Page 27 of Christmas Coffee

Celyn

Iadmit that I’m enjoying myself, talking to her and watching her interact with the customers when I glance at my watch. It’s coming up on eleven. It’s been the two of us in here since early this morning. My other employee appears to have wandered off. It’s possible he’s still handing out fliers painfully slow, strolling from one end of the lot to the other, but I doubt it.

I ask her, “Can you see Shannon out there?”

She looks over the heads of the people waiting in line and those emerald eyes scan the icy pavement. “Nope.” She glances at the people in front of her. “Anyone see a sexy guy wandering around. Furry vest and poufy hat? Looks like a hot, lost Viking?”

The lady standing directly in front of her glances at Nova with a wicked grin. “No, but I wish I had. He sounds delightful.” The women waiting in line all start talking to one another. For a moment, there are hushed whispers and giggles as they peer around the lot, looking for the lost hot man.

I catch a breath and run my hand through my hair so I don’t sour their pleasant moods. “Well then, I’m heading out. Can you manage alone for a bit?”

She answers without looking my way, her attention focused on the carafe in front of her as she carefully fills a white cup with rich, dark liquid. “I bet I can get him to come back without you stepping foot outside.”

I arch a brow at her. “Really? How?”

Nova grins at the line of women and then turns back to me. “We can have a Where’s Waldo contest, hot Viking edition. Whoever brings him back first gets a cookie.”

I nearly choke, but before I can reply there’s a clamoring from the crowd outside. I glance out the window. The women are eagerly waiting to see if the game is on. One of them is poised to run.

The woman closest to the window says plainly, “I want my coffee first and then I’ll find him.” Her hot pink lips twist into a smile that makes my balls crawl up into my body.

I smile awkwardly and direct my thoughts at Nova. “And that’s not worse than the uniform?”

She gives me a look, pinches her blouse for a second, and then drops it. “Nothing is worse than this.” She hands the woman waiting at the window her drink.

The woman at the window calls up, “Thanks, uh…hon.” She holds up a wad of cash as she scans my chest, then adds, “Uniforms typically have nametags.”

“They do. We didn’t get to it yet. The line grew too quickly.” Pink lips walks away at the same time I stride over to the cabinet drawer and pull out the little baggie with the plastic badges and dump them out on the counter. As I turn them all over, face-up, so Nova can pick one, she takes the next order.

When she turns around to make the coffee, she glances down at the pins. Her jaw flaps open and she honks a laugh as she lifts one of the name tags. “Are you kidding me?”

“It’s not a total dick-move.” That was supposed to sound matter-of-fact, but it came out so defensive that I doubt I can recover. This chick is making me nuts. I sigh loudly as I finish lining up the tags.

She glances over at me with one eyebrow so high it disappears under her cap. “Really, tell me how this is a good thing, aka not a dick-move.”

“You’ll be out here every day for weeks and looking—l” I lift a hand toward her, “well, like that. You’re bound to have some admirers. This makes sure they never find out your real name unless you give it to them.”

She grabs a coffee cup and positions it in front of the percolator before pulling the handle. Rich brown liquid pours out in a steaming wave. “Uh huh. So, why not call us all Betty or Paige?” Her voice is light, teasing almost.

“Well, this is more—”

“I know.” She swats a hand at me. “I’m just screwing with you. If I couldn’t tell this job had interesting parameters by now, then I’m a moron.”

I don’t realize it until I’m slow with my answer, but my gaze is resting on the side of her face, on her smile. I forget myself, don’t realize I’m staring at a nineteen-year-old like she’s a peer, or more than that.

Nova hands the order to the older lady waiting at the window and stuffs the cash in the drawer before taking the next order. She turns and glances at me, waving me off. “Well, go on and find him. I’m fine here. Go.”

I tuck my chin and nod once. I know she’s got this down. Hell, she could run the hut alone from the way she’s figured things out this morning. She relocated some of the supplies during a lull so that it takes her less time to fulfill each order. She mixed up a solution of bleach and water, and put it in a container so she can quickly wipe down the counter at any time. She smiles at the customers as I back away from her and head to the door.

“Put a nametag on while I’m gone.”

She laughs once, and tosses her hair out of the way so she can see me over her shoulder. “Sure, whatever you want boss.” That grin promises a lot of laughter. Keeping away from her is going to be difficult, at least I thought it would be, but as the minutes slipped into hours the merciless pull between us simmered down. We worked, talked, and it felt normal.

It’s not until I slip out of the hut and cross the parking lot that I notice the sore muscles of my face. I’ve been smiling all morning. Nonstop. Somehow, being around that woman made me forget everything else. Nova’s light laughter catches my ear. And I can’t help it, I look back at her in that tiny window with that silly hat, and smile.