Page 11 of A Little Cinny Latte
(January 2nd)
“And he has no idea you’re here?”
I shake my head and grin. “I wanted to surprise him. Thanks for letting me get ready here.”
Hunter smiles. “No problem. You’re a member of the club. And even if you weren’t, Dark Satin is always open to you. Hell, you’ve made half the furniture here.”
“True. God, it’s really a thing of beauty. I can’t believe so many of my pieces are on display like this. Thanks again for commissioning me.”
“So, where are you meeting Riley? Or are you just going to show up at his house and knock?”
“That’s the thing; Riley should be at work right now, and I’m fucking kicking myself for never asking him the name of his bakery. I spent the last fifteen minutes sorting through my phone, trying to find the name of his place. I was hoping you could help me out. If not, my next plan was to walk into each bakery, hoping to find him.” I laugh. “I just might need a little caffeine if I do that.”
“Damn, you are really embracing this whole grand gesture thing, aren’t you? Why don’t you get yourself a coffee?”
“Fuck. Coffee sounds so damn good right now. I’ve spent all morning driving. Any recommendations?”
Hunter smirks, mischief sparkling in his eyes. “You know, everyone deserves a little Cinny Latte.”
I remember enjoying a delicious cup of coffee and a scone from that café the last time I was in town. I narrow my eyes as understanding hits me, and I groan. “That’s the name of the place he owns, isn’t it?”
“Why don’t you head over there and find out?”
Chapter five
Riley
“Do you really have to frown so hard?” Beth asks from the front counter.
Since the gym is just a few doors down, Cinny Latte has been crazy busy this morning with customers stopping by before or after their workouts. This is the first time we’ve slowed down,and I have a feeling the lunch rush is about to make things crazy again.
“I’m sad!” I pout dramatically, as I slowly pluck a few ornaments off the tree and place them in the plastic storage bin. “Christmas is my favorite time of the year. I don’t understand why I need to put all the decorations away. We just put them up.”
My sister rolls her eyes. “We put them up about a month ago. Christmas is over, baby bro.”
Meg chuckles as she walks by. She punches in for her shift at the computer next to the cash register before turning toward Beth. “Aren’t you two twins? Why do you always call him baby bro?”
Beth winks at me. “I don’t know. I just think it’s cute.”
Technically, I was born first, but when Beth found out I was a little, she started calling me—and loving it—‘baby bro.’ She might not play with me in a scene, but I love how she accepts my little Riley side.
“But seriously, Riley. Christmas is over.”
I wave a hand at all the people walking by the window. “Tell that to all the holiday shoppers. You know all the shops on Main Street won’t slow down until the middle of January. It’s because everyone still has Christmas on their minds. Hence, why I should leave the decorations up for just a little longer.”
Beth laughs. “I don’t care what you do at your place. But when the general public removes their decorations on the first of January, then that means we need to as well.”
I turn my back on my sister and continue taking the ornaments down with a pout on my face. No one said I had to be mature about it.
The bell chimes, letting me know that someone walked in, but I don’t bother turning around since I know Meg is at the cash register now.
“I’m just so disappointed in myself. If I had faced my fears, I could have spent the Christmas season with a wonderful Daddy. Now I have to wait a whole year to enjoy hot chocolate and coffee with John by the tree or do any of the fun holiday things, like decorating for Christmas with him.”
Beth appears by my side and whispers to me. “Oh my god, speaking of Daddy, the most delicious-looking Daddy just walked into our shop, and he’s headed this way.”
I spin around, expecting to see Hunter, or Cal, or any of the many Daddies in town, only to feel my mouth drop open in shock. My sister is right, the most delicious-looking Daddy just walked in, and I’m trying not to drool.
John.
