Page 28 of The P*ssy Next Door

Iwas just finishing up another chapter of the book I was reading, because, well, there certainly weren't any customers. Which was starting to worry me. How was I supposed to keep Cool Beans afloat without people coming to buy coffee? That marketing thing Liam had set up with the cat shelter was starting to sound better and better. But the next one wasn't for a few more weeks.

Until then, I'd cut back on most everyone's hours to at least try to save on labor. I had help in the mornings to open, but after that first morning rush, we were pretty much dead. Until Hayes showed up.

Right now, the only time I got to see him was when he came to the café. Xan had taken to showing up at the house most nights, pretending he simply wanted to spend time with me while I was home. I saw right through him but hadn't yet figured out how in the world to tell him to back off. And he knew it.

Right on time, I spotted Hayes walking into the café, a grin on his face. My heart did a little flip, and I chastised the fickle organ for trying so hard to talk me into falling for him. It wasn't going to work. This was just a fling. It was fun and short term, so no one got hurt.

“Hey, you,” I said as he approached the counter. “The usual?”

He leaned in, his eyes sparkling with mischief. “If the usual includes a daily dose of caffeine and a kiss from the cute barista.”

I rolled my eyes, fighting a blush. Falling into the easy banter had become second nature over the past few days. “Flattery will get you everywhere, Kingman.”

We chatted as I made his usual-unusual order. He always got a latte, but he let me make a blend of flavors to surprise him and he had to guess what it was. I'd been concocting today's drink in my mind all afternoon. No way he'd guess this one.

The espresso machine made a funny sputter and spit the last few drops into the little shot glasses. It was throwing a fit and I did not know how to placate it. A few squirts of this and a few squirts of that, and I had today's special ready to go.

I handed it over and watched carefully as he took a few tentative sips. “You're never going to guess this one.”

“I guessed Snickers, Girl Scout Samoa cookie, and Peeps, so I think I'm winning.” He took another sip and winked.

I hated when he did that because it made my tummy do the same funny flips as my heart. The two were in cahoots.

“Huh.” He took a longer sip this time and narrowed his eyes at me. “You cheated. This isn't a latte with some flavors in it at all, is it?”

“Expand your horizons, Kingman. The entire world doesn't drink coffee.” I certainly didn't. Blech.

“This tastes like Christmas flavored coffee. I'm getting strong cinnamon, nutmeg, and something else.” He smacked his tongue against the roof of his mouth. “Is that... cardamom?”

“How do you know that?”

“This is a chai latte with an espresso shot in it. Fuck yeah.” He gave himself a fist pump and I wrinkled my nose at him.

“It's called a dirty chai, just so you know, and I was sure I had you on that one.”

“Kelsey makes the most amazing chai cookies. Otherwise you would have stumped me. I swear.” He leaned over the counter. “Now pay up.”

“Fine.” I gave him the kiss he was owed, and he cupped the back of my head, taking this a whole lot deeper than was appropriate for a public place. Or maybe that was just what my imagination was doing fantasizing about what else he could do with his tongue.

I was just about to count his teeth with my own tongue as a guide when I spotted Xander's stupid car pulling up. Again.

“Shoot, it's Xander,” I sighed. This was getting to be a damn routine. “Off you go to hide.”

Hayes didn't need to be told twice. He ducked behind the counter just as my brother walked in, another guy in tow.

“Hey, Willabean,” Xander said, his grin a little too wide. “I want you to meet someone.”

I plastered on a smile, my stomach sinking. I had a feeling I knew exactly where this was going.

“Willa, this is Cai,” Xander continued, gesturing to the tall, athletic-looking guy beside him, who coincidentally was also wearing a DSU Dragons hoodie. “He's on the team with me.”

Surprise, surprise.

Cai stepped forward, offering his hand. “Nice to meet you, Willa. Xander's told me a lot about you.”

I shook his hand, shooting my brother a subtle glare. “Has he now? All good things, I hope.”

Xander clapped Cai on the shoulder, his smile turning sly. “Oh, definitely. In fact, I thought maybe you two might like to grab dinner sometime. You know, get to know each other better.”