“Okay. Thanks.”
“Wait here. I’ll be right back.”
Evangeline stayed by the table while he stalked right over to the counter. No one else was waiting to place an order and she watched as two baristas—one male and one female—had a quick, silent argument over who had to take his order.
For a second, she felt her heart break for him again. She remembered him telling her how she was the first one who wasn’t put off by the glasses or his size. Feeling awful, she took a few steps toward the counter—only to pause when the male barista pouted, then stormed toward the backroom. The girl had a noticeable smirk on her pretty face as she turned to face the man.
Evangeline paused.
Oh. So she had read that situation wrong.
He braced his hands on the counter, leaning in to smile at the barista. “Hi, Kimmy. Can I have another refill?”
“Straight up black, right?”
“Right. You know I like to add the sugar myself. And, uh, how about one of those macchiato drinks? Caramel. Iced. The biggest one you got.”
“Coming right up.”
Evangeline was surprised yet pleased that he remembered that much of her drink order. She had a complicated one, she’d be the first to admit it, but it was still touching that he had noticed she had an iced caramel macchiato, even if he didn’t ask for almond milk or a pump of vanilla syrup. The thought was there.
As soon as his order was done, he took both of the drinks over to the milk and sugar bar. As he tended to his coffee, Evangeline dared a peek over to the counter. Just like on Friday, the cute blonde barista with the pixie cut—Kimmy—was following every move he made.
And, just like on Friday, Evangeline discovered that, for some inexplicable reason, she really, really didn’t like that.
She shouldn’t do it.
She shouldn’t do it—
Evangeline joined him at the milk and sugar bar just as he put the lid back on his to-go cup.
Glancing up, he shot her a quick grin when he saw who it was. “Hey.” He picked up the cold drink, holding it out to her. “Here you go.”
“Thanks.” Evangeline took it. He had already put a straw in her cup. She took a sip, savoring that first taste as he finished cleaning up his mess. She did a double-take when she noticed the small bag next to his big hand. “What’s that?”
“This?” He picked it up. About half the size of a sandwich baggy, it was full of a crystallized white powder. “It’s mine. I can’t have real sugar, so I use a sugar-free sugar in my coffee. Some small indie shops have it, but most don’t. I guess I’ve gotten used to carrying around my own.”
Evangeline wrinkled her nose. “Sugar-free sugar?”
He laughed, the sound a rumble deep in his chest. It was nice. “I know how that sounds. You ever heard of stevia?”
She shook her head.
“It’s like a sugar substitute. It’s super sweet, but it comes from a plant. No calories and it doesn’t cause my blood sugar to spike. I always bring some with me in case I stop for coffee.” He held the bag out to her. “Want to try?”
“Thanks, but I’ll have to pass.” Evangeline took another sip. “This one’s pretty sweet already.”
He nodded, then tucked the small baggy into the front pocket of his jeans. “Maybe next time.”
Maybe.
“Well, thanks again. I’ll have to get yours next time I see you.”
He grinned. While the dark shades highlighted his dangerous air, his wide grin managed to soften his sharp features. “Until we meet again.”
It was too easy to talk to her dark stranger.
Or maybe she just didn’t want to leave.