Sera smiled at Heidi’s enthusiasm.“I’d love to have your help.You can start tomorrow unless you’re assigned to the petting zoo again?”
“No, that was just today that they needed help.I’m very free.What time?”
“If it’s not too early, I got here at four, and I think the timing was really good because people were coming through around five thirty.”
“The morning shift starts at six, so that makes sense that they’d be here earlier than that.Normally, Jeanie puts coffee out for people to grab and the bears stock the employee cafeteria with sandwiches and drinks, but we’ve never had a real coffee shop before.It’s so exciting.”
“Welcome aboard,” Sera said.
They stood and Heidi gave her a quick hug.“Thanks for giving me a shot.”
“You bet.I’ll see you tomorrow around four.Joss is having someone create shirts for us, but you can wear whatever you’d like.”
“I will.See you!”
Heidi left and Sera turned back to the counter to finish cleaning up.Jeanie grinned.“She’s a sweet girl.”
“She is!I think she’ll fit right in.She seems really eager.”
“She’s been looking for something to call her own for a while.I think it happens to the wolves as they get older—they start to want to settle down with a job and carve out a place for themselves.”
“I get that.I felt the same way after coming here.”Even her daughter had made a place for herself at the farm, handling breakfast for the stallions and their mates, and working with the alpha female Zara to tend to the gardens.
“I’m getting lunch going.If you need any supplies for breakfast items, let me know.”
“I will.I’m going to work on a menu so I know what I’m making every day.”
“Perfect.Have a good lunch.See you later!”
She parted ways with the alpha female and headed up to the employee cafeteria.She found Caesar at the counter looking at the lunch offerings that had been brought over by the bears who worked in the commercial kitchen that was located near the cafeteria.They greeted each other with a warm kiss and hug, and then chose plates from under the warmer: pot roast and mashed potatoes for him, and a wedge of chicken and rice casserole for her with a side of steamed veggies.
After grabbing drinks, they settled at a table near the windows that overlooked the park.
Amadeus and his friends Xavier and Hyde joined them with plates and drinks of their own.They swapped stories about the morning patrols and the updates to the security systems.Sera listened, fascinated.Caesar kept a hand on her knee under the table, gently tracing circles against her jeans.
“The café is a hit,” Xavier said.“That cinnamon roll is the best one I’ve ever had.”
“Thank you,” she said.“I had so much fun this morning.”
“It’ll be awesome to get the topside shop going,” Hyde said.“Can I join the construction crew?I could use a break from food prep for a while.”
“We’d love to have you on board,” Caesar said.“We’re still in the planning phase, but the hope is to break ground by mid-October.”
Sera giggled.She really couldn’t wait.
After the guys left and it was just her and Caesar, he turned in his seat and said, “You’re really happy?”
“I am.Everything that you’ve done for me is just…more than I ever imagined my life would be like.”
“I’d give you the world if I could.”
She was going to suggest they head down to the house for a little tumble in the sheets before he went back to patrolling when Justus walked into the cafeteria, a grim look on his face.
Sera’s stomach felt like it was suddenly filled with lead.
He held a large envelope.“This just came in with the day’s mail,” he said, holding it out to Caesar.“It’s got your name on it.”
Caesar stood slowly and took the envelope.The moment he brought it close, his nostrils flared and he growled.“I smell jaguars.”
