Page 3 of Passion in Store

I’m not confident that the tone of his response is positive, but I answer honestly. “Oh… not really, just using my general knowledge… um. It’s just all that ice-cream and full-fat milk I’m putting in… It’s more like a milkshake than a smoothie. Loads of sugar…” I slow down as I try to read his expression. His eyebrows are moving through a sequence of thinking. I’m wearing my heart on my sleeve.

“I don’t know.” Connor shrugs. “They are pretty popular. Jimmy’s stuck in his ways, so I think it would take a lot to convince him to change.”

I can see this isn’t going to be as easy as I hoped, so I make a small suggestion instead. “Weeelll, for example, if you swapped out the ice-cream for yoghurt, you would get more protein and less sugar. The fruit sugars are enough for taste and carbs.” I slow down again as Connor rubs his chin with a skeptical grimace.

The bell on the door chimes again and six more gym-goers file in.

“What is this?” I wail, not wanting to sound like a wimp, but seriously intimidated by the number of people coming into the café while Jimmy is missing in action.

“It’s okay, this should be the end of it. It’s the normal morning rush. They are just here to socialize and refuel after their workout before they go to their jobs. Some of these guys will want sandwiches, are you okay with that?

I nod and try to focus on our spark of attraction and his support to help me learn the job while I power through one of my most challenging days in Masford so far. I thought life would be better once I was employed, but right now, this pace is exhausting and my original hopes of using my creativity to contribute to the menu seem a bit too optimistic. Still, I’m learning new things and making new friends and I’m taking the first step to follow my dream to work with people and food and really make a difference.

Chapter 3

Connor

When I realize Minnie is the same girl I’ve been ogling at the gym for the past two weeks, my heart warms. She’s my dream girl, with a physique that radiates strength and power—rounded with cute curves. She has heaps of personality and she’s smart, I can tell. Probably too smart for me. I never made it to college, and honestly? I’ve put my efforts into being healthy and happy more than my education or my business. Lately, I’m even struggling to get new clients. I’d much rather be enjoying the outdoors and having fun.

Times like this, though, I really wish I’d studied some more. Minnie’s got a hundred suggestions a minute and it’s hard to keep up. She comes across as pretty shy at first, but she’s picking up the main stuff in the café without too many problems and we are getting the orders out in good time.

A few hours after the blender debacle, there’s a quiet moment at the café, so I give her a lesson on the coffee machine. I hold my hand over hers on the metal milk jug, demonstrating how to know when it’s hot enough.

“Can you feel that?” I ask her, very aware that she might be thinking I’m talking about my beating heart, which is very close to her shoulder.

“Yes, it’s sure warming up.” Those blue eyes are very serious as she concentrates on the jug and glances at me for my approval. “I guess my fingers will detect a hotter temperature than the drinker’s tongue, so I’m thinking I should stop when it’s almost too hot to touch?”

She’s like a perky little puppy—so adorable, mimicking everything I do. “Right again, Miss Minnie.” I reluctantly take my hand away. It’s amazing how well she’s responded to me teaching her, considering what she was going through a few hours ago with Jimmy. I get boiling mad when guys take power trips on young girls. But that thought is fleeting, and I revert to thoughts of other things I could teach her. Mmm…

Paige, Jimmy’s other staffer, arrives for her afternoon shift starting at noon, and grabs an apron. She immediately pouts her filled lips at Minnie. She’s tall and fit, so I guess a lot of guys would call her attractive, but she wears way too much makeup. Her eyelashes look like butterfly wings.

“New girl!” she taunts, pushing Minnie’s shoulder. “Bet Jimmy’s roasted you already.” She chuffs a laugh at her own joke.

“Maybe a little?” Minnie admits humbly. “But I’m better now that Connor has helped me learn a bit.”

“Oh, I bet he has.” As she says this, I turn to Minnie and roll my eyes. I’m trying to make light of Paige’s lewd comment, but only to make Minnie feel more comfortable. She giggles at me.

Paige gets into her work routine and takes control of the register area like she’s driving a bus. She loves taking orders from customers and swishing behind the counter with the coffees. Let’s just say she gets those milk foam hearts just right, even if the coffee might go a little cold in the process. Whenever she’s looking the other way, I take the chance to talk to Minnie. “What time are you finishing up today?” I ask her quietly, aware that I might not have long to make a move.

“I’m not sure. Jimmy said I could stay as long as it’s busy, whatever time that is.” She’s putting shredded lettuce on a chicken sandwich with quite a bit of concentration.

“Probably after lunch. It usually quiets down then.” They probably don’t really need me anymore, as Minnie is doing okay, and Paige is good for taking orders, at least. If only Jimmy wasn’t always wandering off… He just can’t get his staffing right. That’s why there’s always a “staff wanted” sign in the window. If I stick around a little longer, it will make for a lighter load on the two of them, and let me get some extra time with this adorable girl.

“Oh, great!” says Minnie. “I’m exhausted! Who knew café work was so demanding?” Several of her curls have escaped her ponytail, and there is a little golden halo around her forehead.

Minnie and I put plates together and take the orders of eat-in food out to the tables. I can’t help myself—I want to know more about her, even though it’s getting busy again and we should be concentrating on making the sandwiches. I can tell she’s a lot younger than me—probably about twenty-two—and inexperienced in a café, but she must have had another job before.

“What did you do before you came to Masford?” I ask as she’s swiping butter onto some bread. This might be her first day in a café, but she sure knows how to put food together.

“My old job was bookkeeping. I used to help my mom with her clients and she hoped I would take on her business, but I really want to work with people more than numbers. And I love food… so here I am.”

I am making a ham salad sandwich next to her, and while listening to her sweet voice, I watch as her super white teeth and her cute pink lips form the words.

I force myself to keep the conversation light. “How have you settled in to town? Have you made some friends yet?” She's refreshing the prep containers without being told. She seems to have absorbed the quantity of ingredients we are going through, as the new things she puts out are pretty close to what I think will be used up in the next hour.

She talks as she works. “There’s a girl, Tor, at the gym who seems nice. Apart from her, I haven’t met anyone. That is, unless you count Grace from Grace’s Active Wear on level three. She’s the one I spilt coffee all over this morning. Pretty sure she’s NOT my friend.”

Oh no. I do an eye roll and a friendly grimace. “They are both my clients! Tor’s a great person, but Grace is intense. Did she get upset? She can be pretty temperamental at times.”

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