“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.
Chapter 4
Holt
I heard Meg depart, telling Piper to call her if she needed her. Looking over at Piper I can see that the visit did her good. However, Meg’s words echo in my ear.You need to sleep sometime.Is she not sleeping? With the schedule she is keeping, she is going to make herself sick if she doesn’t get some kind of rest soon. My mind is turning. Carter is looking at me.
“Do you have something you would like to share,” I ask him. My teeth clenched. He chuckles. Carter is not affected by anything. I would like to think he isn’t afraid of anything. As a matter of fact, dangerous situations tend to amuse him.
“It’s just interesting to me. When you and your brother fall, you fall hard,” he chuckles again. As annoying as he is, he isn’t wrong.
“For the last 8 years I have watched both of you avoid a committed relationship like the plague. And now, it is like you are kamikazes running head first to your demise,” he takes a sip of his coffee thoughtfully. I take the opportunity to fire back a bit.
“Please, it isn’t like Holt and I are the only ones that have commitment issues. I don’t even think you let a woman spend a whole night in your bed,” I retort quickly. Carter blanches a little, but doesn’t deny it.
“I don’t,” he states simply. The tactic works. Without him arguing with me, I can’t continue to point out his commitment issues. Carter surprises me again.
“Your girl is tired, and it isn’t just from the job. Looks like she has a bit of PTSD. If I were you, I would see if I could find a way to crash at her place. Sleep does a world of good for that shit. Well, sleep, time, and talking about it,” he says. After dropping that bombshell, he stands up and walks away. Stopping at the counter briefly, he says goodbye. I watch her wave at Carter and turn to the customer at the register.
Once some time has passed, I make my way to her. My wheels are turning. How do I stay at her place—without making it look like it is because I’m worried about her. Usually I can think on my feet fairly quickly. This woman tends to jumble me up a bit.
“It’s almost closing time,” I point out. Uselessly. She knows when her shop closes. She looks at the clock though and her eyes widen. It is almost comical. Maybe it wasn’t a useless fact to point out.
“What are you doing for dinner tonight,” I ask her. An idea is formulating in my brain. It is half-baked, but it is the only thing I can think of at the time. She hums as she starts counting the cash in the drawer.
“I was thinking of picking up some pizza over at Angelos, I could bring it by your place with some beer. You must be exhausted,” I offer. She shrugs her shoulders.
“Holt, you don’t have to babysit me. You must have better things to do,” she states quietly.
“Piper, please I’m begging you. Save me from eating a whole pizza by myself,” I jokingly state. I hope she takes the bait. I see her starting to give in.
“Okay, fine—but I can’t stay up too late. I have to go to bed no later than 9:30. 4:00 in the morning comes quickly,” she explains.
“I promise, I will tuck you in myself no later than 9:30. Scouts honor,” I give what I think looks like the scouts salute. The brief look of amusement on her face confirms that I have missed the mark.
