she’ll drop the subject.
She looks at me, crosses her eyes, and mockingly says, “Okay, Andi.”
I toss a pinch of flower at her, and she turns to grab the cold items from the fridge. We both continue to work, our laughter echoing off the café walls.
Our pastries sell out in a flash again today. One customer returns to the counter after finishing and says, “Those have never been better!”
I give a huge smile, rocking onto my toes and clasping my hands together at the massive compliment.
“Careful, Ms. Sparks. I wouldn’t want you to tip over again.” Jack’s voice booms behind me, and a chill works its way through me, but I somehow resist the shiver.
I turn quickly and find him smirking at me. Another blush spreads across my cheeks.Geez. What is going on with me today? I school my expression, hoping to remain kind but indifferent.
“Morning, Jack. Coffee with half a pound of sugar again today?” I say with a half grin.
His smirk turns to a smile. “Yes, ma’am. My usual.”
“One insulin surge coffee, coming up!”
I turn my back to him, and I hear him chuckle at my comment as I start to make his coffee. I can feel his eyes on me still. He called me “Ms. Sparks.”
Did I tell him my last name?
I mean, heisa detective. I’m sure he’s asked around about the stranger that just appeared in his town. Someone probably told him. I’m almost sure I didn’t.
Turning back, I hand him the coffee I made. He pays, tossing a few bucks in the tip jar.
“Have a great day, Detective,” I say, far too cheerfully.
Why did I call him detective? What is going on with me?
