She squeaked as the coffee splashed her neck, he muttered something, and seemed to almost snarl, which forced her to take a step back. “I’m so sorry.”
He grimaced as he pulled his stained shirt away from where it had been sculpting his impressive chest, then glanced at where she’d been doing the same. Not that her chest was impressive. At least the coffee had mostly fallen on her apron. His expression softened. “That was my fault, huh? Sorry. I should’ve been paying attention.”
“We’ll get you another one. On the house.”
He shrugged. “Forget it. I’ve got things to do.”
“But—” She placed a hand on his arm and froze.
Her mouth dried. Muscles lay there, stealing her words. What was she doing?
He seemed to think that too, eyeing her hand, then her, then shifting so she suddenly clasped air. Her hand dropped. He stepped back, studying her with another of those deep looks before whoever was on the phone squawked loud enough to be heard.
He snapped to attention, nodded, then pivoted and walked away.
Leaving her feeling foolish. But also feeling like something seismic had just occurred. Which was stupid. She didn’t believe in instant attraction. And this definitely wasn’t attraction. It was just instant… weirdness.
“Bailey,” Max called.
Her phone buzzed another notification, and she hurried back, conscious of smirks and muffled laughter, and a few phones held upright that seemed to be tracking her walk of shame. Unlike the man monster, she was very aware of people watching her. She might’ve danced on stages across Europe and North America, but knew people watched to criticize, not just to applaud. She faked a smile, pushing down the nerves.
“Sorry, Max. He said he had to leave, and couldn’t stay for a do-over.”
Max nodded. “No worries. He’s a regular. He’ll be back.”
“Phew.” She grimaced. “I really didn’t mean to do that. I hope I haven’t scared him away.”
“Yeah, I suspect you gotta be a lot scarier than that to throw Luc Blanchard off his game.”
“Who?”
Max smirked. “I love that you’re so dance-focused you don’t recognize his name.”
“I’ve got no idea who he is.”
“That’s apparent. He plays hockey, is a bit of a big deal around here.”
Her nose wrinkled. She didn’t like hockey, or people who considered themselves big deals.
“Now, go clean up.”
She hurried to the back room, quickly exchanging her white tee and apron for clean ones. Her phone buzzed again. Seriously. Who was this?
She drew it out, saw her friend’s name flash on the screen. What did Coco want? She hadn’t called in forever. Ever since Bailey had returned to Winnipeg it seemed Coco’s dancing career had gone on to stratospheric heights, while Bailey’s felt like it had floundered. They still messaged regularly, though. But Coco had tried to call at least three times today now. It must be important. She peeked around. The café was quiet, and even Max was drinking a coffee and chatting idly to one of the customers. She pressed Return call.
“Coco?”
“Bailey! Oh thank goodness. Look, I don’t have long, but I have an amazing opportunity for you.”
“I’m at work—”
“At that café? Honey, that’s caretaking, not work.”
“Can we talk later?”
“No, there’s no time. I’ve just pulled the most amazing opportunity for you.”
Bailey huddled behind a stack of boxes labelled arabica coffee beans. “What is it?”
“You’re about to get a call from a producer, and look, just say yes, okay?”
“A producer? For what?”
“Just say yes, okay? If you don’t do this, someone else will, and I’ll never talk to you again.”
“What?”
“Just jokes. But not really. So say yes. Oops! Gotta go.”
The call ended, and she stared at her phone. The weirdness today was in overdrive. “God,” she whisper-prayed, “I don’t know what’s going on, but You do. Open the right doors, close the wrong ones, and—”
“Bailey!” Max called.
She tucked her phone away and returned, only to have her phone buzz again. She winced. Was this the producer? If so, what kind of producer? Coco knew a lot of people, and had danced in Broadway and on TV. Was the producer connected to one of those things? Was that them on the phone now?
She tugged out her phone, saw an unknown number. Glanced at Max who was looking at her askance. “Can I please take this? It’s important.”
Max sighed, then nodded, and she returned to her hidey-hole, and pressed answer.
