Vienna
Wiping down the counter, I glanced out at the buzzing dining area of The Wilder Coffee shop. The early morning rush had settled down, and now the place was left with some stragglers. Some students from the local university studying before class. A couple business types lost in their tablets and phones. A stray hospital worker ending an overnight shift.
The busiest part of my shift was over. A few regulars would pop in throughout the day but as far as Tuesdays went, this one was pretty normal. I bent down to grab some sugar packets from under the counter and when I came back up the most stunning set of green eyes were staring at me. Attractive men came in all the time but this was not your average hottie. The man standing inches from me, separated only by the counter, was remarkable. His dark hair was trimmed close at the sides, but longer on top. A neatly manicured goatee accentuated his chiseled jaw. The suit he wore screamed money. It was tailored to his fit frame, leaving me to imagine just how muscular he was underneath that crisp blue dress shirt.
“Have I come at a bad time?” He rested his hand on the counter.
“What?” My mouth went dry when I spoke and my stomach did a flip. What the hell was wrong with me? It wasn’t as if I’d never seen a cute guy before. Maybe I’d never seen one as attractive as the man in front of me. There was a definite vibe going on with this guy. One I wanted to get to know.
“You seem distracted.”
“No, of course not.” I was quite certain he distracted plenty of women. I was also certain he knew it. “I didn’t hear the door open. You caught me by surprise.”
“Sorry.”
“What can I get you?”
“Just a medium house blend.” He checked his watch. “Black, please.”
“Really?” I crinkled my nose.
“Is there something wrong with that particular blend?”
“Ah, well...”
“It makes me a little nervous when the barista seems adverse to it.”
“I’ll let you in on a secret, I don’t like it.” I hit his order into the register. “It’s not bad, it’s just bold and you’re brave to drink it black. It’s new this month.”
“I’m not big on coffee.” He handed me a twenty. “Keep the change.”
“Thank you.”
He glanced around the place and back at his watch. He looked important. Maybe a lawyer or a doctor.
“There are so many cool choices here.” I took the money, cashed him out, and put the tip into the jar on the counter. “You might like to try something else.”
“Just not the house blend.” He smirked. “Maybe another time.”
“If you don’t drink coffee why would you be in a coffee shop ordering the strongest blend we have?”
“I’m having a tough morning.”
“I can relate.” I was having a tough few months.
“If I hadn’t ordered anything, how would I have met such a charming woman?”
“Are you flirting with me?” I smiled, hoping that was the case as I poured his coffee into a large cup instead of the medium he’d requested. Although I doubted he’d be able to finish such a bold choice especially if he wasn’t a caffeine addict.
“Just stating a fact.” He grinned when I handed him his order. “Thank you.”
“I hope you enjoy your coffee so you’ll come back.”
“I have a feeling I’ll be back.” He looked at my name tag. “Vienna.”
He is flirting. He was older than me. I wasn’t sure by how much but age was just a number. Judging from my track record, I wasn’t doing so well with guys my own age.
“I don’t know your name.”
“Nathan.” He removed his ringing phone from his pocket. “Wilder.”
“That’s funny.” I giggled as he checked to see who was on the other end of the line. “Like the coffee.” I thought for a moment. Oh God! “You’re Nathan Wilder. Like the owner?”
“That would be me.” He glanced at the screen again, ignoring the call.
Shit! He is important.
“I should let you get back to work.”
“Yeah, but I–” How am I going to fix this?
His phone rang again and this time he seemed annoyed when he checked to see who it was. “I have to take this but it was a pleasure meeting you, even if you think my house blend is too strong.”
“Oh.” My big mouth often got me into trouble. “I didn’t mean...” Well, I did mean it was too strong. “Some of the customers like it.”
“I hope so.” He laughed as he answered his phone. “Hello.”
When he headed toward the door, I wondered if I’d ever get to talk to him again. I should have been wondering if I still had a job after that ridiculous encounter. I couldn’t have been more wrong about this particular Tuesday. It was anything but normal.
Nathan
“Hello.” I answered the call as I walked out of the shop, still focused on the conversation I’d just had. “What’s so important, Scarlet?”
“I’ve been calling and texting you for an hour,” my persistent ex-wife said. “Where have you been?”
“I had an early meeting.” I sat on the bench outside the coffee shop, noting the view of the exotic barista who’d brightened my morning in a matter of minutes. “What do you need?”
“Why do you always assume I need something?”
“Because that’s the only time you call me.” Lately, her calls were becoming a habit. “How much is this going to cost me?”
“I’ve gone through this month’s allowance.”
“It’s only the tenth of the month.”
“I know.”
“I told you last month, you can’t make a habit of this.”
“What good is having a billionaire ex if I can’t hit you up for cash?”
“I pay for your Manhattan apartment and your car on top of that generous monthly allowance. I’d say you’re doing fine.”
“I didn’t want a divorce, remember?”
She reminded me every chance she got that the divorce was my idea, but we weren’t working out and it was better for both of us. I agreed to her very expensive terms and she made the separation much easier than she could have. “You didn’t want a divorce because you like spending my money.”
“I’m not going to argue that.”
“I’ll advance you next month’s payment.”
“That’s not going to work.”
“Why not?”
“Nathan, please. I could fly to Boston this weekend and persuade you. The way you like to be persuaded.”
After the divorce, I’d made a few mistakes when it came to Scarlet. My mother, who was extremely fond of my ex, passed away, and Scarlet helped me through that tragic time. We hadn’t been intimate in over a month, and I wanted to keep it that way. The way we were carrying on wasn’t healthy for either of us.
“That won’t be necessary.”
I continued to stare at the beauty inside my establishment. Her long, dark hair was pulled into a high ponytail and when she turned to make my coffee, I noticed the heart tattoo on the nape of her neck. But it was her distinctive, crystal blue eyes that drew me in. Her olive colored complexion and dark hair were a stark contrast to her eyes. She was the most unique woman I’d ever seen.
“Nathan?” Scarlet drew me from my thoughts. “You don’t want me to come this weekend?”
“No, I’ll transfer the money into your account but this is the last time.”
“Thank you.” I heard the relief in her voice. “Are you participating in that bachelor auction on Saturday?”
“How did you know about that?” I had tried to forget about it.
“It’s being heavily promoted even here in New York. It’s a huge charity your aunt is raising money for. I can’t believe she talked you and your brother into it. You’re the two most reclusive men I know.”
“Well, it’s for a good cause and my aunt needed us.”
“Who knows?” She laughed. “If you transfer enough money into my account maybe I’ll come and bid on you.”
“Don’t.”
“Would having dinner with me really be that bad?”
“Let’s not play games.” She was good at those. “You got what you wanted. The money will be in your account in an hour.”
“You’re more than money to me.”
“I know that.” Scarlet and I had an unusual relationship. After we divorced, she was there for me when my mother got sick. I needed her to get me through the last few weeks of my mother’s life. She supported me through the funeral and for that I would be eternally grateful. Which was why I gave her whatever she wanted even if out marriage was a disaster. “I’ll talk to you soon.”
“Are you still coming to New York next week?”
“Yes.” I paused, trying to come up with a reason why I wouldn’t be able to see her.
“We can have dinner then.”
“It’s a business trip.”
“You can’t spare a few hours for me?”
“We’ll see.”
“Nathan,” she said before I could end the call. “Thank you for the money.”
“You’re welcome.” I disconnected as I stared into the shop. This time, I caught Vienna smiling at me. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d had any interest in a woman other than Scarlet. That was how my aunt had talked me into participating in the bachelor auction. I hoped that decision didn’t come back to bite me in the ass.
I sipped my coffee, wincing when the hot beverage coated my throat. I’d have to speak with my brother Dustin about the house blend. It was awful!
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Available September 18, 2018
