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CHAPTER1
“Adam!”
As he quickly shuffled through the front door of the topside version of DeLux Cafe he gave a wave to the barista behind the counter waving at him.
“Hey, Cat, how’s work going tonight?”
She gave a little lopsided grin and bit her lip. “Going better now.”
Adam laughed and shook his head. “Always a flirt.”
Cat pouted out her lower lip and flashed a fake frown. “Fine.” Blowing a strand of hair out of her eyes, she looked back at the order counter. “Did you already place your order?”
“Yep, just here for a pickup before I head down.”
“Alright, let me go see if it’s— “
“Ready!” Another voice interrupted, and an impish brunette held up a to-go cup.
He strode over to the waitress and reached out to take the cup from her, but she yanked it back and waved a finger in his face. “Not so fast, Mr. Primis.”
Adam arched a brow. “Why? What’s going on?”
The waitress leaned over and whispered to Cat, who mouthed a big O and nodded as she took the cup. Looking back at Adam, she grinned. “So, we have a little problem.”
“What sort of problem?” His voice dripped with suspicion. “I don’t work here anymore, remember?”
“I know, I know.” Cat brushed off his comment and gingerly handed him his coffee. “I need your help.” He motioned for her to continue, and she cleared her throat. “We are one male short for Speed Dating up here.”
“No.” Adam barked. “Absolutely not.”
“Please, Adam. I know it’s all humans up here, but seriously, do you want one of these ladies to feel left out just because you didn’t want to help out.”
He snagged his cup and pursed his lips. “Fine. But you owe me a week’s worth of coffees. Put my name in the box and give me a tag.”
Her smile spread wide. “Thanks, Adam. I knew you wouldn’t let me down.”
“You’re lucky I like you, girl.”
She giggled and pointed through the crowd at an empty seat decorated for his ex-wife’s Speed Dating event. Blowing out a heavy sigh, he made his way to the empty seat and put on his best smile. His voice came out a little harsher than he’d meant it to, “Hi.” He pulled out the seat and looked across the table, only to feel the bottom of the world drop from beneath him. His breath stuck in his throat as he tried to remember how to form words and act normal, but normal went right out the window when a pair of big emerald, green eyes stared up at him.
Adam coughed. “Um… I mean, Hello.” Holding out his hand as he took a seat across from the human, he adjusted his suit jacket, feeling a familiar bristle of the beast inside himself. “I’m Adam.”
“Oh, hello, nice to meet you.” Her sing-song voice could have lured men to their graves, but instead she was sitting at a ridiculous Speed Dating table as if men weren’t falling at her feet. She shook his hand, and his beast shivered against Adam’s insides. “I’m Ella.”
He felt himself slowing settling down and his dragon soul starting to relax to the point where he could remember how his mouth worked. “It’s nice to meet you, Ella. Is this your first time here?”
She nodded, sending her curly brown hair bouncing. “I’m just in town visiting for a few weeks, but I figured I’d knock this off my bucket list.”
Adam frowned. “What’s a bucket list?”
Her mouth hung open for a second, letting him know that he missed something important to humans once again, but she covered her shock quickly. “It’s…Ummm.” Tapping her nail on her chin, she paused. “I guess the easiest way to describe it is… It’s a list of things you want to do before you die.”
“Oh.” He nodded and took a sip. “Getting an early start on it, huh?”
She grinned, but the light didn’t reach her eyes. Taking a slow sip of tea, she gave a soft chuckle. “Actually, I’m getting a late start to it.”
He almost choked on his coffee as his eyes widened, and his dragon beast roared inside his brain. “I’m sorry, what?” Adam dabbed the napkin to his lips. “What do you mean, a late start?”
