Page 26 of An Espresso Machine’s Guide to Love & Mischief

She’s the exact opposite of rude penguin receptionist Molly. Her hair is blonde, she’s wearing zero makeup, and her style is understated instead of in-your-face like Molly’s.

“Hey, Barb,” Donovan greets her. “We’ve got a delivery for the big boss. Fancy coffee machine. Nephrite here says it comes all the way from Italy.”

“That’s right.” Neph doesn’t quite meet Barb’s eye. “It’s super expensive.”

“Is that right?” Barb asks.

Oh great. Another gatekeeper and I’m all out of water. I feel all dried out, like that time I accidentally ate silica packs that had fallen into a bowl of tabouli. I may have been drunk… or stoned… or both.

“Very, very, expensive,” Neph says. “Custom-made.”

“Mr. Del Ray will love that,” Barb says. “ Please step right through the security scanner and come on in.”

“Oh… is it safe for the espresso machine?” Neph asks.

Ah, crap. I forgot about that. I’ve been through hundreds of scanners at airports all around the world, but never as a machine. Even in New York, I bypassed it entirely and ended up in cargo—an experience I’d prefer not to repeat.

“Of course,” the receptionist says. “Donovan, miss, just walk all through and stand right there.”

Neph and the guard shuffle into the center of the metal doorway with me in their arms and stand still as it scans us.

This Milan has a hell of a lot of security. He must be expecting trouble—for the first time, doubt creeps through me like a rat inside the walls of a house. I could always talk my way into or out of anything before now, but… what if Milan doesn’t listen? What if he responds by throwing me out—literally—and arresting Neph?

“All clear,” the receptionist says. “Come on in.”

“This way,” Donovan says to Neph, even though there’s only one way to go.

They carry me to the receptionist’s desk and place me down on its shining glass surface.

“I’ll just let Mr. Del Ray know you’re here,” Barb smiles and taps the bluetooth device in her ear.

There’s a loud, piercing scream.

Neph jumps. Donovan yelps. I look around wildly.

“Raccoon!” Barb screams. “Get him.”

Raccoon? I scan the floor, but there’s no sign of the creature. I check the couch against the wall and the… well, that and the desk and the scanner are the only things in this room. No sign of a raccoon.

“Security? We have a raccoon on the southwest side, penthouse level. I repeat, we have a raccoon on the southwest side, penthouse level.”

It takes a few seconds for me to process her words, and I snap my gaze to the window. I only see buildings, clouds, and—

My thoughts trail off as our eyes meet.

In that one moment, time stands still. The shouts around us fade into background noise, and it’s just me and the adorable little creature sitting on the outside window ledge.

He stares right into the office building, his eyes trained on me just like mine are on him—not that he can tell.

The raccoon’s fur looks soft and fluffy and clean. His whiskers are long and give his face a softer, sweeter air. The black circles around his eyes lend him a mischievous look, and I wonder—

“How did it get up there?” Neph asks for me. This is why we’re besties. The girl read my mind. I just hope she’s not as attracted to the raccoon as I am.

“He. Is. Mine!” I snap.

“What?” Neph asks in surprise.

“That’s your raccoon?” Donovan asks. Loudly. Very loudly. He spins around to look at Neph and me.