by Gina Kincade
“Uhm, did you give her a warning?”
“Warning?”
“Yeah. She might not like that you’re bringing me. I mean, she might get the wrong idea about us.”
“Oh, that. She knows what I deal with every day. You know. Assholes, jerks, damsel in distress, etc.”
“Damsel in distress.” Shayne scowled. “I don’t fall in that category.”
Ty grinned. “If you say so.” He already knew that Shayne had bones. Any woman would’ve been crying and hiding if they found out someone had been trying to kill them. Shayne, however, refused to show fear. “I hope you’re hungry. Breakfast here is huge.”
“Not really. I usually have coffee and bagel in the morning.”
“Well, this morning is not really a usual one, right? And Beth works hard in the kitchen. So eat whatever she puts on our table.”
Shayne sighed. “You mean you don’t want me to hurt your girlfriend’s feelings.”
“Right. Now, let’s go. I’m starving.”
“Wait. I hope she’s not the jealous type. You sure she’s not going to shower me with boiling water or put a slug in my food?”
“Nah. But she might cut your hair when you’re not looking.”
“I’m staying in the car.”
Ty laughed.
Chapter Three
As soon as Ty opened the door, Shayne’s mouth watered. The smell of fresh baked bread mixed with the scent of lemon, cookies, and bacon welcomed them. She loved the café right away. It had a homey feeling to it. Green plants in little pots lined the windowsills, a single stem of dahlias in slim clear vases were placed on each table, yellow checkered tablecloths added warmth in the café. Shayne could imagine herself sitting in the corner while using her laptop or reading a spicy romance novel. Judging by the number of customers eating, she doubted they would get a table. Waitresses carrying trays were zooming in and out of the kitchen. They looked so busy.
Customers were shooting glances in their direction. Some were even staring. They could probably smell her sweat. Ugh. She should’ve insisted that she change before coming here. Shayne tried to smooth her hair, but gave up when she felt her sagging bun.
A woman who could be in her mid-twenties wearing jeans and white t-shirt waved at them. “Hey, Ty. Give me a minute.”
Ty waved back. Shayne wondered if she was Beth. She glanced at Ty. He was already looking at his cell phone. Nope. That woman wouldn’t be Beth.
“Hey, you. Sorry. I had to give your table to a couple earlier. The guy was using a cane. I didn’t want him to wait.”
“No problem. And you shouldn’t save my table any way. Not mine.”
“Well, tell Beth that. Are you going to introduce me to your friend?”
Ty nodded his head toward Shayne. “Shayne.”
“Hi, Shayne. My name is Lyra. Gosh, you are a sight to see.”
“Oh, I’m sorry.” Shayne wanted to melt from embarrassment. “I wanted to go home and change, but—”
“No, no. I mean, how in the world do you manage to look like that?”
“Sweaty?”
Lyra laughed. “Dear, you look like a goddess in running shorts and a tank top.”
“Oh, thank you.”
“You have to tell me your secret before you leave. Ty, take that table over in the corner.
“Thanks. You’ll get a dollar today.”
“Cheapskate.”
“But I’m handsome. Admit it.”
“Whatever, Ty.”
Ty laughed. He placed his hand at the small of Shayne’s back, then gave her a nudge. “Let’s sit down.”
“Shayne, don’t listen to him. He’s the one mothers warn their daughters about.”
“Thanks for the warning.”
“I’ll bring your coffee.”
“Decaf for me, please. Thank you, Lyra.”
“Got it.”
Ty pulled a chair for her.
She noticed he took the one facing the door and with his back against the wall. “Cozy.”
“Yeah.”
Shayne studied the laminated menu in front of her. Everything looked good. “What do you recommend?”
“Pancakes.”
“And?”
“Everything that comes with it.”
“All right. I’ll go with pancakes with everything in it.”
Lyra came to their table with two pots of coffee and then surprised Shayne when she fished two white mugs from inside her apron. “Saves the time. And you want your coffee now, right?”
“Right,” Shayne replied. “Pockets are good for a lot of things.”
“I know. Especially if you’re a waitress. So, were you out jogging and Ty happened to see you and invited you here?”
“Is that something that Ty would usually do? Pick-up someone he just happened to see?” Shayne looked up at Ty who was staring at her with his arms across his chest. His legs were stretched out beneath the table. She knew because his ankle was touching her shoe.
“Yes. One time, he showed up with Japanese tourists. I mean, a whole damn bus full! We didn’t even have enough room for all of them. I think a few of them sat behind the counter. And you know what? They’ve been coming here twice a year. But they were kind enough to let us know when they’re coming. What about you? Did he fish you out of the park?”
“I’m actually his hostage,” Shayne replied casually.
“What?”
“Uh-huh. I am not allowed to go anywhere without him.”
“Well, if I were a man, I wouldn’t let you go anywhere either. Not until I was done ravishing you.”
Shayne laughed. “Oh, dear.”
A grey haired woman stood beside Lyra with her hands on her high hips. “So, what’s it going to be today, children?”
Shayne liked her round face, full lips, and easy smile anyone would return in a heartbeat. Maybe in her late fifties or early sixties, but signs the woman had been a great beauty were still visible. About Shayne’s height, she possessed light brown eyes that seemed to see past Shayne’s muscles, bones, and all the way to her soul. She reminded Shayne of her mother. With a kind face, but always watching.
Ty stood up and hugged the woman. “Happy to see you, Beth.”
“No visits in two weeks? Then two calls last night and endless text messages. Now, you’re here. Miss me suddenly, huh?”
So this is Beth. Ty didn’t have to explain his relationship with Beth. Shayne could tell they weren’t sleeping under the same sheets. For some weird reason, the thought made her want to smile.
Ty combed his hair with his fingers. “Sorry. Just got busy.”
“That’s what you said last night.”
“How are you?”
“I’m as good as ever,” Beth replied, then looked over at Shayne.
“Shayne,” Ty simply said.
“Ah. The beautiful doctor who owns a man-eating-couch.”
“Yup.”
Shayne raised a brow at Ty.
He simply replied with a crooked grin.
“You’re a doctor?” Lyra asked. “Gosh, I bet gazillion patients wanted you to be their doctor, so you could touch them.”
“There’s a lot of them, but not that many. And I doubt they would want me touching them. Most of the time, they’re unconscious with their chests open, so I can see their hearts.”
“Eeeyew!” Lyra made a face.
“Lyra, check the kitchen and see if their breakfast is ready.” Beth sat on the empty chair. “I asked Miguel to give you a bit of everything.”
“How is he in the kitchen?”
“Fantastic. I still do most of the cooking, though.”
“Miguel is the cook?” Shayne asked
“My co-cook. If there is such a word. Ty found him downtown huddled in a corner on a snowy day and brought him here to get something hot in his stomach. After eating, he volunteered to help. Since I needed another hand anyway, I asked him to work for me.”
“That’s wonderful.”
“We gotta help each other to make this world a livable place. Well, I hope you’re not worried about your waistline, Shayne.”
“Oh, not at all. I eat like a pig.”
“Good.” Beth patted her hand.
“This place has a wonderful smell. The kind that makes you feel at home or think of home.”
“That’s why you see a lot of those white haired folks eating here. Most of them live in a retirement home ten minutes away from here.”
“They’re lucky to have found your café.”
“And they give me reason to wake up in the morning and face the day. So, Shayne. Has Ty been treating you well?”
Shayne now stared at Ty who raised a brow in such a sexy way she wanted to mewl. “Well, we only met yesterday and yet, he’s already been bossing me around, scowls at me for no reason, and tells me what to do as if I’m his younger sister. I don’t know.”
“Like I said earlier. He’s being a bear for a good reason. Now, if he started leaving dirty socks on your floor, that’s when you come to me and I’ll straighten him out.”
“Wait. You’re on her side already?” Ty asked.
“Haven’t you figured it out yet, Ty? Girls are tight. Screw two and both will cut your balls off.”
Ty raised his hands as if in surrender. “Language, Beth.”
Beth rolled her eyes at Ty. “Glad to meet you, Shayne. Hope to see your face again.”
“Oh, I’ll be back here. Alone or with the Bear.”
A man with thick dark hair and an equally thick raven colored mustache came up pushing a rolling cart.
Shayne stared at the food, shocked to see the stack of pancakes, bacon, and a fat omelet. The sausages were dark brown just like she wanted. “Wow.”
“Try everything, senorita. They’re delicious.”
“Thank you, Miguel,” Beth and Ty said simultaneously.
“Alright, you two. Enjoy your food.” Beth grinned. “Don’t leave without saying goodbye.”
“Thank you, Beth.”
As soon as Miguel and Beth walked away from their table, Ty served them both.
“I don’t think I can eat three pancakes, four sausages, omelet, and a pile of bacon. Just looking at this makes my hips expand. I can already feel my thighs getting fat and…what’s so funny?”
“You.” Ty grinned. “Eat, love. I’ll take care of the leftovers.”
“How you can eat like a cow and maintain your shape, I have no clue.”
“It’s easy,” Ty replied while chewing his bacon.
“How.”
“Sex.”
“What?”
“The best exercise there is.”
“Okay, I’m not talking about this.”
“Are you a prude?”
“No. I don’t talk about sex to just anyone.”
“Anyone?”
“Can we just eat?”
“Sure. Seriously, you should try it sometimes.”
“What? Are you trying to say that I’m inexperienced?”
“Are you?” He raised a brow.
“Oh, god. No. And if I do have sex again, it wouldn’t be with you.”
“Oh?”
“Uh-huh. I’ll chose someone with three eyes and six legs before you, bear.”
Ty let out a loud laugh.
Customers turned to stare at them.
“Forget I said that.” Oh, man! They shouldn’t talk about sex. She couldn’t even remember the last time she slept with a man. Sex deprived, that’s what she was. Like a potted plant in need of water. If this continues, she might just take her clothes off and sit on his lap.
“You’re already thinking about us, aren’t you?”
Shayne felt her face heat up.
Ty laughed again.
Chapter Four
“What a great breakfast. I didn’t think I could eat four pancakes as big as the skillet. Thank you for taking me there.”
Ty glanced over at Shayne. She looked so radiant with the sun shining on her. Her smile was just so enigmatic he just wanted to stare at her. Unfortunately, he needed to watch the road. “You’re welcome. I’m sure Beth’s customers will double in number because of you. Seatbelt, please.”
Shane buckled herself right away. “Are you talking about me eating all the food that Beth asked me to try or because I gave Mister Acheson medical advice?”
“What do you think?”
“Well, I couldn’t help overhearing Mister Acheson’s complaints. The man had been suffering from recurring heartburn for three months. Poor thing.”
“But did you have to tell everyone at the café that they could come see you again, next week for free? I’m sure your name is all over the retirement center by now.”
“That’s fine. What am I going to do anyway? I’m on call but I’m sure you told my supervisor not to call me. I haven’t got a beep since yesterday.”
“Told your supervisor what happened but didn’t say you couldn’t go.”
“Wait…what?”
“What I said yesterday was you couldn’t go alone. You can go to work, but Grady or I must be there, too.”
“But I thought until things are clear, I have to lay low.”
“Love, you can’t leave the city or travel, but you can go to the hospital. That’s what we were trying to tell you yesterday. Weren’t you listening?”
“I was. Maybe with half an ear.” Shayne sighed. “Thank you.”
“I know how important your job is, Shayne. And how important you are. We’re not going to keep you from people who need you the most. You’re a special doctor.”
“Thank you,” she repeated.
“We’ll stop at the store. Do you need anything?”
“Yes. French bread, tomatoes, onions, and spaghetti noodles. Oh, I’m out of Parmesan cheese.”
Ty grinned. Even with their breakfast sitting heavily in his stomach, he found himself already salivating for tonight’s dinner. “Okay. Any store preference? PCC Natural Market?”
“No to PCC.”
Her reply made him happy. “Really? I thought you’re one of those hipsters who would only eat organic foods.”
“Me? What made you think that?”
“Don’t know. Maybe because you’re a doctor and a twig.”
“A twig?”
Ty glanced at Shayne. “You look like you’re ready to kill.”
“You just called me a twig.”
“Okay. A quarter pounder with a pretty face.”
Shayne’s cheeks turned bright red but she didn’t say anything about his compliment. She just stared at him.
Ty touched Shayne’s cheeks. The urge to kiss her was too strong. Feeling like an idiot, he lowered his hand then started his truck’s engine. Slowly, he pulled out of the parking lot. “So you’re not a health nut.”
“No. I love all kinds of ice cream and I eat everything as long as it’s not made out of metal. Sorry, I have nothing against people who are into healthy stuff. But I’m not going to spend lots of money on something inexpensive.”
“Good to know.” His last girlfriend preferred to eat vegetables with dirt still attached to them. What? His last girlfriend? Shayne couldn’t be the next girlfriend, she was an assignment. He needed to reel himself in.
“I love to eat, but I’m not going to munch on a small apple, or little cabbage the size of my fist, or super skinny carrots.”
Ty laughed. “I agree. So you like take outs?”
“I’m a doctor. And believe it or not, most doctors I know are take-out dependent. We practically live in the hospital. Don’t know what we’d do without Chinese food.”
“Hallelujah! Boy, I worry about nothing.”
“What do you mean?”
“I thought you’d only cooked everything healthy.”
“Love cooking. Unfortunately, I have very little time to spend in the kitchen.”
“So, being a doctor doesn’t mean you’re always watching the food pyramid.”
“I do. But my pyramid is upside down.
Everything at the bottom is on top.”
Somehow, the position 69 came to his mind, but he swiftly suppressed the image. He lowered his window and tried to keep his mind off the very attractive and sensual woman sitting beside him. For a while, they just sat in silence. However, Ty’s mind was anything but. He couldn’t stop imagining what it would be like to sleep beside Shayne and listen to her speak, to see her freshly showered or getting dressed. He wanted to see her in the morning and while wearing her scrubs. Fuck, he wanted Shayne with passion. What the hell did she do to him? They just met for crying out loud. Ty realized that staying quiet was worse than talking. His imagination just ran away with him. If this continued, Shayne was in deep trouble—from him. “Do you mind going to a cupcake store, then?”
“Not at all. Love cupcakes. Every time I make them though, they come out dry.”
Ty stopped at store’s parking lot, put the car in gear, then unbuckled his seat. He turned to look at Shayne. “I know a great place where we can get cupcakes.”
Shayne clapped her hands, then licked her lips. “Yes! I wanna go.”
Just because he couldn’t help himself, he touched Shayne’s cheek with the pad of his thumb. “We will, love. Stick with me and you’ll taste heaven.” As soon as the words came out of his mouth, he knew they meant more than just a reference to delicious food. Heck, he’d been thinking about kissing her the moment they’d met. He met Shayne’s stare. Her blue-eyes pierced him—questioning, pondering. He wondered if her lips were as soft as they looked. He bet they tasted like strawberries.
Ty’s body reacted. His cock thickened and swiftly begged to be released. Not fucking good. “You are a danger to any man’s sanity.”
“What did I do? Don’t scowl at me.” Shayne glowered back.
That did it. She looked so adorable that Ty couldn’t stop himself from leaning closer and planting a kiss on her lips. Of course, it was a mistake. Shit, now he wanted more of her taste.
It didn’t help that Shayne returned his kiss.
Ty kissed the side of Shayne’s mouth before teasing it with his tongue. She tasted wonderful. He slowly sucked on her soft upper lip, enjoying the way she responded. Good god, he wanted to devour her. When Shayne licked the inside of his lips, he claimed her mouth and plunged his tongue inside.
