Page 7 of Wicked Duty
Callum glances up with an arched eyebrow but otherwise appears annoyingly unperturbed. “It almost sounds like you want me to watch you.”
“Fuck off.”
Both of his eyebrows fly up. “Is that any way to speak to customers?”
“You’re not a real customer.” I lower my voice when I spot Jerri coming in. “You’re a coffee mooch and a colossal pain in my ass.”
Instead of commenting, he peruses my body, beginning with my comfortable but well-worn sneakers and ending at my purple-streaked hair.
“What’s wrong?” I slap the carafe onto the table. “Never seen purple hair before?”
“Oh, I’ve seen it.” He drains the last bit of coffee from his mug and pushes it toward me. “But usually, people with colorful hair have sunshiny personalities to match. Either that, or they’re dying for attention.”
The faintest hint of a sneer leaves no question that he lumps me into the second category.
Every single hair on my body bristles.
Dick nozzle. You know nothing about me or my less-than-sunshiny personality.
Fuming, I plant my hands on my hips. “You know what? If you’re going to shadow me, can’t you do it from, like, the actual shadows? Outside? Or better yet, from another county?”
“And miss all the action?”
I shoot a pointed look at the other customers. “Doyou mean the two grandpas playing chess by the door or the nanny with three children eating grilled cheese sandwiches over by the record player? Pretty sure the only threat in here is you.”
Callum’s green eyes meet mine. “Why don’t you go direct some of that sunshine at the rest of the crowd and let me do my job? Maybe they’ll give you that attention you’re so desperate for.”
Static electricity crackles beneath my skin.
I can’t stop myself from smiling as I lift the carafe and purposefully miss his mug by an inch, spilling coffee onto the table and splattering his hand in the process.
I wait for the satisfaction of his reaction. Hearing him curse. Seeing him flinch. Watching as he reels back from the mess I’ve orchestrated, caught off guard.
Except…he gives me nothing. No reaction. No satisfaction either.
Even spilling hot coffee on him fails to get a rise.
He remains calm and collected. Completely unbothered as he uses his napkin to mop dark roast off his hand.
Now I just feel like a cat who pissed outside the litter box on purpose.
With guilt trickling through my system, I leave the carafe on the table and hurry away before I start to apologize. I don’t want to exchange one more word with that…that…robot in a three-piece suit.
Chapter 2
Lucy
Why, oh why, did I agree to work until closing?
Four hours still remain in this shift, but I’m already beat.
Closing my eyes for a few minutes in the staff break room isn’t going to cut it. At least I’m alone in here, so I don’t need to keep up myeverything is right with the worldfront.
My anxiety’s through the roof today. Every person, every sound, every situation I find myself dealing with catapults my mind back to the horrors of…
My heart races, and my breath comes in shallow gasps.
Cold sweat breaks out on my forehead.
