Mina leans against the coffee counter, her smile once again front and center for my brother. “We make pretty good food, too. What can I get you?”
She takes his order, her demeanor warm and inviting, before turning away.
Guess I’m not eligible for service.
“What doyouwant?” she hisses, not bothering to face me.
“Just your sunny smile,” I volley back.
I get it. Mina loves her boss like a sister, and in her eyes, I’m a bona fide asshole.
Still sucks to be on the receiving end of Mina’s anger. I much prefer the googly eyes she normally shoots in my direction, even if she’d rather die than admit to it.
“I’m not a mind reader, Ash. What do you want?”
Suddenly, coffee is the last thing on my mind.
Something else has caught my attention.
Or should I say someone.
Across the store, seated on one of the overstuffed sofas, is Ori.
Right next to her? Some young punk who’s way too close for my liking.
They’re leaning over a book, smiles lighting up both of their faces as Ori flips the pages, carefree as can be.
When her lilting laugh reaches my ears, I see red.
Ori has the best laugh on the planet, bar none. It’s deep and husky and washes over you like salted caramel. Absolute perfection.
It’s also mine, and I don’t give a damn how ridiculous that sounds.
“Who the fuck is that?” I mutter, earning a snort from Mina when she follows my gaze.
“No idea. They’ve been back there for over an hour, but when he’s that hot, who cares?” Her smirk tells me she knows exactly what she’s doing, and it’s grinding me further.
Enough of this crap.
I clap my brother on the shoulder and make a beeline across the floor, catching the smirk dancing on Braden’s face out of the corner of my eye.
Fuck you, man. You’d do the same damn thing if it was your woman.
And sheismy woman, even if she doesn’t realize it yet.
“Hey,” I say, stopping a few feet away from Ori.
Best to start simple, right? Feel out the situation before knocking this guy on his ass.
Ori glances up, the smile faltering on her lips. “Hello, Ash. Come for your coffee fix?”
At least she’s speaking to me, though I can feel the chill from six feet away.
Baby steps.
“Can’t live without your coffee.”
Normally, that line would earn me a smile or a sexy smirk.