Page 9 of Billionaire and the Barista

GABRIELLA

Islipped my hand into Nathan’s and dragged him along behind me.

“Do we have to go to the coffee shop?” he asked. He was laughing, so I know it wasn’t a real complaint. “Can’t they ever get anyone else to work on race nights?”

“Of course not, Nathan. If there is to be coffee and food on race nights, I have to work.” Didn’t he know that I didn’t mind it? I took my lead from Mitch. Some of those kids were not out there showing off their latest toys from rich parents, like Nathan and his lot, they were there because the races were their family.

I caught some of those kids sleeping on my back stoop. I was their age. Some of them were even older than Nathan, and I still felt more like one of the adults making sure they had food and didn't get into drugs. Mitch made sure they didn’t turn into roadkill by checking out their bikes. For some unknown reason, too many of them thought this was the road to riches and fame.

Too many fast and insane car movies giving them ideas. Too many super-rich guys making big bets, winning big, losing bigger. Nathan was one of the flash and glam big spenders. But he was different, he cared, he saw what was going on. Sure, he had come down here for the thrill and the risk, but I liked to think he stayed because of me.

“I don’t have to be open for long. Just enough time to get the pizza rolls out and hit the switch on the coffee.”

“And then we kick everyone out?” He tugged back on my hand. I twisted and twirled into his arm like a dance move.

I laughed. I loved moving with him, life was like a dance, and Nathan was the most thrilling partner. I wanted to dance with him forever. A sudden flurry of nerves like a thousand butterflies taking flight zinged through my body light a bolt of lightning. What if he didn’t like my news? What if talking about getting married was just a random half-drunk party conversation?

Would a rich man like him really be happy living with me above my shop? I couldn’t picture us living anywhere else. I couldn’t picture myself living in one of those extravagant mansions and being the host of parties like the one the other night.

Wrapped in his arms, he dipped me, and then slid his perfect mouth over mine. I melted into his kiss, wishing it would last forever. I kissed him back and wondered if he felt my kisses the way I felt his. Could he tell that I was giving him everything of me?

I hummed against his lips. How could I not? Everything was so wonderful.

“Come on,” I sighed.

“Bike,” Nathan said. He tugged back, stopping my progress.

“I’ll race you,” I teased.

The cafe was a block from the underpass where the races started. Nathan paused, took a long look at me, and then ran in the opposite direction.

“You!” I complained before I turned and ran for the cafe. I had the advantage of not needing to start a bike, but he had wheels, fast wheels, and I was not a fast runner. Everything on me tended to bounce when I ran. I pressed my arms into my boobs to keep them from bouncing around too much.

Nathan leaned against his bike all nonchalant, as if he had been waiting minutes for me, and not like he had just slid off his bike to pose.

“Jerk,” I teased. “It shouldn’t count. You didn’t put your helmet on.”

I unlocked the front door and headed to the back counter. Nathan hit the lights for me. I tossed my jacket off and tied a clean apron over my yoga pants and an oversized shirt. My gaze lingered on my midsection. Did I look pregnant already?

Shaking my head, I cleared my brain of that thought, no, it was just my normal squish and pudge.

I washed my hands and began the coffee set up.

“What did you want to tell me?” I asked as I poured water into the brewer. Coffery was more a bakery with coffee than it was a coffee shop with pastries. And on race nights, I didn’t open up the machines all the way. I was there to offer coffee, not play barista.

“I wanted to wait until we were alone,” Nathan started. He ran his hand over his face and gave me a pained grin.

I put the coffee pot down and crossed out from behind the counter. I put my hands on his hips and looked up at him. My nerves thrummed, but they didn’t feel like butterflies this time. “We are alone. What’s wrong?”

“I’m leaving town.”

“That’s it? How long will you be gone?” He’d been gone before. I missed him, but it really wasn’t that big of a deal. I returned to my work behind the counter.

“That’s it, I don’t know. You can come with me.”

“Go where? You can’t even tell me for how long. I can’t just up and leave, Nathan.”

“Why not? You don’t owe your boss anything. This place can run without you.”

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