THE NEXT TWO hours passed in a blur. After initially struggling with the cash register, I finally conquered the beast, and Carter stopped grumbling about my bad attitude. He was happily helping make the drinks, leaving me alone in front.
We’d been nonstop, but the line was finally dwindling. Every kind of supernatural went to school here; it was a little unnerving. I’d seen almost every kind of shifter, plus vampires and witches. Even several I couldn’t identify, which meant that I had never been around that race before. My guess was that most of the unknown races had been living in Shadow City and were only now integrating back into the world.
I needed to learn more about this city if I was going to survive and stay off the grid.
Something inside me tugged, and I looked away from the cash register toward the entrance. The most gorgeous guy I’d ever seen stepped into my view.
His honey-brown hair was slightly longer on top and gelled to sweep to one side. The fluorescent lights of the shop reflected off blond highlights. His golden scruff made his sculpted face perfect. He towered over everyone, standing probably more than half a foot taller than me, and his hunter green polo shirt hugged his body, revealing chiseled abs.
And my heart fell when I noted his arm was wrapped around a girl.
Why in the world was I upset over someone I’d just seen for the first time in my life?
I must have been gawking because his light hazel gaze landed on me. His shirt brought out flecks of green in his irises. He dropped his hand to his side, and the girl pouted her overly done red lips.
Her long, golden blonde hair waved over her tight russet brown crop top. She slid one finger underneath her gold mini skirt, pulling it down a little to reveal more of her stomach. She pretended to stumble in her silver stilettos. “Oh, Griffin.” She placed her hands on his chest, using him to steady herself.
They both smelled of musk, alerting me that they were wolf shifters, which further proved that her accident was forced.
He gently pushed her off him and marched past the line directly to me. A lopsided grin spread across his face. “Hey, you.”
“Uh. Hi?” What was he doing up here?
Rubbing his thumb against his bottom lip, he nodded. “I’ll take a coffee.”
Was this a joke? It had to be. I kept waiting for the punchline, but he looked expectantly at me.
That wasn’t how this worked. “The line starts back there.” I pointed to where his girlfriend stood, her mouth hanging open.
“It’s fine.” He glanced at the guy in front of the line next to him, who happened to be another wolf.
“Tell her.”
“Uh… yeah.” The guy averted his eyes, submitting to the asshole.
“The line is back there,” I said sternly.
“Dove.” Carter rushed over and scowled. “Please forgive her. She’s new on the job and in town.
I’ll grab your coffee. Do you want cream?”
The alpha douche leaned toward me and winked. “I only like my cream in one place.”
“Ew.” Did that actually work for him? “Please stop. God.”
“Some confuse me with him, but I assure you, I’m not.” He took a step closer to me. “Granted, you’ll be calling me that name again before the night-”
I turned away from him and focused on the guy in the front of the line. “What were you saying you wanted again?”
“Hey, I’m talking to you,” the gorgeous asshole said as he reached for my arm.
My heart sputtered at the thought of him touching me. I had to rein this in. This guy was clearly a player, and his girlfriend was not happy about the scene going down. But I couldn’t stop anticipating his touch.
“Dove!” Killian’s comforting voice called from the entrance.
My tormentor stilled as Killian walked toward me.
Killian’s eyes widened when he looked at the guy. “Hey, you two have already met?”
Wait. This had to be his best friend, Griffin. I almost threw up in my mouth. But Killian had said he slept around, and clearly this guy did too, so maybe it did make sense.
“Us two?” Griffin pointed at me and then back at him. “I was ordering a cup of coffee.”
“So you cut the line again?” Killian smirked and nudged over to me, kissing me on my cheek.
“This makes the whole first meeting thing easier. This is the girl I was telling you about yesterday.”
Griffin frowned as his hands clenched. “Of course, it is.” He took a step in my direction, and my traitorous heart picked up its pace.
Did he feel the tug too? The thought both thrilled and petrified me.
“You mean the one that you stood Jessica up for?” Griffin’s girlfriend said as she sashayed over to us and looped her arm through Griffin’s, stopping him from getting closer to me.
“Here’s your coffee.” Carter hurried back and handed Griffin a cup. “And Dove, maybe you should head out. The line is shorter, and you’re making a scene.”
“When should I have her here again?” Killian took my hand and pulled me toward him.
A low growl emanated from Griffin as his nostrils flared, but no one but me seemed to notice.
“Tomorrow. She got off to a rough start with Rosemary, of all people, but redeemed herself and did great until Griffin showed up.” Carter held his hand out. “Give me the apron, and be here by nine. That’s when things get crazy.”
I looked at Killian. I couldn’t commit to the time because I’d be relying on him to bring me here.
“She’ll be here.” Killian unlaced my apron and pulled it over my head. “Thanks, man.”
“Please-” Carter placed his palms together, fingertips pointed upward like in prayer “-behave a little better tomorrow.”