Noodle judges me from the windowsill.
I tug the blanket higher up to my chin, glaring right back at the golden streaked tabby cat. The sun has actually come out this morning, highlighting the green flecks in his brown eyes.
He glances down at the damp part of the carpet where I’d forgotten to close my window before the storm, all but shaking his head in frustration.
“It’s not my fault I’m forgetful.” I mutter defensively, burrowing deeper into my blanket as he mewls sharply back at me, “Now go make some coffee!”
He curls his tail around himself, nestling down on the warm wood of the sill. He closes his eyes, keeping one slightly open and on me.
“Fine. I guess I’ll make it then.” I mumble with a roll of my eyes, throwing back the blanket so quickly that Noodle jumps slightly in surprise. He leaps gracefully down to the carpet, prowling carefully around the damp spot so that he can follow me into the kitchen.
Perched on the table I’ve told him ten thousand times not to climb on, he continues to observe me as I click on the coffee pot and slide up onto the counter.
You’re late. He seems to warn, unusually thoughtful for a cat.
“You don’t have to tell me that.” I grumble as the coffee pot abruptly squeals and grinds to a smoking halt, “Damn…”
I can practically hear Noodle laughing at me in spite. I shoot a glare over my shoulder at him, but he’s simply licking his paws, pretending not to notice.
Apparently I’d be having coffee at work.
As I throw my hair up into a ponytail to avoid having to brush it, I lean over and lay a sloppy kiss on the kitten’s forehead. He bats at me, no claws extended and not a hiss whispered from his kitty lips, though he glares at me like I’d embarrassed him.
“Love you, Noodle!” I chirp, accepting his scowl as a declaration of his own love as I grab my purse and head out the door without coffee.
Noodle had been a temperamental beast since the day he was born over ten years ago, though he’d always be a kitten to me.
In fact, his attitude was so terrible even as a baby that the humane society had been positive that they would never be able to even give the poor little scruff ball away. From time to time my mom would donate the old towels and dishrags from the café to the shelter, and that was what brought me to him. I’d walked by the kitty playpen that day, ten years ago, and saw little Noodle sitting all by himself in the corner. I’d asked to pet him, to which the shelter volunteer told me good luck, and the second my fingers brushed his ear and he didn’t viciously attack me – it was love. On my end, at least. For Noodle, it was more of a tepid acceptance.
I was too busy daydreaming about Noodle’s quiet purr in the evenings where I’d sit on end of the couch and he’d sit on the other and we’d watch The Bachelor to notice the car out front of my café, or the person leaning against the glass door, his bulky arms crossed over his hard chest and sunglasses resting on his strong nose, until I abruptly stopped in front of him.
“Maddox?” I gasp quietly, my pulse abruptly skyrocketing.
I’d forgotten about yesterday, or maybe I thought I’d imagined it all, but here Maddox was standing right in front of me.
“What are you doing here?”
“You’re late.” He shrugs keenly, in exactly the tone I always imagined Noodle having.
“Usually I don’t have people waiting.”
He shrugs again, the subtle lift of his broad shoulders making my throat go all tight. Hot damn, he just got more and more handsome every single time I saw him.
“Anyway, you know why I’m here.” He continues, stepping aside to watch me unlock the door, “To discuss our arrangement.”
“As far as I’m aware, there isn’t an arrangement.” I snipe back, flinging open the door to step inside without holding it open for him.
He grabs the glass with a large hand, pushing it easily aside as he follows me within the small café.
“Come on, Ava-”
I spin around, the stormy look on my face so rivaling the clouds from yesterday afternoon that he stops in stunned silence.
“I want you to listen and listen good.” I growl, startled by the force of my own voice, “I haven’t had a single sip of coffee yet and I am not discussing a single thing until I do.”
He gives a firm nod, sidling into one of the stools on the counter as he watches me in perfect silence, his sunglasses now dangling from the collar of his shirt.
I flick on the espresso machine, rubbing my thumbs over my eyes as I rest my elbows on the counter. The scent of grinding coffee beans wafts upwards like a soothing cloud, keeping me afloat until I can have a taste of the real thing.
Coffee. Second most important thing to me after Noodle.
Maddox’s steely blue gaze remains on me, I can feel its heat sweeping over my burdened shoulders and tired back.
If he’s back, perhaps he’s serious. If he’s serious, perhaps I can save my mom’s place.
Would I really do that, though? Would I marry a stranger just for money?
It wasn’t just for money though, was it? It was for Mom.
The machine dings as it finishes pouring out the espresso shot. Grabbing the frothed milk, I make a quick cappuccino and slide into the stool at his side. It’s a Saturday morning, still relatively early, and I won’t have a customer for an hour at least. We’ll have plenty of time for this overdue chat.
He shifts and I realize he’s waiting for permission to finally speak, hiding the hint of a smirk behind his palm. I take a tentative sip of the warm coffee, letting it wash down my throat like Maddox’s cologne is washing over me, burning the tip of my nose.
Just sitting this close to him is making my skin prickle, like he’s got an electrical force field around him that fizzles along the tiny hairs on my arms and neck.
“What are you waiting for?” I tease, straightening my back and gazing down my nose at him like a lecturing teacher.
The smirk on his full lips deepens, tiny dimple in his chin making my heart go all melty soft. Ugh, how I hate that reaction I have to him. I can’t control it at all. Even just sitting at his side makes me want to giggle and blush like a schoolgirl.
“And I hope you’re not just here to both me.” I add sharply, “I have lots of work to get done, after all.”
“Of course!” He responds quickly, crossing one ankle over his sturdy knee. He dwarfs the stool, making it look like it was sized for a child. “I was here for business as well as pleasure this morning. I would like more cookies.”
I slide from the stool and circle behind the counter with a careful glance at the sexy billionaire. He watches me patiently, eyes logging every detail of the way I move. Pulling out the chocolate chip cookie dough I’d set to rest in the fridge the night before, I begin plopping spoonfuls on a cookie sheet after starting up the oven.
“Did you already eat the cookies from yesterday?” I ask, observing his burly frame. He had to be like 99% muscle. Where’d he put it all?
“They’re not for me.” He responds simply, “They’re for Elliot.”
“Elliot?”
“My assistant.” He gestures over his shoulder towards the car outside, but the windows are so tinted I can’t see anything inside it.
“Wait, you’re making your assistant wait in the car?”
“He’s shy.” Maddox frowns, resting his chin on his palm.
Shaking my head, I stick the baking sheet in the oven and lean against the counter, watching the man before me.
Maddox gazes back at me from over his palm, brow slightly knitted together, “So, have you thought about my deal?”
“If I’m going to even entertain this crazy notion of yours, I need to know why. Why in the world would Maddox Dodge have to ask some strange girl to marry him?”
“I don’t think you’re strange.”
“Maddox, don’t ignore the question.”
He frowns, rubbing his chin before turning his eyes back towards the oven as though he could speed it up. If the cookies were done, he could grab them and vanish without having to explain.
But then again, he’d leave without a chance at a bride. I could see that realization in his clear eyes.
Finally, he sighs and turns in his stool to look at me after running a hand through his chocolate hair.
“Okay. You win, Ava.” He murmurs, clearing his throat, “Let me explain.”