Page 45 of A Barista's Guide to Love & Larceny
“Here,” McKenna said, flitting back over with something shiny in her hands. “This will make sure he can’t take his eyes off you. Not that I think you need any help with that.”
Nevertheless, she lowered the chain around Dani’s neck; at the end of it hung a small, round amber set against a ring of darker stones. It fit perfectly inside the chain of the amethyst pendulum Dani always wore. “I enchanted this the other day for just such an occasion.”
Dani had to admit that it brought a certain glow to her face that hadn’t been there before. She turned toward McKenna once the chain was clasped.
“Thank you,” she said. “I know helping me get dressed might seem like a small thing, but it really means a lot to me, every time you do it.”
“Au contraire,” McKenna said, “I consider it a task of the greatest importance.” She booped Dani’s nose lightly with a finger. “Now, you’d better decide on a jacket, because he’s picking you up in five minutes.”
“Oh my gods,” Dani said. “Are you serious? Do I look okay? Do I smell okay?”
McKenna laughed. “You look like a goddess and you smell like lavender growing on the moon,” she said. “He won’t know what to do with himself.”
“That makes two of us.” Dani shimmied into her trusty leather jacket and grabbed the purse McKenna was lending her. “Okay. I’m going. Wish me luck!”
“Good luck!” McKenna called as Dani closed the door behind her, Gingerbread joining his achy voice with hers.
Dani paused for a moment in the hallway, collecting the pieces of herself: the flutter of her vulnerable heart, the umami taste of eagerness on her tongue, the calming presence of her amethyst pendulum. It was going to be okay. She needed to believe that.
She stepped outside just as a car was pulling up to the curb. A steady rain was falling, so she waited in the doorway as it parked. It took her a minute to realize it was one of those old Subarus from a few decades ago, brought back to life in such a way that it looked new again, and significantly sexier than the original car could have ever dreamed of being. Its wheels had been replaced with hover charms that churned rain into spray as it moved, headlights cutting through the darkness and illuminating the current of water rushing down the gutter. It was a veryKasscar, somehow, in its sweet, attractive dorkiness, and sure enough she could see his face behind the steering wheel, smiling at her.
He waved when she started to leave the protection of the doorway, signaling for her to stay put. She obeyed as he stepped out of his car and passed his hand over his head. When he ran up to her, she realized his peacoat was completely dry.
“Hey,” he said.
“Hey,” she said. “Nice car.”
“Thanks. It was my mom’s, and I souped it up a few years ago. Kind of a memorial to her.”
“That’s really nice.”
“You look beautiful,” Kass blurted suddenly, candy-heart pink flashing in Dani’s mind. “Sorry, I didn’t mean that to come out so weird.”
“Thank you,” Dani said, smiling. His own nervousness instantly set her at ease. “I did my best to dress for the occasion, but it’s kind of hard when you don’t know what the occasion is.”
“Well, dinner, of course,” Kass said, “and then something special afterward. Speaking of which, we have reservations I don’t think we should miss.” He gestured toward the car. “Don’t worry, milady, I shall protect you from the rain.”
“Good,” Dani said, “because I don’t have an umbrella, and I wouldn’t want to melt on our first date.”
“A real and present danger.” Kass offered her his arm, just like he had that night at his party. She linked her elbow through his, blushing at the frisson that ran down her spine as they made physical contact, and let him lead her down the stairs and to the passenger side, whatever charm he had cast acting as an invisible umbrella over both their heads.
He opened the door for her without using magic, and she let go of him reluctantly as she slid onto the refurbished leather seat. It smelled like Kass times a hundred in here, oats-and-honey soap mixed with something herbaceous. Unobtrusive lo-fi beats were playing through the impressive speaker system. The steering wheel, dashboard, and doors were all inlaid with polished, auburn-tinted wood. All in all, it was a remarkably soothing environment, and Dani’s nerves unwound slightly as she took it in.
After a moment he got in the driver’s seat and buckled in. “What do you think?” he asked, seeing her looking around.
“You did all this?” she guessed.
“Yeah.”
“I love it.”
“Cherry was my mom’s favorite type of wood, so it felt appropriate.”
“Am I supposed to have a favorite type?”
Kass laughed as he started the engine. “Nah. She was just always really supportive of my art, and when you’re exposed to something often enough, you start to form preferences.”
“Your art?”
