Page 4 of Where There's Smoke…
“I got you,” I chuckle before biting into the sandwich. I savored the salty flavor of sausage mixed with cheese and a fluffy egg, all layered on a croissant. It was exactly what I needed to start my day off right.
We chatted for a bit longer before a few more customers started to trickle in. I finished my breakfast and decided to leave before it got too crowded. So, I pick up my trash and tell Maddox that I’m leaving before tossing the items in a nearby trash can. As I’m exiting the cafe and walking back to my car, my eyes land on the most beautiful person I’ve ever seen. We made eye contact, and they stopped walking – wait, did they know me?
I don’t think they said anything, but I wouldn’t have heard it even if they did. I was, not so subtly, checking them out, and well… wow. Even though we were a few feet away from each other, I could tell that they were at least six feet tall and buff as hell. Their muscles peeked through the black shirt they wore, and it took everything in me not to drool and make a damn fool of myself.
My eyes travel down to their lower half. Even in sweats, I could make out their thick, muscular thighs. My heart rate picked up as they started to walk closer to me. I tried to move out of the way, but they stepped into my path. My breath hitched as my eyes finally connected with theirs. Deep brown eyes that were so dark they mirrored strong coffee stared back at me, and it was almost intimidating. I took a step back, and my back hit the brick wall. I could see them smirk as they stepped closer.
This person was gorgeous beyond compare. Their face looked as if it was crafted by every god out there. A heart-shaped face, pretty smile,and oddly attractive nose adorned with a nose ring stared back at me. It was only then that I noticed that their hair was styled in beautiful, long locs that were dyed an orange-ish red color. It complemented their complexion so well. Fuck, and they smelled good.
“Now you the one staring,” the beautiful person before me states, a slight twang in their voice. For some reason, they looked familiar, but I couldn’t figure out why.
“What?” I managed to reply, still stuck in their trance.
They chuckle, crossing their deliciously muscular arms over their chest and stepping even closer into my space. I almost forgot how to breathe. Their fragrance was making me lightheaded in the best way. My eyes traveled to their lips and when they licked them, I almost lost my shit. What was happening right now?
“It’s nice to see you again, Angel Savoie,” they said as they not-so-subtly checked me out. “I heard you were opening the bakery soon, and I couldn’t help but get excited. Honestly, I’ve been waiting patiently for the day when I could taste…” They smirk, uncross their arms, and lean down until they’re at eye level with me. They place a hand against the wall on either side of my head. “That strawberry shortcake from last year.”
My heart was banging against my chest as every feeling traveled down between my legs. I had no idea who this person was and why they were flirting with me so boldly like this…but I liked it from the way my body was reacting. I shut my eyes to block out their intense stare and hear them chuckle again.
“Who, uh, do…do I know you?” I ask, my eyes still shut.
“Angel, open your eyes, love,” they say softly, and I damn near swoon at the melodic sound that was proof that they were born and raised deep in the countryside. I open my eyes without hesitation. I see that they’ve backed up a bit. “I ain’t take you for the shy type, especially cause you cussed me out the first time we crossed paths.”
My eyebrows furrow as I try to remember where I’d met them before today. I would’ve remembered someone as attractive as them, but why couldn’t I? They see me confused and tell me that we met about a year ago. It was brief, but they said that the encounter stuck with them ever since. I still had no idea who they were.
“You’re beautiful, by the way,” they say, and it’s almost like the pieces click in my brain. I gasped, and they looked at me amused. “Seriously? That’s what made you remember?”
Suddenly, I remembered the very attractive person who couldn’t take their eyes off of me and realized that that was why they seemed so familiar. I’d cussed at them back then because I was having a shitty day. I thought about the interaction for weeks after and wanted to kick myself for being rude. I mean, they were staring, but still. I didn’t have to snap like I did. Especially because I’d just done the same thing to them.
“Oh my god, yes! I remember you!” I exclaim and nod. “I’m really sorry, by the way. I know I was a bit rude back then, but I promise it’s not how I usually am.”
“You’re good, love,” they assure me, and my breath hitches once again. They really had to stop with the terms of endearment. “How ‘bout we start over? I’m Phoenix Preston, but folks ‘round here call me Phee. Pronouns are she/they.”
“Well, I mean, you know my name is Angel,” I reply. “But everyone calls me…Angel…”
“Well, I think I wanna call you, Sweets. Can I?” she asked. I don’t know why, but I nodded. There was just something about her giving me a nickname that did something to me. “Oh, bet. Well, I don’t want to take up too much more of your time, but I hope to see you ‘round town now that you’re here for good. Maybe I can come and stop by the bakery sometime. Get me one of those strawberry shortcakes.”
“Yes, please come on down,” I nod, a little more enthusiastically than intended. “I’m opening back up tomorrow, and that’s one of the things that everyone has been requesting, so I’ll definitely have plenty.”
“And if I can’t make it by tomorrow, you’ll save me a slice, right?” she asks with a smile. I nod.
“S-Sure.”
“Niceee,” she nods. She steps back into my space, and my heart rate picks up once again. She gently grips my chin and brings her face close to mine. I could feel my legs growing weak, and I instinctively placed a hand on her arm. Her smile gets wider as she uses her thumb to lightly brush my bottom lip. I damn near moan at the sensation, but I hold it together. What kind of spell was she putting on me? “Maybe I’m being a little straightforward, but you intrigue me, Sweets. I wanna know everything about you, and I intend to learn just that. Do I have your permission?”
AllI can do is nod, but she shakes her head before lowering her lips to my ears and saying one sentence that had me about to pass the fuck out, “You gotta talk to me, mamas. I need to hear your voice.”
“Yes,” I simply say, unable to get any other words out.
“Yes, what?”
“Yes, you can get to know me.”
“I can’t wait,” she smiles before stepping away. “I’ll see you later, Sweets. Don’t work too hard.”
And with that, she walks off, leaving me alone to try to get my heart rate back down. I felt lightheaded and barely made it back to my car without collapsing. I didn’t know shit about this woman, yet she had me about to give in to her every command right there on the sidewalk. All I was sure of was that she was dangerous as hell, and I wasn’t sure if I could handle all of that.
But deep down, I didn’t care if I could or couldn’t.
