Page 21 of Emberly

“I’m wondering about our schedules.”

“Hmm, that passed through my mind just now as well. I usually work from seven until three a few days a week, and then on the weekends I work afternoons until we close at nine. How about you?”

“I’m off Thursday and Friday, and the rest of the time I work from open at seven until close.”

“You work the door the whole time?”

“For the most part, but there are always two of us at the door, so if it’s slow, Titus might pull one of us into the bar to start cleaning or help behind the counter. What’s your favorite drink?”

“I don’t really have one. I’m not much of a drinker, but when I do have one, I like something sweet like a daiquiri.”

“I have no idea how to make one of those, but I’ll learn for you. Then maybe you can come to the bar and I’ll have a drink with you when I’m on break.”

“That sounds fun.” She pointed through the windshield. “It’s on the left. See the sign?”

He flipped on the turn signal.

“Got it.”

Wide Awake was a small standalone building on the tree-lined main street. The coffee shop was one of a handful of businesses that included a pet groomer, a hair salon, a nail spa, and a florist.

He parked in front of the shop and helped Emberly out.

“Ready?” she asked as he shut the door.

“I am. I want this to go well.”

“It will. They’ll like you because I do. You’re awesome, and I’m lucky to have you in my life.”

“I’m the lucky one, sweetness, trust me.”

She looked up at him for a moment, her eyes bright. “This has been the craziest weekend. I just want you to know how happy I am. I know we just met, but you’re like the center of my world.” She tapped the space over her heart. “Do you know what I mean?”

A lump formed in his throat. He cleared it as he pulled her close with a soft purr. “I do, Em. You’re the center of my world, too.”

Chapter Nine

Emberly wasn’t nervous to introduce her parents to Diesel. She figured as long as they actually did get married at some point, so her dad could walk her down the aisle, they’d be content. They walked into the shop.

“Well, welcome,” her father said, when the door swung shut behind them. He finished taking payment for a coffee and then called for her mom.

Em hugged her parents. “Mom, Dad, this is Diesel Cowan. These are my parents, Chris and Amy.”

“Welcome to the family,” Chris said, shaking his hand. “I understand you’re mated and that means we’re family in our book.”

“We hug in this family, by the way,” Amy said, giving him a swift embrace. “We can sit and chat. Em, let’s get some coffee for everyone.”

“Sure thing, Mom.”

She gave Diesel’s hand a squeeze and then followed her mom behind the counter. She fixed two mugs for herself and Diesel of the light roast, adding milk and sugar to both. Her mom carried two similar mugs, joining her dad and Diesel at one of the booths against the window, where they sat across from each other.

“Diesel was just about to tell me how you two met, but I figured we should wait for Mom.”

“Thank you, dear,” Amy said.

Em smiled at her mate. “Go ahead.”

He told the story of how they’d met, and while he left out the part where Chloe had turned out to be a hater of every sort of shifter in existence, Em didn’t mince words, telling her parents how she’d been kicked out of the wedding.

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