Leo (Vigilance 3)

After the shop tour, he walked me through the details of using the complex—to me at least—appointment calendar. He explained that there would always be someone else in the shop with me, usually him and multiple artists. The shop was closed on Sundays and Mondays. My hours would be twelve to eight Tuesday through Saturday, but he could be flexible if I had an appointment or something that came up.

I stared at the tablet I’d be working from and worried about how long it would take me to figure out the appointment system and do things the way Leo wanted them done.

Did I really want to take this on? Could I work for Leo and look like I had more than one or two brain cells? I wasn’t the best waiter, but I liked Cathy, and I was comfortable at the café. At Devilish Ink, I’d have to meet a whole new lineup of clients, but with the higher pay, I might eventually be able to move out of the freezing cold, microscopic apartment I’d found. Maybe I could even start taking classes again if I figured out what I wanted to do.

There was a huge chance I’d screw something up, though. Leo might be very forgiving about me spilling water at his table, or splashing coffee over the edge of his cup, or dropping my order pad nearly every time I served him, but I didn’t think he take it as well if I did something that jeopardized his business reputation. How quickly did he expect me to figure it all out?

“You can always ask me—or anyone else here—if you’re not sure about something.”

I frowned. “How did you know what I was thinking?”

“You looked lost.”

I wanted him to find me.

When I didn’t respond, he collected a folder from the desk and motioned for me to join him in the small waiting area. We sat next to each other on a couch, and even though we weren’t touching, I was sure I could feel the heat coming off his big body.

I wanted to reach out and touch his thigh to find out if his muscles were as firm as they looked. When I glanced up, he was smiling at me. I really hoped he couldn’t tell what I was thinking.

He handed me a folder. “Here are the documents you need to fill out and sign.”

“You’re really hiring me on the spot? You’re not going to interview other people?”

“You’re the one I want.”

Jesus, I wish that were true. “I…” Was Cathy truly all right with this?

“It’s a good job, Ezra. It’s better for you, and if you hate it, you can go back to the café.”

“What if Cathy hires someone, and—”

“I would really like you to work here.”

How the hell was I supposed to say no to that? I supposed I should be offended by his high-handedness. I shouldn’t let him push me into this job like he’d decided for me that I should make a major life change. And yet, that’s what I wanted to do. I wanted to give into him, to surrender.

I’d been wanting to find a better job for me since my first week at the café, but working for Cathy was easy enough, and I’d just stayed. Leo was giving me a chance to push myself out of my comfort zone. That was supposed to be what this break from school was all about.

“Thank you. I want to work for you.”

His smile was enough to make me dizzy. How the hell was I going to survive being in the shop with him every day?

4

Leo

I watched Ezra open the folder with shaky hands. When I held out a pen, he took it, then immediately dropped it. We reached for it at the same time, and our hands brushed. The jolt of electricity that ran up my arm surprised me.

Static. It had to be static.

I was absolutely not going to get involved with this boy. He was going to work for me because I trusted him and Cathy. I needed to know that the person I invited into my shop wasn’t going to turn on me. That was all. In no way was I hiring him because I wanted something more.

He stared at me with his gorgeous blue eyes, and I knew he’d felt whatever it was that passed between us. He’d been crushing on me since we’d met. Seeing me day after day would help him get over it, right? We had a lot of great clients. Maybe he would meet someone more appropriate.

Ezra scanned through the employment documents, then looked back up at me. “You’re serious about this?”

“I don’t offer jobs to people I’m not serious about hiring.”

“I know. I mean, I assumed that, but all this just happened so fast.”

I was being an asshole, pushing Ezra into this, but once I decided I wanted something, I got it. I’d learned all kinds of skills in the CIA, but persuasion and command were the two that came most naturally. “Do you really want to keep working at the café?”