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“You sneaking up on me for a reason?” Maggie asked, pressing her hand on her chest, causing it to slow.
“Nah. Just killing time before I go back up front and tell Lucas you aren’t available.” Vivi popped her gum and examined her nails. Maggie hoped there wasn’t a line at the counter. Maybe you should start doing and stop thinking? Give the guy a chance, a small voice in her head said.
Maggie splayed her hands on the desk and pushed herself up. “I’ll do it.”
“Cool. We could use some excitement around here.”
“I’m not going to make a scene,” Maggie said over her shoulder as Vivi followed her down the hallway. She breathed easier when it was only Lucas at the register. Maggie didn’t enjoy eating crow, especially with an audience. “Why don’t you wipe down tables while I deal with him?”
“You’re no fun.” Vivi grabbed the cleaning spray and a clean rag.
“I know. That’s why I’m the manager.” Maggie took a deep breath as she pushed the swinging half door that separated the kitchen from the barista stand. Just as she’d imagined, Lucas’s full mouth broke into a smile and his eyes twinkled when he saw her.
“If I’d known winning yesterday would get me VIP service, I would have played harder,” he teased.
“Really? We had the game on yesterday, and from the plays I saw, you played hard.”
“Yeah, but with some incentive, I could have dug deeper. Maybe.” He winced.
“What can I get you to drink?” she asked, leaning back. Lucas had leaned toward her as they’d talked, and Maggie thought it was cute. But then she noticed she’d done the same thing and cute suddenly wasn’t so cute anymore. More like inevitable and scary, and she didn’t know what to make of that or of him and his interest. At least not yet. Not until she’d cleared the air and given them a clean slate, too.
“A pumpkin spice latte, please.”
“You like PSLs?”
“Sure.” He shifted from side and looked over her left shoulder. “Doesn’t everyone?”
“Not everyone and not you.” Maggie crossed her arms over her chest and his eyes tracked the move. They stalled at the edge of her lace camisole, peeking out from under her sweater’s deep V-neck. He dragged his eyes up to meet her annoyed ones, but he didn’t seem embarrassed about being caught. They couldn’t start over if she didn’t understand his coffee shenanigans. “You come in here several times a week and order coffee, but you never drink it. You pretend or you give it to Penny’s staff. Why?”
“What? Is this coffee-gate?” He laughed, but Maggie didn’t join him.
“I need to know. It’s important.”
Lucas leaned toward her, as if sharing a secret. “I, um, don’t like coffee. I’m more of a tea drinker, but I kept ordering coffee because I know you like it and I thought that would help.” He shrugged.
“Help what?” she asked, pushing him. His nervousness made him even more appealing.
“Get to know you better. Give us some common ground.”
“That’s punny,” Maggie said, gently poking his solid shoulder, and Lucas relaxed. “So, you’ve been coming in here for months, ordering drinks you don’t like, hoping to get to know me better?”
“When you put it like that it sounds lame.” Lucas rubbed the back of his neck. “I can’t explain it, and I know it sounds creepy, but ever since I saw you in high school, you’ve intrigued me. There’s just something about you.” He shrugged.
Chapter 12
Oh my , Maggie’s heart sighed at the earnest look on his face. “So, your intentions were to get to know me better, not sabotage me?”
“No! Never.” Lucas’s eyes flashed. “I would never intentionally sabotage you. And I didn’t want to win the baking competition. I only wanted to beat the defense. You know that,” he pleaded.
“I know.” Maggie nodded, gathering the bar rag between her fingers.
“Can we go for a walk when you’re done? Clear the air some more? Things have been tense at the house with Cal, and I can tell he’s torn between his loyalty to you and my awesomeness.” He winked, lightening the mood.
“I’d hate for my baby brother to be torn like that, so I guess we should.” Maggie smirked as the butterflies in her stomach stirred. Are we flirting? “But I need to finish the schedule.”
“I can wait,” he said quickly, reminding her of an overeager Labrador retriever.
“Would you like a chai latte while you wait? My treat.”
