Page 7 of Sexpresso Night

Chapter Two

Danya paused outside the door of Karma Coffee, hand on the pull.

What was she doing? She was walking in here all alone, looking pathetic and needy, no doubt. Maybe Carter wouldn’t even be there. At least then she wouldn’t feel so self-conscious and humiliated sitting at a table all by herself sipping a lonely coffee.

What was that joke she’d read, about how coffee was better than sex? Oh yeah—drinking coffee on your own doesn’t make you a sad loser, but having sex on your own does.

She wasn’t so sure that was true, but she yanked on the door and stepped inside.

The ambience at night was completely different than during the day, although the rich scent and sounds were familiar. Instead of sunlight streaming in the big windows, little white lights strung around the room created a soft illumination among the dark wood furnishings and paneling on the lower half of the walls. Small lamps on low tables gave off a golden glow. And the music, instead of an upbeat jazz, was a low, sultry saxophone.

Danya gazed around and blinked. The place was packed! Not only was every table occupied, people stood in small groups, holding their coffees, talking and laughing. Women dressed to the nines and a lot of hot guys.

Danya looked down at her denim skirt, layered tank tops and sandy flip flops. Not exactly what the other women were wearing, but—oh well.

Shit. Where was she going to sit? Then her eyes fell on a couple of tall chairs at the narrow counter lining one long window. Okay, she could sit there.

She got in line for her coffee, trying not to look for Carter but unable to help herself. But she didn’t see him, dammit.

What she did see had her eyes widening.

The girls working behind the counter were not wearing their usual black pants and white shirts. Danya blinked as a young girl in tiny black shorts and a boob-propping bustier pulled an espresso. Danya’s eyes moved to another girl, wearing white thigh-high stockings with bows, a tiny pink flutter skirt that didn’t even hide the white boy shorts beneath. The white shirt tied beneath her breasts revealed a taut midriff.

Adult night. All righty.

Okay, now she knew why there were so many guys there, lounging at tables, drinking coffee. But hey, almost as many women filled the place.

The girl who took her order wore a black bikini with a short mesh sarong tied low on her hips, stunning, really, her wide smile totally unselfconscious.

“Welcome to Sexpresso Night,” she said. “There are three specials tonight. The Flogger, the Hair Puller and Hot Handcuffs.”

Danya could only blink, a slow liquefaction occurring inside her at the names of the drinks. “Um…what’s in a Hair Puller?”

Jesus. Just saying the words sent a slide of sexual longing through her veins.

“It’s caramel combined with our special house blend coffee and milk, blended with ice and topped with whipped cream and caramel sauce.”

Oh lord, nothing like her usual skinny vanilla latte, but damn, caramel was a major weakness. Not to mention hair pulling. Don’t go there. “Okay, I’ll have that.”

This was kind of fun!

As she took her iced coffee drink and strolled towards one of the few empty chairs at the counter, she felt the eyes of countless interested males on her. Yikes. Hotter than a pickup bar, this place was.

What was she doing here?

She climbed onto a stool in front of the now-dark window, the tiny white lights reflected in the glass, doubling their sparkle. What was with the names of the drinks? And the slutty outfits the baristas wore?

And where was Carter?

* * *

Not only had Samantha not shown up to take Juliet’s shift, but Jason had called in sick. Dammit.

Carter was running his balls off trying to keep things going. Why, on a Saturday night, did he have to be down two staff? He heaved a bag of beans up the stairs from the basement where he roasted them.

Sexpresso Night had proved so popular he usually had extra staff on. He dragged a hand across his sweaty forehead as he paused behind the counter. The place was full. Which was good. Humming and hissing and clinking dishes filled the air. He loved it. He just wouldn’t mind a chance to sit for five minutes before they started the cupping.

But first he had to get things set up in the back room. He blew out a long breath. Usually he liked to have that all done ahead of time, but tonight had just been too busy.

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