Page 13 of Erik's Salvation
“So, what are you doing now?”
Despite expecting it, he hated when people asked him that. His job was classified—a secret government office he didn’t talk about. Giving other people bullshit answers was easy. His family? Not so much.
“You know I can’t talk about that, Andi.”
That was the best he could give his sister. And by the disappointed twist of her lips, she didn’t like it.
“I’m gonna go order our drinks,” he said, before she could get another question in. “You still drinking mochas?”
She laughed. “Brother, I’ve grown up since then. Latte, please. One sugar.”
He smiled and headed toward the counter.
Rita approached on the other side. She was a short woman in her mid-sixties, and as motherly as they came. She had a few gray hairs woven throughout the brown and a wide smile.
“Hi, dear. Black coffee for you and latte one sugar for your sister?”
He should have known…the woman knew everyone’s order. A chime sounded behind him, indicating the door to the café opening, but he ignored it. “Yes, thanks.”
Someone came to a stop beside him at the counter, and he smelled the sweet scents of citrus and flowers. The muscles in his forearms tightened, and he took a beat longer than he normally would have to turn his head.
Hannah. She looked up, her crystal-blue eyes colliding with his gaze. Immediately, blood pounded between his ears.
Fuck, what was that?
Shut it down, Erik.Even if you weren’t too fucking dangerous, she’s too young.Her twenty-three didn’t come close to his thirty-six.
“Hey, Erik.” Her soft voice rolled over his skin like silk.
“Hey.”
He didn’t say her name, because the last time he’d done that, parts of him had hardened that had no fucking business hardening. At least she wasn’t wearing those shorts today. She wore them too damn often while she was home.
Her redheaded friend came into view as she leaned against the counter from behind Hannah. “Hi. My name’s Brigid. I’m the best friend.”
“As am I,” a tall, toned guy behind them added. “Henry.”
Rita turned her head from the coffee machine. “Hello, usuals for you guys, too? Cappuccino, latte, and lavender oat milk latte?”
What was the bet Hannah’s order was the lavender one? It fucking suited her…floral and feminine.
“Thanks, Rita,” Hannah said. She turned back to Erik. “So, how are you settling in?”
She played with a charm on her bracelet, and it took every scrap of his restraint to not look down at her delicate wrists, the way her slender fingers grazed over the bead.
He cleared his throat. “Fine.”
The small smile dropped from her face, and he knew he was being an ass, but there was something about this woman, about her sweetness and beauty and fucking light, that made him want to run. Put as much distance between them as possible.
Her friend Brigid put a finger to her chin. “You’re not a man of many words, are you?”
Henry snorted. “Don’t need to be good with your words when you’re good with—”
Hannah elbowed Henry in the gut.
The man grunted. “Hey, watch it. You’ll bruise me before my date with Jake.”
Rita set Erik’s coffees onto the counter, and he paid her and turned, giving Hannah and her friends a small nod as he went. He was almost back to his table when a soft hand touched his elbow. His mouth tightened, and he wanted to ignore her and keep on walking.
