Page 5 of Spiced Chais and Secret Spies
Iget untangled and to my feet at about the same time thatOlliedoes, and our eyes almost simultaneously go to the tree.Itsleaves are a beautiful golden color, andOllie’scat is now high enough that reaching her leash is impossible. “I’mgoing to have to go up after her,”Olliesays.
Ishake my head. “Iwill.It’sthe leastIcan do since it was my dog that sent her up there.Giveme a boost?”
Ollieinterlocks his hands and crouches down, soIstep into his hand cradle, and he lifts me high enough thatIcan scramble onto the lowest branch.Iglanceback down to see thatOlliehas picked upPrinceCharming’sleash and is holding it, even thoughCharmis now acting like a perfect gentleman who would never even think of doing anything mischievous.
“Here, kitty,”Isay asIclimb up toward the cat.Butshe doesn’t come—she just matches my ascent up the tree.Beforelong, the cat is up high enough and on skinny enough branches that logic—and a bit of fear—stop me.Sodo much-too-vivid visions of me stepping onto a branch, it breaking, and me falling and crashing, once again, ontoOllie, knocking us both back to the ground.
“Don’tclimb any higher,”Olliesays. “We’llfigure something else out.”
SoIstart climbing down.Whichis much more difficult than climbing up was and makes me feel likeIshould’ve spent more time in the gym on the… what equipment exercises your tree climbing muscles?
Iget back to the lowest branch, sit on it, and brace my hands on the branches at the sides, hoping to support myself a bit asIgracefully lower myself to the ground.Butit doesn’t work likeIhad hoped, and it’s anything but graceful asIslide/tumble/crash intoOllie.
Sonow we’re face to face again, as close as when we were on the ground, his arms are around me, keeping me from falling, andIcan’t help but feel a little spark of something.
“Hey,”Olliesays, “we’re making progress.Weboth stayed standing this time.”
Ilaugh, andOlliereleases me, which is too bad because it is actually rather nice.Icould stay like that for the rest of the night, especially since those sweet eyes of his are even better up close.Buthe has a pet to rescue.
Hehands mePrinceCharming’sleash, and asIturn to assess exactly how much trouble his cat is in, the feline hops gracefully out of the tree like she’s trying to demonstrate how it’s done.Showoff.Thenshe goes right up toOllieand rubs against his leg like she’s bringing her leash to him.
Hepicks up her leash, and says, “Daisy,I’dlike you to meetRoi.”
“Oh, she is beautiful,”Isay asIcrouch down to let the long-haired beauty smell my hand.
“Say‘Hi,’Roi!”Olliesays.
Thecat meows at me, whichI’verarely seen a cat do on command, soIsay, “Well, hello,Roi” asIpet her silky white and reddish orange coat.Shepurrs while somehow also maintaining a glare she’s sending inCharm’sdirection that seems to be saying, “I’mthe one in charge.”Charmis still grinning like a fool, so apparently he’s okay with that.
ThenIstand, andOlliesays, “It’snice seeing you a second time in one day.”
“Outin daylight, even.Andwithout myCoffeeLoftapron.”
“ButwithyourPrinceCharming.Andwith your hair…”Hemakes a motion with his hand on top of his head andIthink he’s trying to describe without words my lack of the usual messy bun. “Itlooks nice.”
Ishrug. “Itprobably looks a little chaotic from all the action, butI’lltake the compliment.It’snice seeing you, too—Ihadn’t expected to run into you.Especiallynot so… violently.”
Hechuckles softly, and we have a moment when we’re just looking at each other.Theair between us feels charged.Therehave been so many times over the past year whereI’vethought he’s going to ask me out whenIhand him his chai latte.Orat least ask for my number so we can start texting and getting to know each other better.Andas we look at each other,Ithink this is it.Thisis when he’s finally going to ask me out.
Butafter a moment, he clears his throat, takes a step back to put some space between us, and then says, “I’llsee you tomorrow morning at theCoffeeLoft, right?”
Inod and say, “I’llbe there with bells on.”
Then, he turns and walks away.
CHAPTER 3
LICENSE TO SPY
OLLIE
AsIsit in my regular seat at theCoffeeLoft, sipping my spiced chai and stealing glances atDaisy,Ikeep trying to read the book that’s open in my hand, but allIcan think about is how muchIwishI’dbeen brave enough last night to askDaisyout.Therewas a moment when the perfect opportunity presented itself, andIlocked up like a spreadsheet with too many formulas.
Irun a hand over my face.Howin the world do people manage to ever get married when asking someone out for a first date is so nerve-wracking?
You’veasked people out before,Iremind myself.True.SoIcan do it.Maybethe key is to not ask someone who’s out of my league.Orwho seems perfect in every way.SomeonewhoI’mpretty sure could be “the one.”
I’mtrying to focus on the page—the same pageI’vebeen on sinceIfirst sat down—when there’s movement directly in front of me.Ilook up to see someone take a seat at my little table, right across from me, which is weird, because there are several other open tables.Then, my eyebrows shoot up asIrealize thatIrecognize the man. “JaceLancaster?Isthat you?”
