Some Like it Hotter

Tom’s mouth closed. Opened. He turned red. Took a step back from the counter as if he were trying to be invisible.

How in-teresting.

“Hey, Natalie.” Eva gave her roommate a smile, which of course wasn’t returned. Eva had learned not to take it personally. “You working today?”

“I’m always working.” She came up to the counter, fumbling for her wallet. “I’ll have a latte with soy milk. To go.”

“Sure.” Eva turned to the espresso machine, which she’d dubbed the Beast for its temperamental nature, and readied it to pull a double shot into a to-go cup.

Hmm...Natalie and Tom. Both into music and musicals. Natalie had stayed out late last night again, another date, Eva assumed, and had been up early. In Eva’s opinion she was on a one-way track to health issues. A calm, solid sweetheart like Tom could be just what she needed—like a constant meditation session. The problem of course was how to get Natalie to notice him. According to Chris, all her men were as obviously gorgeous and fashionably put together as she was.

Eva finished steaming the milk, making sure it had fine, even froth, and poured it carefully into the cup of espresso, moving the pitcher back and forth to leave a flower pattern.

“Here you go.” She handed over the cup and gestured a few steps behind Natalie to Tom, who was staring worshipfully at the back of her head. “Natalie, have you met Tom Brewster?”

Natalie turned.

Tom flushed, stepped abruptly back and banged into a chair. “I’ve, um, seen you here before, yeah.”

“Okay.” Natalie studied him blankly while he fidgeted and she sipped her latte, coming up without a single bubble of foam on her lips.

Eva held her breath. Come on, Natalie, say it, Oh, yes, I’ve noticed you, too, Tom.

Nothing.

“I’m here all the time.” Tom laughed awkwardly.

“Really.” She did not sound impressed.

Eva jumped in. “Tom is a composer.”

“No kidding.” At least she was showing polite interest. “My dad teaches composition at Juilliard. Professor Adornetto.”

“Wow. I took from him. I studied him. With him. I went to Juilliard. I guess you figured that out, though.” Tom closed his eyes in a slow blink of misery. “Yeah, anyway, tell him hi.”

“Sure.” Natalie was watching him as if he had some kind of disability she might catch. “Tom Brewster, right?”

“That’s it.” He seemed pleased she’d remembered.

“Okay, well.” Natalie glanced at her watch, her classic move just before the I’m-outta-here announcement. “I gotta get back to work. Nice to meet you, Tom.”

“Same here. I’m sure I’ll see you again.”

“Yeah.” She gave an icy smile and fashion-modeled her way out of the store, leaving Tom and Eva staring after her. Then at each other.

Tom sighed wistfully. “She’s so...um, nice. She’s nice. Seems nice.”

Eva snorted. “Let’s just say she needs the love of a good man, Tom. Keep trying.”

“What? What do you—what?” He stepped back in alarm, bumping the chair again, blushing adorably. “I’m not—”

“Yes, you are. I think it’s great.”

“Nothing’s going to happen.” He gestured hopelessly. “I get so nervous around her, I can’t even talk. She’d never look at me twice.”

“Nonsense. You need to meditate and do positive visualization of yourself confident around her. Write down what you want to say to her and keep the paper with you.” Eva smiled encouragingly, thinking how beautiful his brown eyes were, and how much she wanted him to be happy and also to leave now so she could close up and go attack Ames. “We’re closing. You can go home and do all that now. Next time you see her, you’ll be ready.”

“If you say so.” He spoke doubtfully, but thank goodness moved toward the door. “See ya, Eva. And thanks.”

“You’re welcome.” Eva locked up after him and turned the sign from Open to Closed. She and Rebecca finished duties for the night, putting bakery items away and cleaning the machines. Finally Eva was able to shoo Rebecca out and rush into the back office to order Chinese food and get ready.