Page 100 of Invisible String
When I’m done, I set the cookies on the cooling rack and make myself a sourdough breakfast sandwich. My stomach grumbles. I’ve been up since three this morning.
Nervously, I walk toward the front with my plate and lemonade. Kathy, the new employee, sets his breakfast and a smoothie on the table. I’m starting to second-guess my actions here, but he looks up from his plate, and damn, he is perfect. His smile dimples as he takes me in. I look like I've fallen into a bag of flour. “Hey, sunshine.”
For the first time since seeing Max again, I give him a genuine smile.
“Are you going to eat with me?” His stunningly beautiful green eyes gaze up at me with hope.
My hands tremble underneath the plate. “Umm, can I?”
God, his frown is so cute. “Rainey, of course, you can.” He stands and pulls the chair out for me. He reaches for my trembling hands when he sits back down. “Relax, it’s just me.” He rubs his warm hand in my cold hands.
Now that I’m not sucking on his face or yelling at him, I take in his features, really take him in. His golden tan skin glistens in the warm ray of sunlight cascading through the window. A new scar is visible on his chin. Not big, but I notice. I’m sure it’s from boxing. His hair looks tousled, as though he’s combed it with his fingers, with a stray strand casually falling to one side.
Max opens his croissant and takes out the inside. Our croissants are always freshly made every morning.
“How’s the café coming along? It’s great in here. Having a bookstore combined is brilliant.” He eats the inside and not the croissant. I’m highly offended.
“Is there something wrong with it?” Worry lines crease my forehead.
He looks down at his plate. “No, not at all.” He gives me a weak smile. “It’s that I can’t really eat a lot of carbs. I’m trying to stick to more protein and healthy food. The croissants are amazing. It’s just that I’m training for the fight.”
My mouth goes into a big O. “I see.”
“Don’t worry. I’m taking the croissants home. It won’t go to waste. Daisy loves croissants.”
Wait who? Does he have a child? No, that can’t be.
He reaches over and, with his index finger under my chin, he lifts my head up to me with his gaze. “Daisy is my dog. I bet you’d love her. She’s a German shepherd.”
My ears grow hot. “I figured as much…that it was a dog.”
His head falls back in laughter like a kid.
“Stop it.”
“Sorry, you’re just too cute.” He covers his laugh with a napkin.
“Daisy is a cute name,” I tell him, to get him from staring at me like he wants to kiss me.
He takes a bite of his eggs. “She’s a cute dog. A puppy.”
He only had three mouthfuls, and he’s done. Not much protein. “I’ll be right back. Okay?” I stand from my chair, and he gives me a tilted-head frown.
He nods, and I rush to the back.
Five minutes later, I’m back with an omelet with six eggs, spinach, turkey, cheese, and sliced avocados. I set the plate in front of him. “You said you needed protein. It’s not enough, what’s in the croissant.” I bashfully twist my fingers. I know I’m doing anything to avoid sitting in front of him to ask a question I wondered about. Four years ago, I was willing to do anything to run into him at the cabin to the point of leaving him cupcakes at his doorstep. Now I’m a mess doing anything to avoid a conversation. I do think protein is important, though.
Max gently tugs my hands, then places a warm kiss on my knuckles. “Thank you, baby. You didn’t have to. You need to eat. Your food is cold.”
He scoots my chair closer, and I sit, our legs touching.
We eat in silence for five minutes. I’m grateful he sees I need it. I roll my shoulders to ease the tension in the back of my neck. “Max, can I ask you a question?”
He drops his fork, then leans back in his chair. “Sure.” He gives me his undivided attention.
“When did you start your business?”
He watches me pensively. “What you’re asking is how did I get this far, and what happened that night?”
