“See, Olive’s able to ask a man out for a date,” Carolina mutters. “It’s not that hard.”
“Aw, Creampuff, is that what this is about? You want to ask me out?”
“No.” I seethe, fists clenched.
“You should. I think you would be cute together,” Olive chirps as she does something unholy with my poor abused coffee machine. “Venti double-mocha raspberry!” she calls out.
I don’t even have to look at it to know that she did it wrong.
“Go on.” He leans over the counter, smug. “Ask me out just so I can say no.”
Do I swallow my pride? Take charge of my destiny?
Never.
I pick up that nasty cup of coffee sludge, and I throw it all over his fancy suit.
Carolina gasps.
Olive whines, “I didn’t mess it up that bad, Winnie!”
The influencer girls rush over to hover around The Douche, dabbing at him with wads of napkins.
“You—” He reaches across the counter like he’s about to grab me by the neck, shake me, make me pay.
I gulp and take a step back.
His hand closes into a fist, and he jerks it back.
“Get out of my café.” No, my voice isn’t trembling. I didn’t drink enough water today, okay?
Fidget, who cannot read the room, has trundled around the counter to lick at the coffee slushie dripping onto his shiny Italian leather shoes.
“You are banned from the Brew & Browse for all eternity,” I announce, stronger, as Fidget’s cone knocks against the sugar-and-spice rack as she tries to lick up the whipped cream.
“Oh, I don’t think so.” The growl rolls off his tongue. “I’m not done with you, Creampuff.” His hand slips briefly into the breast pocket of his suit and pulls out a set of folded papers. “This is my café now. I am the new owner of this tower and the land it sits on, and you have thirty days to vacate.”
2
FITZGERALD
It’s not stalking if you’re a wealthy, powerful, attractive man. It’s just a flattering gesture of appreciation.
Winnie wants me to be involved in her life. From the minute I walked into the Brew & Browse and saw those brown eyes widen and her cheeks flush, I knew she wanted to be mine, even if she wouldn’t admit it.
And I knew I had to have her.
My brother calls me as I follow a few car lengths behind her through rush-hour traffic in rainy Seattle. My vehicle is just another black luxury sedan in a sea of them.
Winnie’s chunky border collie sits in the front seat and stares into the abyss as Winnie sings along to the radio.
Her car’s gears grind as she makes a hard right turn.
I need to check the oil in her car tonight after she goes to bed. I’ve been leaving pamphlets for oil changes. I evenleft a goddamn gift card, but she just chucks all her mail on her coffee table and doesn’t go through it.
And I need to find a replacement dishwasher. Her filter’s shot. Winnie is neglecting her home life. She’s lucky she has me looking out for her.
It’s strange because she runs the Brew & Browse like the Navy.
