Zach nodded and grabbed a greaseproof paper bag and a pair of tongs.
“Right away. Would you like a coffee?”
“I’d love one but you’re busy enough as it is,” I said.
“Oh it’s okay. I don’t mind. Everything good is worth waiting for,” he replied with a hint of a smile that made its way all the way to my heart.
If only that were true. Although, when I looked at him, I could almost believe it.
“If you’re sure, I’ll have your cinnamon latte, thanks.”
Zach got to work steaming my milk and I glanced at the line behind me that didn’t look like it was going down any time soon.
“No Teddy today?” I asked.
“I gave him the day off. After everything he’s been through, he deserves it, but he’ll be back tomorrow.”
I grunted a reply and shook my head. After everything he’d been through!
That was the understatement of the century. As if having your partner kidnapped and almost dying saving him was just a fluke. As if it wasn’t what happened to everyone else who had followed Wyatt on this island to help him with his stupid, fucking plan.
“And you’re doing all the work on one of the busiest days of the year all on your own?” I said.
He shrugged.
“I’m used to it.”
I glanced at his cake display and all the satisfied people around us and couldn’t help but stare back at Zach.
“I don’t know how you do it. You work all day, yet you always have tons of cakes available and a smile on your face. Are you sure you’re not a witch?”
Zach laughed.
“No. But I’m a witch’s cat,” he said and spread his hands as if to show off his costume.
“And what a cute cat you are,” I exclaimed before I could stop myself.
Don’t flirt with the baker, Dare. He doesn’t need that. Nobody needs that. Least of all you.
“Besides, I’m not alone. I’ve got Donovan here,” he said and cast his glance behind me.
I turned and looked at the tall man with the dark hair and big muscles who was busy talking to a short brunette and waved at them both. I couldn’t help but feel sorry for both Donovan, my ex-SEAL teammate, and Autumn, Wyatt’s bar manager. They had followed Wyatt here under the promise of protection and community in exchange for help with his mission to bring down the crime syndicate that had overtaken the island. His foolish plan had gotten people close to death more than a few times. Wyatt should be locked up for what he was doing to these people; for pitting them against a dangerous organization that would protect themselves by any means necessary.
“What’s the point of Donovan being here if he’s not going to help you in the truck?” I asked Zach, shaking Wyatt and his stupidity off my mind.
“He tried, god bless him, but he almost made my espresso machine blow up so he’s on customer satisfaction duty,” Zach replied.
I glanced at Donovan again as he attempted to put his arm around Autumn’s waist, but she pushed him off her and rolled her eyes as if in disbelief he would do that.
“He seems to be dealing exclusively with one customer,” I said.
Zach laughed.
“Yeah. Tell me about it. Those two have been pretending they’re not interested in each other for forever. I don’t know why they don’t get together already,” he said and I chuckled.
“Maybe they’ve got their reasons,” I told him, and he gave me my coffee cup.
Our fingers brushed against each other, and I felt a zing all up my arm that gave me goosebumps.
