Page 11 of A Real Alpha
I shook away the unsavory thought, ashamed. I wasn't helping him out to get something out of him, dammit, I just wanted to help. And yes, Connor was... well, he was downright mesmerizing, but that was beside the point.
Finally, the crying stopped so I pushed to my feet and went to the washroom before coming back to the kitchen, deciding the best thing I could do was to keep Connor fed for however long he might stay here.
I wasn't sure how open my invitation had sounded to Connor, but I had no immediate thoughts of kicking him out and I sure as hell would insist on him staying as long as he had nowhere else to go.
Breakfast was a bit more basic than dinner. I was tired and stiff, but I didn't think he would complain. When the eggs and toast were ready, I went to the bedroom door and rapped on it lightly.
Silence met my knock, but I cleared my throat and spoke anyway.
“I made some breakfast if you're hungry.”
There was a brief silence.
“Uh—thanks. I'll be out soon. You go ahead and eat.”
I went back to the kitchen island where I'd set the food and sat down, eating slowly in case he came out to join me. He didn't and the clock kept ticking until it was time for me to go open the café.
I guessed that meant I wouldn't be changing.Hopefully no one would notice that I was still in yesterday's clothes and looking worse for wear.
Before leaving, I went back to the bedroom and tapped the door again.
“I'm going to work now,” I said. “Will you still be here when I get back?”
“...would that be okay?”
The tentative question pulled at my heartstrings.
“It would be more than okay. Maybe I can order us dinner...”
“That would be nice,” Connor replied quietly.
“Okay, promise you'll make yourself at home.”
There was a shuffling and then a moment later, the lock clicked. The door opened, revealing Connor, his dusty blond hair disheveled and clothes wrinkled, looking more beautiful than I remembered him from just the night before.
“Promise,” he said, his gaze soft. “And thank you.”
I smiled and for a moment, it felt like it was going to be impossible to leave.I should call in sick.
But no, Igorshouldalready be in the back baking and he needed me to let him in. Plus, he didn't know how to run the cash very well and Sage wouldn't be in until noon. And the café was my baby, so I had to be good to it.
“I'll stop in during my break and check on you guys.”
He nodded, giving me a small, tentative smile—the first one, nearly making me melt into a puddle.
Damn, he was so sweet...
I was basically in la-la-land after that. I wasn't much better on the register than Igor would’ve been, constantly mixing up people's drinks and forgetting the names they’d given for their orders.
When Sage arrived at noon, I practically groaned with relief.
“Oh, thank God,” I said, pulling off my apron.
“What's wrong with you?” she asked, looking me up and down suspiciously.
“I barely slept last night,” I replied. “I'll be back in half an hour.”
She waved me off. I poured two much needed coffees before slipping out the back door and clambering up the staircase to my apartment.
