Chapter 4
REBEKAH
With a little dance, I made my way out of the library.
I had been going there daily to check to see if anybody had reached out about the applications I’d turned in.
So far, only two had responded: Gene’s Diner and Shadow Force Tactical.
I was excited about the opportunity to interview with each business.
It was interesting that I’d heard back from the PI company, considering the guys with whom I left my information said they weren’t currently hiring. I wondered why the change of heart, but that was something I could ask at the interview on Monday.
I had the weekend to pick out the perfect outfit and figure out how I wanted to tame my hair into submission. Deciding to grab a small pumpkin spice latte on my way home as a reward for landing the interviews, I stopped at Beans and Things.
“Hi Rebekah!” the barista greeted me as I walked into the coffee shop.
“Hey, Victor! How’s the day been?”
Victor and I had quickly become friends, bonding over our joint love of books and pumpkin spice lattes. I’d spent quite a lot of time in here, just sitting and chatting with him. Victor had lived in Shadow Heights his whole life, staying in the same house that he grew up in.
I didn’t always buy a coffee when I came in, but that didn’t stop him from dropping a cup at my table every time I was here before he clocked out for his fifteen-minute break.
I didn’t want to get my hopes up, but Victor was becoming my best friend, and I could use that right now since I didn’t know many other people in town.
“Today has been hectic, but survivable.”
“Did a certain hottie come in today for his coffee?” I asked with a wink. Victor had told me about the man he had the hots for during one of our many chats.
“He did! And, get this, he ordered something different from his normal cup of black coffee.”
“No way! Well, don’t hold out on me, spill the beans!”
“Go find our table. I’ll grab your latte and bring it over.”
Nodding, I headed toward the back of the shop and dropped into the bean bags. There was no better spot to sit in the coffee shop, and my Little squealed each time I sat down. I was determined to one day get a bean bag just as big for my house!
“My lady, your pumpkin spice.”
“Thank you, kind sir. Now spill! I want all the details, so don’t even think about leaving anything out.”
Victor took a deep breath before starting to fill me in on his morning run-in with McHottie.
“I was scheduled to work the late shift today, so I was worried I wouldn’t get to see him.
The universe must have been on my side because not long after my shift started, I heard the bell go off.
” I nodded along as he continued his story.
“I turned around, ready to greet whoever came in, and all the words died on my lips as McHottie walked up to the counter. I looked like an idiot, just standing there staring at the man, but who could blame me? That man is a fine piece of pie.”
“Okay, so we gazed at him like normal. Got it.” I giggled at Victor, dodging the napkin ball he threw my way.
“Anyway, finally getting over myself, I told him I would ring up his normal order. Then get this,” he said, leaning in close.
“McHottie goes, ‘Can you recommend something for me?’” Victor’s eyes went huge as he whispered that like it was the secret Krabby Patty recipe.
“I swear, Bekah, I was flabbergasted. This man has been coming in here for weeks, and he has never once ordered something besides black coffee!”
“Okay, well, the bigger question is, what did you suggest? Your whole future relationship with McHottie depends on this suggestion.” I sat on the edge of my seat. I was living for this developing relationship. I felt like I had just as much invested as Vic did.
“Well, I didn’t want to suggest something too far out of his normal. Gotta ease the guy into the fancy stuff, you know? So, I made him a vanilla americano.”
I grinned. That was a good choice, still, espresso with just a touch of flavor. Perfect for someone who doesn’t drink fancy coffee, but wants to branch out.
“Great choice. So, what did he say?”
“He took a sip, let out a delicious groan that just about brought me to my knees, before dropping my tip on the counter and walking out.”
I couldn’t hold back the squeal that I let out. Nan always said the way to a man’s heart was through his belly, and Victor was already on the right track with McHottie. “Did you finally get his name this time?” I questioned.
“Ugh, no! I know everyone in this town, but this one seems to keep escaping my prying. I will score his name one day, but I’m willing to be patient.” I gave him a knowing look. In the short time I’d known Vic, I’d learned that patience isn’t his strong suit.
“Anyway, I gotta get back to work. I’ve got a few hours left before I can retreat home. Plan on hanging out?” he asked, standing and picking up his empty cup.
“Yeah, I’ve downloaded a new book on my Kindle, so I’m going to sit here and enjoy reading for a few hours before I go home.”
“Oh? What are we reading this time?”
Blushing, I thought about the book I found today. Victor and I also had something in common: we were both Littles. “I’m still playing catch-up on Piper Strickland’s Daddies Ink series, so of course I had to download Bash.”
“Ah! I downloaded that one too! I haven’t started it yet, though, so no spoilers, ma’am!”
“Deal! Now shoo, before your boss comes over here and fusses at us again.” Giving Victor a finger wave, I pulled my Kindle out and opened up the book, diving in.
I glanced up as a paper to-go cup floated above my head. Victor stood in front of me with his cup of coffee in hand and his bag on his shoulders, ready to leave. Oops, I hadn’t meant to stay this long, but the book was so distracting!
After putting my Kindle into my bag, I reached for the steaming cup of coffee. He offered, so I took it and was pulled from the bean bag that held me hostage. Laughing, I threw my bag over my shoulder and slipped my arm into his before following him out the door.
I bit back a giggle, thinking about the picture we painted.
Victor and I couldn’t be any more different on the outside.
Where I was in my purple sparkly Vans, cut-off jeans, and band tee, Victor was dressed head to toe in black.
ACDC band tee, black ripped skinny jeans, and Converse high-tops—he was the black cloud to my rainbow.
I loved that we were opposites of each other, an unlikely pairing.
“So, I told you about McHottie, but didn’t get a chance to ask you if anything interesting happened today to you.”
“I’VE GOT AN INTERVIEW ON MONDAY!” I shouted!
“Shhhh, girl, you’re going to wake the dead,” he said, a blush blooming across my face as I looked around to see if anyone heard my outburst. “That’s amazing, babe! Where’s the interview?”
“Shadow Force Tactical. I’m meeting with a man named Beau, apparently he owns the place.”
“Oooooooo, yes ma’am. I know exactly who that is.
Dare I say, that is another fine piece of pie?
Beau grew up here just like I did. I want to say he was a year or two ahead of me in school, but I remember that delicious man from the photos scattered along the high school walls.
He was the quarterback who led us to championships three years in a row.
” My mind raced, trying to picture the man that he was describing.
“If I remember correctly, he enlisted in the military right out of high school. I don’t know what he did, but it was top secret. ”
Great, my boss was going to be some uptight former soldier who probably wouldn’t know fun if it smacked him in the face. That was going to make for a horrible work environment, but I was determined to think positively.
“Well, I’m excited either way. I’m not sure exactly what the position is for. He said we would talk about it all on Monday during the interview. I emailed him back before I came to the coffee shop.”
“We really need to work on getting you a phone, girlfriend. Emailing people is such an old person thing to do.”
Letting out a giggle, I couldn’t help but agree.
A cell phone was a work in progress. I’d had one before, but when I ended up in the hospital and lost my job, I cut out the unnecessary expenses.
At least the ones I could survive without.
I should have gotten rid of my KU subscription as well, but I couldn’t bring myself to cut off the one thing that kept me sane during all those lonely, dark nights.
“Do you know what you are going to wear yet?” Victor asked, interrupting the nasty thoughts that had begun to creep in.
“I have no idea. I have some options in my closet that might work, though!” I said after a moment, thinking about what my closet had in it. It wasn’t like I had a whole bunch of things to choose from, but I was sure there was something in there that I could make work.
My wardrobe consisted of everything girly and sparkly, and while I loved that, I didn’t think it would be a good idea to wear something like that to a job interview. “I was going to spend the weekend planning out my outfit as well as trying to figure out my hair washing days.”
Anyone with curly hair like mine will tell you that it’s a whole process when it comes to planning hair washing to line up with activities that they might have.
“Care for some company? I have a pretty decent fashion sense, I mean, have you looked at what I’m wearing today?” I let out another giggle because I had seen what he was wearing. “No one in their right mind would say that you are lacking in the fashion department, Vic.”
My mind raced as I thought about what my house currently looked like. I would never allow myself to feel embarrassed about how far I had come, but worry crept along my spine anyway. I was proud of my little house, but what would Victor think?
Realizing that Vic was staring at me, waiting for a reply, I blurted, “Sure! I would love that. We can make a day of it?” I try to muster up as much enthusiasm as I could.
My acting skills must have been on point for once, because Victor clapped and bounced on the balls of his feet, before throwing his arms around me, pulling me into a bear hug.
Blowing him a kiss, I turned and started walking in the other direction, toward my house.
Slowing my steps, I came to a stop just outside Shadow Force Tactical.
My heart warmed at the thought that this might be my workplace for the foreseeable future.
A throat cleared behind me, causing my heart rate to skyrocket.
Slowly turning around, I came face-to-face with Zeus.
Okay, I know he was not really Zeus, but this man was as hot as could be.
“Are you lost, Little one?” the deep baritone voice questioned.
The cat must have caught my tongue because, for some reason, no words came out of my mouth.
All trains of thought left me as I stood there staring into his warm, milk-chocolate-colored eyes.
Giving myself a mental smack, I finally opened my mouth, murmuring, “No, Sir. Not lost, I don’t think.”
“You think or know?”
“Uh, know?”
The chuckle he let out sent a shiver down my spine. “That still sounded like a question.” He had me there, but it wasn’t like it was my fault that my brain had decided to take a hike at that moment. “Nope, no question. I know for certain that I’m not lost.”
I guess my statement was convincing enough because he stopped asking. “Anyway, uh, let me get out of your way,” I quickly spat out, side-stepping around him.
“What’s your name, Little girl?”
“Rebekah Simpson, but all my friends call me Bekah. Not that I think we are friends, we just met. So I’m not really sure why I just said that.” Embarrassment bloomed across my cheeks. I was an idiot on my best days, and apparently, today wasn’t one of those days.
“Rebekah, pretty name for a pretty lady.”
My blush deepened for another reason. The way this man could make panties melt off saints, I didn’t stand a chance. “Uh, well, like I said, I should go. Nice meeting you, Mr...…”
“Sinclair. Beau Sinclair.”
I gave a small wave and turned, rushing down the street as fast as I could without looking like I was trying to flee a crime scene with the police on my heels. My night couldn’t have ended in a worse way. How was I ever going to show my face on Monday?