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“Sorry.” I shook my head as I stepped forward. The cashier was probably only a few years younger than me, with long blue hair and a studded nose piercing. She was pretty but not friendly as she glared at me.
“What can I get you, ma’am?”
Ouch. I thought you didn’t get called ma’am until you were in your thirties. I guess I looked about as bad as I felt.
“The largest black coffee you have, please.” I smiled, trying to cheer her up as I paid. But her face stayed pinched as she slapped the change in my hand. I stepped aside to wait.
It was only minutes later when my order was called. It seemed fast to me, but I guess it was easy to pour plain coffee into a cup. It was perfect because I really needed to get back to work.
But as my fingers closed around the paper cup, another hand shot out, knocking the drink onto the counter. The warm liquid slid off the white tile, splashing the businessman who’d ordered before me.
“Cazzo.”He cursed in a foreign language as the coffee dripped down, staining his shoes and pants before he could jump out of the way.
“Crap! I’m sorry.” I frantically grabbed napkins, stopping the rest of the drink from soaking him or the floor. “I’m so clumsy. You’re all wet, and it didn’t even get me at all. Here, I’ve got it.”
I reached forward like I was going to wipe the mess from his pants. But strong fingers gripped my wrist, pinning my arm in place. “I don’t think you really want to touch me there,carina.”
My eyes widened as I realized I was about to grab the crotch of a complete stranger. “Oh, my god. I’m so sorry. Here.” I shoved the napkins into his hands as he released my wrists My cheeks burned with embarrassment. “It’s your… um… your…parts.”
“My parts?” I could hear the laughter in his voice. “I thought it was my drink you were after?”
I slammed my lips together, shame raking down my body as his deep chuckle filled my ears. Could I be a bigger idiot right now? I was almost afraid to look up and see him laughing at me. But I couldn’t keep apologizing to his crotch, either.
Reluctantly I tilted my chin up… and up… and up. He towered over my smaller frame. The breath caught in my lungs as I finally got my first look at him.
He was gorgeous. Dirty blonde hair that was styled to look effortless. Dark stubble on his chiseled jaw. Thick lashes framing sea green eyes that seemed to pierce me in place.
But he wasn’t perfect. His mouth was slightly crooked as he smiled. One side turned down while the other lifted up. It made him seem real. Without that tiny imperfection I might have believed he wasn’t human. He would’ve seemed too god-like to walk among us mere mortals.
“Wow.” The word escaped on an exhale before I could stop it.
My body immediately heated as another wave of embarrassment washed over me. Or maybe it was him. His presence that seemed to make my blood race. The god in front of me only chuckled.
“I’m sorry.” I jerked my head, trying to shake off the trance he’d put me in. “Just you…you’re really beautiful. You’d be amazing to photograph.”
I slammed my eyes shut.Jesus Christ,what other stupid thing was I going to say or do in front of this goddamn gorgeous man? I felt like my brain and my mouth weren’t connected. Like my body was responding to him before my thoughts could catch up.
“I think that’s my line.” When I opened my eyes, he was still giving me that crooked smile making my stomach erupt in butterflies.
“You’d make a great model. Shit.” I cupped my cheeks, trying to stop the rising color. At this point, I must look like a tomato.
I felt like everyone in the coffee shop was staring at me. Watching this train wreck in action. I took a steadying breath before dropping my hands. I faced him head-on. Ignoring the way my nipples tightened under my thin top as his gaze locked with mine.
“I didn’t mean that to sound like I was hitting on you. I’m a photographer, and you have a really nice face.”
Seriously Emma, shut up! Grab your coffee and run away from the hot guy.
My mind screamed at me as I turned my back to him, grabbing my coffee and fully intending to follow my own advice. I was going to race from this place like my life depended on it. And I didn’t care if it was only a block from my apartment I would never come back. I couldn’t risk running into him again and reliving this moment.
“What kind?” His sexy accented voice stopped me in my tracks. I slowly turned to him again.
His easy demeanor confused me enough that I answered. “Boudoir.”
His smile widened as he gripped my elbow, guiding me away from the counter so the next person could grab their drink. His touch sent tingles up my arm. My heart raced as I breathed in his spicy scent. “So what you’re saying is you want to take naked pictures of me?”
“No, god.” I exhaled harshly, my breath shaking as it left me. “I’m messing this whole thing up. I don’t photograph men except for couple sessions. So if you and your wife were interested, I could give you a really good deal. It’s the least I could do after ruining your suit and your day.”
I don’t think either of us believed me.
