Page 12 of Counterfeit Connection

He offers me a genuine smile, very different from what I got last night, before I walk away. I make it back to the server’s station and Katarina is standing there with her arms crossed across her chest with a grin on her face. “Well, well, well. Look what the cat dragged in. I’m trying to decide if he was hotter in that brown tweed number or the jeans he’s got on today. MaybeI’ll ask him to take that wool coat off so I can look at his ass before I decide.”

“Kat!” I whisper, scolding her but still wearing a grin. “What should I do about this?”

“What do you mean? I’m confused as to why you’re acting like this is a bad thing.”

“You don’t think this is odd?” I reach above my head to a shelf where the box of teabags is stored and pull out the type he asked for.

“What exactly could be odd about it? He saw you last night. You had some words, a bit of interaction that was memorable, to say the least, and now he’s back. He’s into you, babe.”

“What? No.” I shake my head. “I think he just feels bad for overstepping.”

“Kaitlyn,” she says, taking my shoulders in her hands. “Men don’t do anything without some kind of motive involved. He wouldn’t just come here to apologize unless hewantedto see you again, and I’ve decided…definitely the jeans.”

I give her my best exasperated look, while I’m nearly ready to burst out laughing, before I turn and put my game face on. Kat is right. The overconfidence of last night seems to have faded into what I would say is a bit of nervous energy. He’s fussing with the napkin roll to his left while staring out the window at the city coming alive before his eyes.

“Here’s your juice and we did have English Breakfast. If you want more than one cup, we’ll be able to do that.”

He turns away from what feels like deep thoughts being sent out that same window toward my voice. “I do appreciate the extra look. I can tell you now, I will need more than one cup.”

Mr. Shaw’s eyes shimmer with the light reflecting in. They aren’t the dark, dangerous, full of himself look from last night. If I didn’t know any better, this man sitting before me would be the good twin versus the evil one I met.

“Are you going to be having any food? I can bring you a menu.”

“I’ll have something in a bit, thank you, and honestly, forget the menu. Just bring me whatever it is here that’s your favorite.” He takes a gentle sip of his tea. “This is excellent. Not many Americans know how to make a nice cup.”

“My brother-in-law is English. I was all but threatened into learning how to do it properly,” I joke.

“Is he? Where is he from?” He leans back in his chair and rests his arm casually along the windowsill.

“He’s from West London, but he lives here in the States now, just outside of Boston.”

“Small world. We were nearly neighbors. My family home is in Chelsea.”

“Wow. Yeah, small world. I’ve never been to either.” I shrug.

“Don’t you like to travel?” he asks.

“It’s not been a priority, to be honest, you know the old story…time and money.”

“Kait,”a voice calls me from the host stand.

“I’m sorry. I have to go for now. Don’t worry though, I’ll place your order. Are you sure you don’t want to look at the menu?”

He takes a long pause while he slowly twists the cup between his fingers. “I trust you. I already have everything I want right here.” This man looks up into my eyes, punctuating every word of the last sentence, and I feel it deep in my chest.

“Okay.” I lick my lips. “Excuse me.” I scurry off to the host stand, answering the question our host had for me, then I head back to the kitchen to key in my favorite brunch order. I can’t explain it, but I have this odd urge to impress him with my food selection.

“Uh, hello,” Katarina says, nudging my hip with her own. “You can’t leave me hanging like this.”

“I just got back here.” I laugh. “And stop being so nosy.”

“My love life is dry, destitute, uneventful. I must live through you right now.”

“There’s hardly a love life happening right now, though, I do think he’s trying to flirt with me a little. I’m not sure how to handle it.”

“Uh, I think it’s pretty obvious. Look at him. Flirt back.”

I peek over my shoulder, viewing his frame out the window of the kitchen door. He’s still sipping his tea while casually scrolling on his phone. I stare at him for longer than I should because soon, I’m caught. He swings his eyes up and sees me watching him. A grin slowly appears on his face.

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