Penny Serenade (4 page)

A couple pages of affirmations later, she glanced up and scouted out the café. Often she got so lost in writing that she forgot where she was. The café walls were painted in marshmallow white with caramel trim. It had high ceilings and windows, with exposed beams. Cozy yet eclectic. While best known for their fresh made soups and sandwiches, they served a little bit of everything. In the winter she liked to order their coconut-ginger basmati rice.

The line in front of the register had died down enough for her to catch a peek at the dessert counter. Rows of cheesecake and pastries tempted her until she made herself look away. Sweets went straight to her hips, and hers were soft enough. Not that she minded. She didn’t strive to be anything smaller than a size ten. Skinny didn’t look go on her, and that was the story she planned to stick with. Still, their cheesecake was sinfully delicious.

From the dessert counter she looked around the rest of the café. All but two tables were occupied, most of them by groups of young women with one hand on their mocha lattes and the other on their cell phones. An elderly couple sat together hunched over a newspaper doing what looked like a crossword puzzle while sipping coffee. The rest of the patrons were students from the local university, dressed in matching purple and white sweatshirts with gold lettering on the back. Audrey wished she had gone to college, but at the time she lacked the motivation or desire to go. It was the graciousness of her aunt who helped her get a loan and start up her business. Coulda, shoulda, woulda, she thought to herself.

A glare off the café door blinded her as it opened. She blinked several times until she could see again. That would teach her to zone out. She started to turn her attention back to her writing when she caught a glimpse of a familiar looking man. Audrey leaned in and gasped.

It couldn’t be. Could it? He looked just like the man she’d seen in her shop the other day. The same man whose face she pictured while pleasuring herself around five o’clock in the morning. She’d been enjoying September’s naked and well-muscled fireman on her calendar, when the handsome stranger’s face came to her mind. It had done the trick.

She bent her head down and shielded her face with her hair, not wanting to be seen.
Of all the places.
This was
her
special spot. She wondered if he had always eaten here, and if so, why had she never seen him before? That was easy to answer; she wouldn’t know half the regulars here. She came to write, not socialize. Still, wouldn’t she have noticed him? An unsettling feeling washed over her, sending tiny pinpricks along her arms. How could she look him in the eyes ever again when she’d experienced the most intense orgasm of her life by imagining his touch? The orgasm had shattered the intensity record of all her previous ones.

Audrey shook her head and tried to focus on her writing. The point of the pen hit paper, but didn’t budge. All she could think about was mystery guy. She just had to sneak another peek at him to be sure. Through the veil of her hair, she checked him out. Yep, it was him. Tall, dark-haired, and drool worthy. She noticed other women looking at him and a pang of jealousy hit her.
What the hell?
Jealous of the man who had her seething in rage less than twenty-four hours ago?
It made as much sense as the instant attraction she felt toward him two seconds after he entered her store.
None whatsoever.
He wasn’t her property, well maybe in her fantasies, but even then he wasn’t
hers
. Audrey tried again to focus her attention on her affirmations.

Curiosity to check out his behind called, and she was all too happy to answer. To her horror, when she went to catch a glimpse of his nice, firm ass, she ended up meeting his gaze. He raised his hand and started toward her, a charismatic smile fixed on his clean-shaven face. Audrey darted her head around, hoping for an escape hatch to appear in the floor or walls.

Handsome stopped right in front of her table, and oh it made her body tingle.

“Hey gift shop lady,” he started.
“Afternoon.”

Her muscles tightened. She needed to get out of the café.
Now.
Her mind replayed all the dirty words she shouted in the throes of her earth shattering climax earlier. Not knowing his name she could only scream ‘fuck me baby, do me hard you sexy beast’ and other naughty phrases. What if he could tell just by looking at her that she’d pictured the two of them going at it like wild animals? She’d die, she’d simply die. Maybe she could wiggle her nose and make him freeze just long enough to gather her things and make a run for it.

“Uh, hi,” she mumbled, sounding oh so intelligent.

“I stopped by your shop but noticed your sign in the window.”

Her mind shifted gears fast. He wanted to see her? Why the hell for? She never wanted to see him again. Or wait, she sort of did. Aware she sat stone still with her mouth agape, she gestured to the empty chair across from her.

“Um, yeah,” she began, “I take…an hour lunch break every day around this time.” The honey bagel wasn’t sitting too well in her tummy right now, not with all the flip flops going on inside it.

He pulled the chair out and sat, his eyes a breathtaking steel blue in the sunlight. “I see. Do you usually come here?”

Audrey nodded while swallowing down her nerves.

“Me too.
I don’t have a set time or anything, just whenever I can get away. I work over at Blume N’ Supplies.” He ran a hand through his hair and rested his arm on the table. “I take it you’re the only one working today?”

Audrey’s mouth went dry, but her hands shook too much to hold her cup. “Uh, it’s just me every
day,
I don’t really have anyone else who works there. I mean there’s Heidi if I need her. She’s studying for her business degree and in her spare time makes these amazing amulets that I sell in my shop.” Realizing she was babbling, she took a deep breath. “I trained her so she could cover for me when I travel or get sick. I’ve yet to take her up on that. Otherwise yeah, it’s just me.”

A petite brunette heavy on the perfume with hair down to her waist stopped at their table and set a large cup of coffee on the table. The fresh roasted aroma masked the sweet smell of her vanilla chai.

“Thanks, sugar,” she heard handsome say. Audrey grimaced and made a point to tune out whatever else he planned to say. Of course the server had been a knockout, but he didn’t have to be so blasé in front of her.

She directed her gaze down to get a grip. Why did she care what he said to another woman? She’d never been possessive of anyone, not even a guy she dated. Relieved by the silence, she raised her eyes and caught him staring at her.

“I asked if you could you pass the sugar?”

Her mouth opened. “Oh, you were talking to me? Sure.” Audrey grabbed a couple packets from the condiment jar that had been half concealed by her notebook, and tossed them in front of him. “Sorry, I thought you called the server sugar.”

“Nah, I don’t even know her.”

He ripped open the packets of sugar and dumped them into his coffee.

“Anyway, that’s kind of you,” he said, stirring the liquid with his finger and then wiping it on his pants. “I mean about having the college gal come work for you. Hands-on learning is the best way as far as I’m concerned.”

She nodded, still embarrassed for having misunderstood the sugar comment. Damn she was quick to judge him. He said something else, but she’d put him back on tune-out. Up close she found him more attractive than before. She liked the way his hair framed his face. One strand in particular hung above his brow and beckoned to her to sweep it back into place. Lips that weren’t too thin or too full, but just right, distracted her and looked downright kissable. Audrey enjoyed the way he closed his eyes when he sipped his coffee, as if savoring a fine vintage wine.

Hello, earth to Audrey? Why was she even thinking anything about him? She was still mad at him.
Pissed to be exact.
Okay she’d forgotten about that detail this morning when her hand stroked between her legs, but his presence in the flesh and blood reminded her of the comment about the pennies. Sexy good looks couldn’t undo that.

It was time to put her business face back on. “So, why did you stop by my store?” She asked. And why did he look exceptionally hot right then?

Confusion crossed his face a brief moment, replaced by a crooked grin. “Oh, right, right. Yeah. I wanted to thank you again for suggesting the bracelet. My niece loved it. Actually I’d say loved is an understatement. I think I racked up a ton of uncle points.”

“Your niece,” she said, clarifying it more for her own piece of mind. Maybe there was a chance he was single? Wait, why did she care? She smiled to be polite.

“Yeah.
It was her sixteenth birthday, so the gift had to be extra special.”

“That’s a big milestone in a girl’s life,” she offered. Not like she knew. Her sweet sixteen was sour and spent with an intoxicated date who thought no meant yes, until the heel of her shoe knocked some sense into him. Well, knocked him out anyway.

“And thanks to you,” he continued, “I’m considered the best uncle in the world.”

She liked his thoughtfulness. From the way he’d spoken before, she didn’t expect to add sentimental to the equation too. “It’s cool that you’re a part of her life. She’s a lucky girl.”

“I think the world of her.”

The sincere response melted her heart. “Well, I’m glad it all worked out.”

“Me too.”
His gaze shifted to her notebook. “What are you working on?”

Audrey’s arm bumped her tea in an effort to cover the page.
“Nothing.”

“Come on, after that big production? What is it? I’m curious.”

“You’ll get over it,” she snapped and wiped up the spill with a pile of napkins.

He leaned in and folded his hands. Her face heated at the sight of his perfect mouth. Now would be a good time for that hidden doorway to appear.

“Please,” he
pressed,
the barest hint of coffee on his breath. “I’m intrigued.”

The close proximity to him set her body ablaze.

“Fine,” she started, irritated she gave in so fast, “if you must know—”

“I must,” he intercepted with a sly grin.

Audrey cleared her throat and tried again. “If you must know, I’m writing affirmations.”

He relaxed back in his chair, giving her a chance to catch her breath.
“Interesting.
Are they for a book?”

“No. They’re for the Thoughtful Pennies I sell in my shop,” she corrected.

His left brow arched. “You write the messages on those?”

“Yes. Actually, I designed the whole thing.”

The grin he’d been wearing thinned. “
You’re
the artist?”

She broke out into a smile, taking great pleasure at his unease. “Yes, I am.”

“Well, I feel like an asshole with what I said. I didn’t realize…”

Audrey put her hand up. “No need to apologize.” The look on his face overshadowed the need.

“I disagree,” he continued, “I had no idea you were the artist, and anyway, I could learn some tact.”

“Tact is good,” she replied. Why argue a simple truth?

“I tend to let words flow from my mouth without thinking about how they impact others,” he said and looked down at his cup. “It’s a flaw I’ve yet to overcome.”

Far as she could tell, it was his only flaw. “Oh I don’t know. I guess that could be considered a noble trait. I, on the other hand, try and think how my words will impact others. Words can be a dangerous weapon.”

“Never thought of it that way.”
He leaned forward again and rested his chin on his hand. The delectable mouth inches from hers. “So other than the fact I feel like a jerk, I’m intrigued to hear more about what you do. How do you make the pennies?”

“I have a machine in the back where I melt the copper, and pour it into the penny mold,” she explained. “I let it cool, flatten it out and polish it until it’s all smooth and shiny. When the pennies are ready I engrave my sayings on them.”

He nodded, his eyes intent on her. “You’re very talented.”

“Thanks.” She appreciated his comment but wasn’t ready to let him off the hook yet. “I realize some people think they’re useless trinkets, but they have special meaning to me.”

A hint of red spread along his face and ears.
She was having way too much fun making him feel bad.