Chapter 3
Piper
I take Mrs. Landry’s card and swipe it, numbly.
The rush is almost over. Then I can sit down for a while before the early lunch crowd.
I hear the bell ding as the door opens, and internally groan.
Another customer. I thought I was in the clear.
Most of my customers need to be in their offices by now.
I look up and see Holt, sauntering in. What is he doing back here?
Mrs. Landry follows my gaze and chuckles. She shakes her head. Grabbing her paper bag, she looks at me.
“Have a good day, Mrs. Landry,” I say. When in doubt, it is better to ignore an awkward situation. I find if I just bulldoze my way through to the other side, it is easy to pretend something didn’t happen.
She clucks her tongue at me, but walks out. I’m sure she will be back tomorrow morning— where I will receive more unsolicited advice about my nonexistent love life. I roll my eyes and watch as Holt reaches the counter. I clear my throat. Not sure what to say. Of course, he saves me.
“Hey Piper, I needed another coffee. I’m dragging today,” he explains. I nod quickly. Again, happy to have something to do.
“Did you want the same roast you had this morning,” I asked him. I’m turning around grabbing a cup.
“Surprise me,” I hear the amused tone in his voice. He thinks I’m crazy. I know he does. Heck, he is probably right. I prove that to myself daily. I consider his request and decide to give him a red eye—a Colombian roast with a shot of espresso. I planned on making one for myself anyway.
I busy myself behind the counter. I feel the weight of Holt’s gaze on my back. I know he is looking for cracks in my armor, weaknesses that I don’t want to show him. I’m fine.
Nothing happened.
“So, how has the morning been,” he asks casually. My back is still turned to him as I make our coffees. Small talk. I can do that.
“Busy, but that is pretty standard. I’m glad to have a break between the rush,” I explain as I turn around to hand him his cup. He has the same concerned look on his face that he had earlier this morning. I volley the conversation back to him.
“How was your morning,” I ask curiously. I know that he does a variety of things all in relation to the private security business he owns, but he is always a bit vague. I guess he has to be.
“Uneventful,” he states in one word, effectively ending my inquiry. He takes a small sip of the coffee. I watch his throat contract as he does it. I swallow hard. Stop it now. I mentally slap myself.
“This is good, thanks,” he compliments me. I look up into his blue eyes, quickly and then avert my gaze.
“No problem, I was making one for myself,” I pull a stool over to the register and sit down for a few minutes. Sighing. My feet are thankful for the break.
“Carter will be here in a bit, we are going to work a little. We will be in the back corner over there,” he explains.
I nod, as if he needs my permission. Before I can think of anything else, he smirks and heads to the back area of the cafe.
The bell rings on the door and I look up.
My best friend, Meg, is walking in. Trailing behind her is her brooding but totally hot boyfriend, Sterling.
Also known as Holt’s brother. Their genetic make-up should be studied.
It’s completely unfair that both brothers are so attractive.
“Meg, are you here for your coffee fix,” I ask her light heartedly. I’m so happy to see her. It has been a couple of days. Normally we don’t go more than one day without seeing each other. It has been that way for years.
I’m so happy that she found Sterling, and I want to give her the space she needs to explore this relationship. I do miss her though, I won’t lie about that.
“More like my bestie fix! I miss your face,” she says cheerfully. Looking at her closely, I can see she looks a bit tired. Happy, but tired.
“I miss you too,” I return, and make my way around the counter to hug her. We embrace for a bit until I hear Sterling clear his throat.
“Hey Sterling,” I say, as we untangle ourselves from each other. He crosses his arms over his chest and looks at us in amusement.
“I’m going to check in with Holt,” he nods in the direction of where Holt is sitting. He looks over at Meg for a second, and I nearly swoon when he grabs her and and pulls her to him. She gasps in surprise.
Taking advantage of her surprise, he cups her face with his massive hands and kisses her. My best friend melts into his chest. He pulls away, tapping her on the nose and nodding.
Struggling to get my wits about me, I finally close my mouth. She looks at me in a daze and touches her lips with the tips of her fingers.
“Get your mind out of the gutter, Wilson,” I say jokingly. She shakes her head and glares at me.
“I can’t help it,” she stomps her foot. Then she runs her hands through her messy chin length bob.
“He is so distracting, it is a problem. I can’t get any work done! How do people live like this,” she is almost complaining.
“Oh poor you, I feel terrible for you. Its so awful to have a brooding, protective, hottie that is utterly devoted to you” I say sarcastically, as I start making her usual macchiato. She sighs again.
“You are right. So, tell me what’s going on with you,” she asks. Before I can answer her she starts talking again.
“I feel like such a bitch, I haven’t been a good friend lately and I need to hear about your life,” She blurts out frustratedly. I giggle and extend her coffee to her.
“You aren’t a bitch. We were texting a few hours ago. We saw each other last week,” I started to explain.
“Last week! See? It has been too long. Now spill, what is happening with you,” she won’t let it go. So I pull up another chair behind the counter and motion for her to join me. I figure I can ease into this.
“I don’t know Meg, there really isn’t much new. I’m just working all the time these days,” I say. I’m trying not to whine. It isn’t attractive, and I don’t want to be that person.
“I’m worried about you, Piper. I know you tried to hire some part-time help before, but you need someone else to work in here. You can’t keep going on like this,” Meg jumps in.
“I know you are right, I put an ad out in the High Ridge paper this week and on our social media channels,” I say to her.
“That is good, I will call the Chamber too. They have a job board. Plus they may know of someone looking for part-time work. We will solve this problem,” she declares. That is Meg for you. Problem solver, project manager, event planner. She wears a lot of hats and somehow makes it seem so easy.
“Now what else is happening,” she can tell I am holding back. We both know each other too well.
“It’s nothing, really,” I trail off. Her dark eyebrow is raised above the rim of her glasses. She doesn’t buy what I’m selling at all.
“I’m just having some trouble sleeping,” I reluctantly admit to her. Watching her reaction I see her nod.
“Me too,” she agrees and grabs my hand. After a few minutes the look on her face gets dark.
“I can’t imagine how much worse it would be if I didn’t have company,” she says. I shrug a little.
“It isn’t that bad, its not like the guy was after me. Compared to what you went through this was-“, Meg cuts me off mid sentence.
“This isn’t about comparisons! Everyone deals with things differently. I’m sorry that I unknowingly pulled you into my problems,” she sighs. Her shoulders slump in dejection.
“Hey, don’t feel that way! It isn’t your fault! Besides, we share everything anyway—what’s a little trauma between friends,” I say jokingly. She smiles sadly.
“I’m kidding, lighten up. Do I need to get Sterling to come over here,” I ask her jokingly. She rolls her eyes at me.
“Okay, okay. Want me to stay over at your place for a while? We can drink bad wine, watch equally bad television, and eat a bunch of take-out,” she wiggles her eyebrows. I don’t want her to feel like she has to babysit me. For a minute, I’m tempted to say yes. I shake my head.
“No way, I’m not going to cock block you,” I say jokingly. Someone clears their throat and I look up at the register. Carter is standing there. An amused look on his face. There is no doubt in my mind that he overheard. My cheeks turn red. Meg laughs. I glare at her and turn towards him.
“Can I get you something,” I ask him politely.
Carter is an enigma. Quiet, intimidating, tall and muscles on top of muscles.
He brings a large hand up and runs it through his dark blonde hair.
His green eyes study me with a penetrating stare.
Carter looks at everyone as if they are a puzzle to be solved.
“Coffee, black,” he states simply. I nod. While Carter is scary and hot, he doesn’t make me nervous like Holt. Holt sets me off balance. I can barely remember my name when Holt stands within 5 feet of me.
I found myself wondering again, why Western North Carolina ended up as the landing spot for these beautiful specimens.
When they say lightning doesn’t strike twice, they were right.
It struck three times. I hand him the coffee.
He slides a five dollar bill across the counter and walks to the back, silently.
“What is with those three, they are like ninjas,” I complain to Meg. She nods emphatically.
“I know, Sterling scares the crap out of me at least 5 times a day. It is like they all went to this special school,” she runs her hand through her hair again and shakes her empty cup at me.
“Quick— give me a refill, Sterling has been limiting my caffeine intake. Says that it’s unhealthy,” she whines at me. I chuckle.
“Limiting you? He realizes you practically have coffee running through your veins,” I ask her.
“I tried to tell him, but he says that 4 cups a day is plenty. Do you believe that,” she looks at me outraged. I bite back a smile.
“Only 4,” I ask. I am egging her on. I missed this banter. It instantly has lifted my spirits. She squints her eyes at me and puts her hands on her rounded hips.
“I’m being serious,” she whisper yells. I take pity on her and grab her cup. I quickly make her another macchiato and add a second espresso shot.
“That should get you by,” I say. I do it in the nick of time too. Sterling is approaching the counter. I look at the clock and see that it is almost time for the lunch rush to start.
“You ready to go Meg,” Sterling asks her. She hops down from the stool. She gives me a hug. You would think it had been 4 years not 4 days since we had seen each other.
“I mean it Piper, if you need me call! I don’t mind crashing with you for a while. It would be fun. You need to sleep sometime,” she says as she makes her way to the door. I wave her off and tell her to text me later.