Page 25

My eyebrows went up. “You’re definitely prettier than me.”

He snatched his shades off to grin down at me. “I like you bitch.”

“Thank you, I think.”

He tossed me a wave, and then went back to… tanning, I guess. Whatever he was doing, I was clearly dismissed, so I returned to my business of getting across the street, and into Urban Grind, which was already packed.

Primepeople watching material.

I made a quick decision that instead of leaving with my drink, I would actually stick around, finding myself a quiet corner. Halfway through the line, I heard my name called, bringing an instant frown to my face as I peered up to the counter, where the woman I’d identified as a manager was holding up a cup, and looking straight at me.

“Tempest – I’ve got your Mocha-Matcha Melee ready.”

Confused, I stepped out of line to approach Anika – that was her name, according to the badge pinned to her chest. “Um… I haven’t even ordered yet…”

“Yeah, but you get this every day… unless you were switching it up?”

“No,” I admitted. “I guess it didn’t occur to me that anybody was paying that much attention to me.”

I definitely should’ve.

“We make it a point to identify our regulars,” she grinned, handing me the cup. “No creepiness intended.”

I shook my head. “It’s fine, really. At least I don’t have to wait in line. It’s three-eighty-two, right?”

Her grin stretched wider. “You’re already taken care of, actually. Tristan had me put you on his tab.”

Really?

Unbidden, a smile came to my face before I mentally smacked it back down, realizing that shit like this was… exactly what I didn’t need.

Probably.

“Motherfucker,” I grunted, and Anika’s eyes got big, the grin dropping from her face.

“Ah, hell – I thought it was a cute thing since he obviously likes you, but I’m not accidentally helping that nigga with any stalker shit, am I? Cause I can have his ass kicked for you. It might take a few people,” she murmured, frowning as she really considered it.

“No, nothing like that,” I quickly cleared up, before she took those thoughts too far. “It’s not really a problem. I … I’m…shit.”

“Not sure about him?” she asked, leaning over the counter so she could lower her voice. “If it helps, I’ve not heard anythingbadabout him. He’s only lived here a few years –Blackwoodtransplant. He does security for us a couple nights a week. Cute. Funny. Never seen him on any disrespectful or inappropriate energy, all that. He’s cool.”

“Yeah… I don’t know. He’s a littletoofine. Too smooth.”

Anika nodded, laughing as she straightened up. “I will not front like I don’t understandthat. I spent as long as I could dodging it, personally, so… I get it. But… you paying for your own drinks, or runninghispockets?”

“He got it,” I answered, joining her in a laugh before I moved on so she could get back to her job.

Just like I’d planned, I found myself some solitude in a cozy corner and planted myself there.

To watch.

For so long that I got desensitized to the bell over the door, because there was so much more to look at.

Well.

Untilhecame through the door.

With his arm wrapped over the shoulder of a much younger woman.