Jeanie joined her behind the counter.“You’re very popular, but I knew you would be.”
“This is a dream come true.”
A shadow fell across the counter, and before she even looked up, she knew who it was.
“Hi, beautiful,” Caesar said, his voice warm like honey.
“Morning,” she said.
“How are you, Jeanie?”
“I’m great.Especially with your lovely mate handling the drink orders.”
“We make an awesome team,” Sera said.Jeanie nodded enthusiastically.
He held up his travel mug that had a watercolor lion leaping across a grassy field.“I was wondering if I could get something sweet from my sweetheart?”
She took the mug from him.“What would you like?”
“Regular with the vanilla cream, please.”He leaned on the counter and smiled in a ferally sexy sort of way.“And a cinnamon roll to go too.”
“You got it.”
As she worked, she was aware he was watching her, his expression soft with affection.“You look really happy.”
“I am.I don’t think I’ve stopped smiling since I made the first coffee before six.”
She put the cinnamon roll in a paper bag and handed him the coffee.He took a drink and hummed.“Perfect.Just like you.”
“A girl could get used to so many compliments.”
“You should, I plan to compliment youoften.”The way he said the last word made her whole body tingle.The male was too sexy for his own good.
He leaned over and kissed her.“I’m so proud of you, Sera.Do you want to meet for lunch in the employee cafeteria topside?”
“Absolutely.”
She watched him walk off, her chest swelling with love for him.She was living a dream she’d never dared to even wish for.
The morning flew by.More shifters came through than she’d expected, and by eleven, all the pastries were gone and the crowd had thinned to a trickle.She cleaned the espresso machine and topped off the drip carafes, setting out a laminated sign that read:Self-serve coffee station open until 1pm.Creamers and sweeteners in the cooler.Enjoy!
“Oh, hi!”a feminine voice said.
Sera stopped mid-motion as she was untying her apron.“Hello.”
“I’m Heidi.”
“Oh, right!Hi, I’m Sera.”She took off her apron and shook Heidi’s offered hand.The pretty brunette had intense green eyes and a kind smile.
“I’m sorry I didn’t make it here before you closed up for the morning.I was helping out in the petting zoo, cleaning out the stalls, and it took longer than expected.How was the first day?”
“It was amazing.Jeanie said you might be interested in helping out with the café?”
“I would love to.”The two sat at a table after Heidi fixed herself a coffee with milk and sugar.“I’ve always been a jill-of-all-trades, and never really had anything that I did all the time.I move to where I’m needed, and I never know what I might be doing.Most of the time, I work in the offices doing whatever odds and ends are needed, and I fill in at the ticket booth, the season ticket office, the security office, and I’ve helped with the tours too.”
“That’s quite a resume.Are you looking for something more permanent?”
“Yes, definitely.I’m twenty-three and think it’s high time that I actually settled into something.And I love coffee.I’m a quick learner and am also an early bird, so I don’t mind starting work early.If you’d like an extra pair of hands, I’m your girl.”
