Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
Mila
“What the fuck was that?” Mara blurts out the moment Kash leaves.
I’m not prepared to answer her because no one really knows we’ve been talking, or that we watched a meteor shower together until I fell asleep in the hammock next to him.
No one knows that I haven’t changed his name on my phone, and that I don’t know if I want to.
I don’t think Kash is my future husband, but he seems to have a good heart, and I promised Cora I’d try to be friends with him.
She and Atlas are definitely serious now, so I have to get used to seeing him around.
Opting for continued denial, I give her my best confused look. “What do you mean?”
“Oh, don’t try that with me. Why is Kash here all the time, and what’s going on with you guys?”
“There’s nothing going on,” I admit truthfully. I mean, we’ve hung out, but I don’t think it’s newsworthy.
“Right.” She snorts. “That’s why he just threatened to pull the arms off Andrew because he was yelling. What is it with those guys and butting in and threatening people? That’s my job.”
Shrugging, I grab my clipboard to take it to the office. “I can’t control what he does any more than I can control where lightning strikes.”
“You could always put a metal pole on a beach like that one guy in a movie.”
“Yeah, because I’m going to be running around with metal poles in the middle of a storm. Smart.”
Giving me a contemplative look, she asks, “Is it smart to be around Kash?”
There is nothing wrong with Kash, so the way she says it makes me feel defensive of him.
Sure, he has a reputation for being a ladies' man, and the guys joke about it a lot, but he’s been kind to me. A little flirty, sure, but I think that’s just how he is. He’s friendly, but not serious.
“Don’t you have to go to the bank?” I ask, choosing to ignore her question.
“Shit. Yes. I’ll be back. Can you watch the front?” Mara asks, not waiting for an answer as she walks out the back door.
“Yeah.” I sigh while sliding the clipboard back onto its hook on the wall.
Considering how Andrew just behaved, I make a mental note to look into another vendor anyway for once our contract is done.
I don’t want to be in business with someone who operates like that.
We got used to talking with his wife Margot a lot, but she passed last year.
That could have something to do with it.
Walking back out to the front, I’m thankful to see Joelle.
“So, that sounded fun.”
Scoffing, I take stock of what’s left in the case. “Yeah, it was something.”
“Your guy grabbed a few more things before he left again.”
“My guy?”
“Yep. Tall, tattooed, sexy smile, eyes only for you, hair you just know is soft as fuck.” She grins, giving me a knowing look.
“Hush. Go clean tables or something.”
“Sure, sure, boss. Whatever you need.” Joelle winks, then wanders off, grabbing a cleaning rag.
Wiping down the front counter, I stop to look around our shop. There are a few tables occupied, but due to the time of day, we aren’t overly busy. Mara tends to go to the bank at the same time each week, so we can keep up with the bookkeeping and deposits when it’s not busy as hell.
I’m so lost in my thoughts, I don’t see the person standing in front of the case until I hear a voice say, “Wow. You’re gorgeous.”
Snapping up to see the newcomer, I’m expecting to see Kash or something, but it’s a man about my age. Laughing, I toss the cloth into a bucket and quickly wash my hands.
“Thanks? You’re not too bad yourself.” I’m not lying either. With his messy dark brown hair and light eyes, he’s the kind of man girls go crazy for. Tall, handsome and a smile that would make any normal person swoon. If only I didn’t already have a man occupying my thoughts.
Holding out his hand, he introduces himself. “Sorry. I’m Jake, and I lack a filter.”
“Mila,” I respond, shaking his in return.
“So, do you know what’s good here? I moved here a few months ago, and I’m exploring some of the local spots.”
“Well, I might be biased, but I think it’s all pretty good. My twin sister and I own it,” I tell him with pride.
“No way! Where is she? Are you guys identical?”
“We are... to a point.” I laugh. We have most of the same features, but Mara treats her body like an art canvas and pin cushion... me, not so much.
“I get that. I had a friend who has a twin brother. She hates when people ask if they’re identical.” He shakes his head.
“Yeah, that would be a bit hard to do. So, back to your original question. I can offer you a few suggestions if you’d like.”
“How about you surprise me? I’m way too indecisive.” He smiles.
“Okay, do you want a drink and pastries or...?” I trail off. Mara isn’t exactly personable all the time, or patient, so I like to chat with our customers when I can.
“Let’s do both.” He winks. “I’m easy to please, so whatever you think is good.”
“Sounds great. I’ll make you one of our house special drinks to try and grab a couple of our top sellers. Are you allergic to anything at all?”
“That sounds perfect, and nope. No allergies here.”
We have so many things that people love, it’s almost difficult to choose.
I grab a box and some wax paper, landing on four different pastries.
Our buttery croissant, maple scone, fudge brownie and of course, the cranberry orange muffin.
There’s still a few left here; maybe I’ll drop some off to Cora later on.
I sit his box on the counter and pull a few things out as the grinder turns coffee beans into grounds, and I start his drink.
“So, what do you do for fun around here?”
“Not a lot, actually. Occasionally a band plays at this bar on the outskirts of town,” I tell him and internally wince at the memory of the last time we were there. Girls’ night, my ass!
“Oh really? What’s it called?”
“The Gravel Pit.”
“That sounds like a good time. I’ll have to check it out sometime. Maybe I’ll see you there,” he offers suggestively.
“You never know.” I shrug noncommittedly as I slide his drink across the counter.
“It was great to meet you.” He reaches for the box, tucking it under his arm, then cradles his drink in his hand. Jake lets out a groan as he takes a sip of our signature Honey Vanilla latte. It was Mara’s idea, and at first I was apprehensive, but it tastes amazing.
“Same. I hope you come see us again.”
“Oh, I’ll definitely be back,” Jake promises, tipping his cup in my direction. “Thanks again.”
As soon as he exits, I grab the cloth and resume wiping down the counters. Mara should be back soon, and I think I’m ready to call it a day.
Like I’ve summoned her myself, Mara’s voice chirps through the lobby as she approaches the counter, bank bag in hand. “How were my little elves in my absence?”
I pin her with a look. When I was seven, I dressed up like a gnome for Halloween, and Mara has called me an elf ever since. It’s not even the same thing. “Are you ever nice?”
“That’s all you, Mils. You’re more capable of being friendly.” She brushes past me, heading for our small office.
I trail after her, trying to not feel defensive again. “Why do I feel like that’s not a compliment?” I stand in the doorway of the office and watch as she files the slips away.
“I couldn’t tell ya, Mils. We are who we are. You’re just the nicer one.”
“Well, at least one of us is.”
“Could you imagine if we were both nice?” She shudders. “Mom and Dad would have been so bored with us.”
I recall some of the stuff we put our parents through as kids and laugh. We used to pretend to be each other, and it worked well until Mara started to alter her appearance. It’d be impossible now.
“That is true. They did get a two-for-one deal after all. Had to get their money’s worth.”
“Exactly. We balance each other perfectly, Mils. You’re the light to my dark, the thumbs-up to my middle finger.”
“You make it sound like you’re a monster, Mara. You aren’t that bad,” I chide gently.
“Well, I guess that just depends on who you are and who you ask,” she responds, walking past me. “Back to work, my favorite Little Elf. Those brownies won’t make themselves.”
“Of course. I live to serve you, your majesty.” I mockingly bow.
“Thanks, peasant!” she hollers as she pushes through the kitchen door, toward the front.
I chuckle and pull out ingredients for a small batch of brownies, but only because I’m going to take some to Cora for Noah. It’s definitely not because Mara told me to.