“The coffee part is simple,” Carol said. “You just press this button here, and it grinds and does everything else automatically.” She demonstrated. “The frothing requires some skill.”

“Got it.” Wonder watched Carol froth the milk and pour it into the cup. “Can I try?”

“Go ahead.”

Everything was happening so fast. She had a new place to live, a new job, and she was making new friends. It was everything Anandur had promised her and more.

With every passing moment, the idea of going back to her old life was becoming less and less appealing. There was nothing for her in San Francisco. She missed Toni and Natasha, but only a little, and she didn’t miss her jobs or the shelter at all.

“Is that good?” She showed Carol the contents of her pitcher.

“Needs a little more foam. Give it one more minute and move it up and down the wand.” She demonstrated with a chuckle. “Gently, like you would the other kind.”

Wonder raised a brow. “Is the hand movement different for soymilk?”

Carol's eyes widened, and she slapped a hand over her mouth. “Don’t tell me you’re a virgin.”

Mortified, Wonder glanced around. Thankfully, the morning rush was over, and the café was deserted save for one guy sitting with a newspaper at the furthest table. “Shh, don’t talk so loudly.”

“I’m sorry,” Carol whispered. “Not that it’s anything to be ashamed of. I just thought that you and Anandur had something going on. I was sure he was full of shit when he said he thinks of you as a little sister.” She gave Wonder a once-over. “Because, honey, there is nothing little about you.”

Wonder grimaced. Obviously, Carol hadn’t meant to offend her, but to Wonder the remarks had felt more like barbs than compliments. She didn’t like it when people commented on her size, and she hated Anandur’s stupid attitude toward her.

Little sister? Really?

Ugh, what a frustrating male. Carol was right. Anandur was full of shit.

Over the few hours she’d spent working at the café, Wonder had had more guys come on to her than in the entire nine months she’d been awake, all of them handsome immortal males who found her attractive despite her size.

It had been a nice boost to her ego, that was for sure. The problem was that she hadn’t felt a thing toward any of them.

There was only one guy she was interested in, and he was acting incredibly stupid.

Little sister indeed. Anandur should tell it to his manhood. That part of him didn’t think of her as little or a sister.

“What’s the matter?” Carol looked at her with worried eyes. “Did I say something wrong?”

Wonder glanced at the pitcher of milk. The foam was ruined. Cringing, she emptied it in the sink. “People judge me by my looks. I don’t like being called big.” She wasn’t going to mention her virgin status, or Anandur’s weird ideas of propriety.

None of the other guys who’d flirted with her thought she was too young.

“Why the hell not?” Carol put her hands on her hips. “I would love to be as tall as you.” She waved a hand over Wonder’s body. “You can wear whatever and look great. You know how hard it is for me to find flattering clothes? Everything is either too long, or too tight in the wrong places.”

“Yeah, but you can wear heels and dresses and look feminine. I always have to wear flats, which I don’t think look good with skirts, so I’m always in pants.”

She looked down at her sneakers. “And those are the only shoes I have here. Magnus is going to collect my stuff and bring it when he returns. I’m okay as far as clothes go because Amanda gave me a bunch of her old discards, not that they are really used. Some still have the price tags attached.” Wonder rolled her eyes. “Talk about pricy. But anyway, I don’t even have flip-flops. How does anyone shop for things here? Is there a store somewhere?”

“Do you have a phone?” Carol asked. “I mean a clan issue one that works here.”

Wonder pulled it from the back pocket of her jeans. “I do. And?”

“Come on.” Carol took her hand. “Let Auntie Carol show you how it’s done.” She led her to a table.

It was funny for Carol to call herself auntie when she looked only a few years older than Wonder. Although as far as Wonder knew, she could be as old as Anandur. Living among humans, Wonder had got used to thinking of age in human terms.

“Have you ever shopped online?”

Wonder shook her head.

“What size shoe are you?”

“A nine.”

Carol typed a few words on the screen and then handed the phone to Wonder. “Here you go. Go crazy, girl. Do you have a credit card?”

“I have a debit card.”

“Works too. When you find a shoe you like add it to the shopping cart. You see that little icon up there?”

Wonder nodded.

“You can always edit the shopping cart before checking out. So just put in there anything you like. When you’re done, show me, and I’ll input the keep’s address. All the deliveries go there, and every evening one of the Guardians brings them over here and puts them in the office building’s lobby. You can collect your packages from there.”

“Wow, that’s awesome. But what if the shoes don’t fit?”

“Easy. You send them back.” Carol pointed at the top of the screen. “See that? Free shipping and free returns.”