I see him once, maybe twice a week. He walks by the cafe I work in. He hurries down the busy street. Those long and shapely legs of his move with such elegance, that I find myself speculating he might be a dancer.
His attention is always focused right ahead, so I rarely get to see his eyes – and what a shame! I saw them once, when he stopped for a coffee with someone. Those dark brown eyes looked up at me, and I feared my knees would give out. I’m pretty sure I brought him coffee though he’d ordered tea. He’d just smiled, and that look on his face is what I picture every time I only see his profile walking down the street.
This morning, the air was chilly. I imagined he’d walk at an even brisker pace, shortening the time we had together all the more. I disliked cooler weather for that precise reason. At about 9.15 am, I gave up hope. The notion I wouldn’t get to see him almost broke my heart. Trying to forget the overwhelming sadness, I focused on wiping tables and arranging chairs. The strong smell of the lemony cleaner filled my head for a moment. It must be why, when the bells jingled to signal a new arrival, I got startled. I turned around with a polite smile plastered on my face.
And there he was. Tall and handsome, his reddish-brown hair curling slightly at the ends. The shaggy haircut worked wonders for his jaw-line, and the 5 o’clock made my heart flutter. Well, that and the brilliant smile on his face.
I kept grinning like an idiot until he sat at a table. Then I stumbled on my own feet on my way to said table, earning a startled glance from him.
“Are you all right?”
“Ye-yes. Sorry.”
“For almost falling? I’d be happy, if I were you.”
I frowned. “Happy?”
“Because you didn’t fall, after all.” He smiled and crossed his legs on the side of the table as he looked around. “Slow morning?”
“So it seems.” Thank God for that!
“If it stays this slow, could I hope to convince you to join me for a coffee?”
I swallowed thickly. “Join you?”
“I’d really like you to.”
Was the room getting hotter? I could feel my nape perspiring. “Of course.”
My hands were shaking as I brought the cups. I sat down and fidgeted on the chair, then proceeded to turn the cup around.
He reached out gingerly and set his hand on mine. “I hope I’m not too forward?”
“No. I’m sorry I’m so nervous. Customers don’t usually ask me to join them.”
“Then I gave you something to remember me by already. It pleases me.”
My stomach crawled up into my chest. “You want me to remember you?”
He grinned. “I want you to go out with me.”
I blinked a couple of times. “Out of the cafe?”
“Ideally, yes.”
“Why would I do that?”
“I feel your gaze on me when I walk by, every morning.”
My face heated up. “I apologize if – “
He lifted a hand. “Please, don’t. I’m flattered and interested. Go out with me.”
My heart was beating so hard, I thought he could hear it too. I smiled and nodded.
Check out Lover Behind Enemy Lines today!
Blurb:
True mates, together at last.
Claw—fearless leader of Seattle’s Team 32—has faced many dangers during more than a century and a half as a dreamcatcher. Yet nothing has ever scared him more than his obsession with Nathan Gallagher. Tormented by visions and dreams about the man ever since he first laid eyes on him, Claw now has to deal with living under the same roof with the object of his most ardent desires. And Nathan is so much more than a simple crush.
Brother of the caster who’s been plaguing Team 32’s area, and less-than-willing houseguest of the team after a strange break-in attempt, Nathan may hold the key to finally apprehending his sister and putting a stop to the havoc she’s wreaking on Queen Anne…. Meanwhile, Nathan’s wreaking some havoc of his own on Claw’s heart.
Author Bio:
Liv Olteano is a voracious reader, music lover, and coffee addict extraordinaire. And occasional geek. Okay, more than occasional.
She believes stories are the best kind of magic there is. And life would be horrible without magic. Her hobbies include losing herself in the minds and souls of characters, giving up countless nights of sleep to get to know said characters, and trying to introduce them to the world. Sometimes they appreciate her efforts. The process would probably go quicker if they’d bring her a cup of coffee now and then when stopping by. Characters—what can you do, right?
Liv has a penchant for quirky stories and is a reverent lover of diversity. She can be found loitering around the internet at odd hours and being generally awkward and goofy at all times.
Stop by her website for the latest news or visit her blog for occasional rants. She also regularly spamificates Twitter and Facebook. For The Win.
Be afraid. Be very afraid.
Website: liv.liviaolteano.com
Blog: blog.liviaolteano.com
Twitter: @LiviaOlteano
Facebook: www.facebook.com/LiviaOlteano
where dreams come true... 