Page 53 of Haunted Ever After

“Well, yes, but—”

“Sounds like it’s your fault then.”

“But it was so nice out this morning!” she protested. “The breeze off the ocean was gorgeous up on the balcony. Plus I had a meeting and I…” She tried to look contrite but the grin messed it all up. “Okay, maybe I wanted to show off my beach view a little.”

“Can’t blame you there. You want some lunch?”

She shook her head. “I had a sandwich a little bit ago. I really am only using you for your outlet.” But her smile took the sting out of the words as she approached the counter, stretching up on her toes to get closer to him. She looked so much like she had last night, by the garden gate, that he automatically leaned in toward her. To hell with professionalism in the workplace. He placed his hands flat on the counter and met her halfway in a quick, sweet kiss hello. Apparently they were at that stage now, and that was fine with him.

He lingered for just a moment too long, distracted by the way her smile felt against his mouth. Then Ramon yelled “Get a room!” from the kitchen, and the moment was broken.

“Coffee?” he asked.

“Please.” The color was high in Cassie’s cheeks as she dropped back to her heels. Had he put that color there, or was it Ramon’s commentary? She returned to her table in the back. “I promise I’ll be out of your hair soon.”

He waved her off. “I kind of like you in my hair. May have to add you to the electric bill, though.”

“You wouldn’t dare.” Her dark eyes danced at him, and everything in him lit up like Christmas. He liked the way he felt around her. He was determined to go more than a few days this time without fucking it up.

Nick had never been the best at customer service, but today he was worse. Just a little bit shorter with the customers, just a little more eager for everyone to get the hell out of his place so he could turn his attention back to Cassie. But she was patient, typing away at her laptop, until the lunch rush had slowed to a trickle. She took out her earbuds when he brought a second hazelnut latte to her table. “So…do you think there’s a good time we could try the whole…” She waved a hand in his direction, a gesture that could mean anything from text your ghost roommate to take off your pants. Nick was pretty sure it was the former, but he sure as hell wouldn’t say no to the latter.

“This?” He took his phone out of his pocket and waved it at her as he headed to the register to cash out a customer. “It’s not like it’s a secret. Just about everyone knows that Elmer exists.”

As if on cue, the customer—an elderly guy who Nick was pretty sure knew Elmer when he was alive—took his change, dropping the coins and a single into the tip jar, giving Nick a nod that was more of an upward jerk of the chin. “Tell him hey.”

“You got it, Mr. Maddox.” He bumped the cash drawer closed then glanced at Cassie. “See?”

She held up a defensive hand, her eyes on her laptop as she tapped a few keys. “Point taken.”

“We can bug him after I close up. He’s been kind of quiet today, and it’s been nice to run the place without his micromanaging.” He held his breath, expecting his hip pocket to buzz with some kind of protest. But the phone stayed silent.

Cassie nodded. “I’ll drink this fast.”

“Take your time.” Like Nick was ever going to kick her out. “I can close up around you.”

She took another sip of her latte. “I can wait.”

But that was a lie, Nick noted with amusement. As two o’clock came and went, what was left of the lunch crowd trickled out one by one, much too slowly as far as Nick was concerned. He looked over at Cassie, practically vibrating as he cashed out the last person, and when the place was finally empty she was out of her seat like a shot, heading over to the counter. “Now?” she asked, as eager as a kid wanting to see what Santa had left.

“Now what?” Nick kept his eyes down, smiling an innocent smile at the salt and pepper shakers he’d suddenly decided it was time to refill. He was teasing her, but he couldn’t help it.

Cassie threw a sugar packet at him, and he dodged it neatly. “You know what! Can we text him now?”

“I thought you were here because you had work to do?” That earned him another sugar packet. “Okay! Fine!” He held up his hands, deflecting a third one, before motioning her behind the counter.

“Oooh, everything looks so different from back here.” Cassie gazed around, peeking at the spaces under the counter, craning her neck to take everything in as though she’d been ushered into some kind of secret world. “All this power,” she continued, sidling over to the espresso machine. “I could make my own coffee and everything.”

“You could bake your own banana bread too.”

“Wow,” she deadpanned. “How do you not let all this go to your head?” There was a sparkle in her eyes. Damn, but he loved her brand of sarcasm.

“Ramon,” he replied. “He keeps me humble.”

She nodded. “I can see that.”

Just then Ramon burst out from the kitchen, as though his name had summoned him. “You need me for something?” He wiped his hands on his apron.

Nick shook his head. “We’re good here. You can take off. I can finish up.”

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