Page 72 of Whirlwind

I tamped down coffee powder in the pod. “Thanks for pitching in, you guys.”

“You bet, honey,” said Grace.

“So Aaron was a no-show?” I asked Shelby.

“He’s been late for his morning shift three times this week,” she said. “He must have a new girlfriend. Again.” She rolled her eyes.

New girlfriend? Shelby meant “another hook-up” but she was being nice.

“He is a hottie in that hippie kind of way.” A smirk twitched Jill’s lips.

“Honestly.” Mr. Fieldston grabbed his receipt.

“Excuse me, Shelby.” Mrs. Hutchins leaned over the counter, holding out a small box of cupcakes. “I asked for two red velvets, not these lemon ones.”

“Dang. Sorry about that, Mrs. Hutchins. Red velvet, red velvet…”

Jill maneuvered behind the counter and took the box from Shelby’s hands. “Let’s switch, Shelby. I’ll take care of the cupcakes and the coffees. You take the orders and ring them up.”

“Okay.” Shelby let out a breath as she got behind the register and plastered a smile on her face.

“I’ll take your stuff to the back, Violet.” Grace picked up my handbag and jean jacket.

“Thanks, Grace.” I hit the buttons on the machine, glancing up at the large wall clock. Where was Mom?

Jill filled a fresh box. “There you go, Mrs. Hutchins. Thank you for waiting, but you know those cupcakes are worth it.”

“They are! Thanks, Jill.”

“Is this line moving at all?” said a customer in the long line. “I have to get to work.”

“We appreciate your patience, everybody,” I announced. “We’re on a roll now.”

I made espressos and lattes and cappuccinos at lightning speed. Jill, Grace, Shelby, and I made an efficient team. Shelby regained her easygoing charm as Jill and I filled order after order, while Grace kept things chill and flowing with her chit chat.

“Hey, babe, you’re working that machine like…” a low voice came from behind me, a warm body bumping into mine. I lurched, my head jerking up.

Aaron the asshole. That self-satisfied grin I hated was stamped on his face again. No thought to consequences, or after effects, only what I want now, how I feel now, what I need now. Aaron was one of those people who passed through South Dakota on their way out west via I-90 and worked during the summer on their way to something better. Only he hadn’t left yet. He was having too good of a time.

I capped the flat white and passed it to Shelby. “How could you be late today of all days? What the hell is your problem?”

Aaron tamped espresso into the portafilter and fit it in the brewer. “Yeah, I know.”

“That’s all you have to say?”

“Um…” He hit a button. “Sorry?”

“You’re a piece of work, you know that?”

A grin perked his lips. “What are you really mad about, Violet, huh?”

Steam filled my vision. He was referring to one night, the night before I’d broken up with Ladd when he and I were here alone waiting for a delivery and he’d come onto me. He was a huge flirt who’d slept with half the town, but I’d never given in to him. That night I chose to cross that line. I’d kissed him, and it had been electric.

Because Aaron was so hot and attractive to me?

God no.

Because I was cheating on Ladd?

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