“Not used to people asking for your name at the counter?” Hannah asked as she rested one hand on her hip. “Yeah, I guess that’s not too common in New York, right? People just want other people to take their orders and leave them alone?”
“That’s not what I was talking about,” Luke mumbled. His cheeks were beet red and he no longer looked like a high powered New York businessman. He looked much, much younger.
“We’ll have two Americanos, please, just the way I like them,” Nicholas told her, and then looked around the shop. “And have you seen Ms. Molly around anywhere? I thought maybe she headed to the shop early, but the doors were still locked on the way over.”
“Aww. You’re worried about her, aren’t you?” Hannah turned back towards the coffee machines. “Well, don’t be too worried. She’s here in the kitchen. I think she spent the whole night here, actually.”
“She spent the night?” Nicholas asked surprised. “Why?”
“That’s for me to know and for you to find out,” Hannah replied. Her attention soon shifted to a repetitive beeping sound that was coming from her skirt pocket. She pulled out her phone, and gave Nicholas and Luke a quick wave. “Your drinks will be ready in a few minutes, gentlemen. I just need to take this call.”
Hannah brought her phone to her ear, and as she nodded along to whatever was being said on the other line, she made a beeline for the back of the bakery.
“Hannah’s not the person you like... is she, sir?” Luke’s inquiry seemed shaky, even as his face looked stoic and calm.
“Nope,” Nicholas assured him. “She’s all yours.”
“All mine? That’s not...I...” Luke groaned, before setting his head down on the counter. “Sorry for being so unprofessional, sir. She’s just so beautiful. It threw me off my game.”
“Throwing people off their game... It seems like the women in this town have a knack for that,” Nicholas said, grinning to himself as he thought about Molly Carmichael. “Speaking of which, where is she?”
“Nicholas! Hi!” Molly appeared from the kitchen, her sweater covered in flour. “What are you doing here?”
“What am I doing here? What are you doing here?” Nicholas asked, taking in her outfit. She had flour in her hair, on her cheek, and everywhere on the same sweater and jeans she'd been wearing last night. Her face was pale with shadowed eyes. “Did you sleep in a bag of flour?”
“No, I did not sleep in a bag of flour. I didn't sleep at all, actually,” Molly answered. “I was about to head home, though. I think it’d be nice to change out of this outfit. I look like a ghost.”
“I’ll walk you home,” Nicholas told her, already on his feet and heading towards Molly. “Just show me the way.”
“You’re walking me home? That’s so nice,” Molly murmured. She blinked heavily as she beamed up at Nicholas. She then wobbled a bit on her feet, knocking into Nicholas’ suit and transferring half a cup of flour to him. “Sorry! Sorry! I think I’ve been awake way too long. I think it might be the longest I've ever been awake. Even in college. My body’s trying to convince me that the floor is a great place to fall asleep.”
“You’ve been awake this whole time? You’ve been here all night and you haven’t gone to sleep at all?” Nicholas asked, trying to keep his tone neutral, but his concern still slipped through. “We need to get you home. We need to get you to bed.”
Nicholas didn't like the way she struggled to stay upright or the paleness in her face. She looked like she might fall over at any second.
“I know, I know. Do you know where Trent Street is? My apartment’s right around the block.” Molly yawned, her eyelids fluttering to a close where she stood. “My apartment key is in my jacket pocket. You’ll just need to... uh...”
Molly wobbled again, but this time Nicholas caught her, effortlessly scooping her up into his arms.
“No! Nicholas! Your suit!” Molly’s eyes went wide. “Nicholas, if you carry me, you’re going to get flour all over your suit.”
“Don’t care. As long as you’re safe,” Nicholas told her. He smiled down at her before he continued on. “Besides, I have another suit in my luggage. So, no worries. The suit is always replaceable.”
But unlike the suit, you are not replaceable, Molly Carmichael, and I’d like to make sure you stay in one piece.
Nicholas kept his last thoughts to himself before he turned to face Luke, who was still seated at the counter. “Good call on us leaving a few hours early for the meeting at the shop. You can head over there now, and I’ll meet you when I get back. Call me if you need anything, in the meantime.”
“Will do, sir, will do,” Luke replied. He looked his boss up and down, the girl in his arms. “I’ll try not to call you, though. It looks like you have your hands full.”
“Ha. Ha.” Nicholas’ response came out deadpan, before a smile was soon on his face, too. “I’ll see you later, Luke.”
“I’ll see you later, sir.”
* * *
Molly’s apartment looked just like Molly.
Nicholas noted the bright colors on the walls, the shades of lilac complementing the light pink in her windowsills, making the standard white of the windows stand out as something spectacular in its simpleness. Sunshine filtered in everywhere, lighting various plants in mismatched pots.