“Welcome to Beach Brew, how can I help you?” greets a twenty-something, long blonde-haired woman. Her peppy demeanor isn’t forced, and she actually seems glad to be greeting her early morning guests.
I rub the back of my neck, a little nervous about the next thing that’s going to come out of my mouth. I’m a fucking professional at blending in and lying, and I’m nervous about asking a simple question? I suppose it could come off as stalkery and maybe that’s why I become a bumbling mess. “A Mocha Choca Latte and…uh… whatever Jordan gets.”
The woman's ocean blue eyes snap from her POS system to me, her hands pausing before she puts the order in. “Jordan, huh?” she questions, lifting a perfectly arched brow.
I’m hoping my charm gets me what I want, and I crack a grin. “I’m one of her regulars during the week and I’m accompanying her to a photoshoot today.” It’s the truth. Just not the whole truth.
Will she buy it? I’m not sure, but I’m crossing my fingers.
Her eyes widen a touch, and she looks me up and down. A grin forms on her face and she says, “She told me you were hot, but she didn’t tell me that you were smoking hot, Mr.Special Forces.” And then throws me a playful wink. “I’ve got you covered; don’t you worry.”
I’m confused by the name but don’t ask questions. When I go to hand her cash, she tells me, “It’s on the house for saving Jordan’s life. And her favorite is a caramel macchiato with extra caramel, by the way.”
I give a nod of thanks, leave the money on the counter, and file the information away for later.
“Also…” she says before I walk off, “I heard about yesterday and I’m not happy about it. Just keep her safe so we all don’t have to worry about her.”
She didn’t ask mewhyI was accompanying her today but somehow knows that it’s to keep her safe. Her gut is right. I nod my head at her. “Will do.” And she gives me an appreciative smile.
It sounds like there’s a whole bunch of people worried about Jordan. More worried than she is. She was robbed twice in one week. One of which she could have avoided. If it were up to me, I would be her personal bodyguard twenty-four-seven at this point.
I wait for my drinks to be made at the other end of the counter and a few minutes later a middle-aged woman yells out, “I have a Mocha Choca Latte and a caramel macchiato for a Mr. Delta Force.”
Her face looks a little confused at the name, but per my deduction skills, I’m going to assume that’s me she’s referring to. I give her a quick thanks, grab both coffees, and head out the door, back to Jordan’s apartment.
There’s one of two ways this morning could go. The door could get slammed in my face or the door could get slammed in my face.
I’m under no illusion that this is normal. But I either knock on her door, giving her enough time to accept the fact thatshe’s not going alone to her job today, or I surprise her when she meets the client. And I’m pretty sure she would be pissed as fuck with option B.
She’s going to be blindsided either way, I’m fully aware of that fact. Therefore, I need to tread lightly this morning and try not to poke the bear. Hence the coffee.
I’m not sure if she’s awake yet but I decide to take a chance and knock on her door once I get back to her apartment.
I hear a slight rustling behind the door and then she says, “Just a minute!”
I shift on my feet, waiting patiently for her arrival. My heart rate is spiking at the mere thought of seeing her and I would be lying if I said I wasn’t excited.
The door swings open a moment later. “I’m not interested… what in the actual fuck.” Her eyes are wide and full of surprise. The first thing I notice is she’s wearing a crop tank and some seriously short sleep shorts with her hair half haphazardly tossed in a messy bun.
Fuck. She’s gorgeous in the morning.
And just like I thought, she slams the door in my face. “What are you doing here?” I hear her muffled voice ask from behind the door.
I hold up the caramel macchiato to the peephole. The peephole I’m pretty sure she didn’t look through before she opened the door to a stranger. “I brought you coffee.”
To my surprise, she opens the door, but this time the chain lock is in place, and I can only see one eye as she peeks through the small opening. “How do you know where I live? Are you stalking me?”
I smile because she’s not too far off but shake my head. “I’m here to accompany you to your photoshoot today. Ran into your little friend last night and he told me what happened yesterday.”
“There’s no way you talked to Kyle. You hate him as much as he hates you.”
“Kyle and I came to a mutual agreement about your safety. Mary was extremely kind too,” I say, shoving the cup of coffee closer to her.
She eyes the caramel macchiato like she wants to take it and I can see her chew on her bottom lip in thought. A lip I’ve spent too many nights thinking about. “How do you know where I live?” she asks as her eyes narrow at me.
I could lie to her but go with the truth instead. “I followed Kyle home last night because I remember he said he lives above you.”
Her forest green eyes go round. “Excuse me? Are you crazy or something?” She doesn’t sound too happy, but that was a chance I was willing to take.
