Page 13 of Beautiful Deceit
"Anna, there's someone that needs your help." I point to the woman approaching the register. "I can take care of Beau." I cringe when I realize how suggestive that sounds. A choked sound comes from behind me, and my head falls forward. "That sounded terrible," I admit. "You know what I mean," I try to recover.
Anna seems surprised I’ve dismissed her, but she does return to the register. I choose to ignore my verbal blunder and walk back to my office with Beau.
"Do women always behave like this with you?" I scoff. "You've been in my store twice. The first time a cat fight almost breaks out, and today my employee of over a year was dangerously close to sexually harassing a customer in front of her boss." I plop down in my desk chair.
Beau follows suit dropping into the chair in front of me. He grunts noncommittally.
After a few moments of silence, someone knocks on the open-door frame.
Jude pokes his head in to say, "Hey Sam. I just wanted to make sure we're still on for later?" At first, I question what he means, but the twinkle in his eyes tells me to play along.
"Yeess?" I nod slowly.
Jude slaps his hand on the door. "See you soon," he says then winks, what a cheeky bugger.
"Hot date?" Beau inquires.
"Not that I know of," I answer quickly. He removes his hat and sets it on his knee. His left hands run through his hair causing it to stand up. He pats it back down immediately. My eyes are drawn to his arm as the muscles flex with his movements. I turn away to grab the first piece of paper I see. It’s an application for one of the interviews I have set up. With the hectic morning I had, I’ve forgotten about it. I look up at the wall clock and see the first one should be here in about five minutes.
Grabbing the papers, I stand, "I have to interview a few baristas. You feel like having a complicated drink? It's on the house. I hate having to test so many.” I look at him, “Don't tell Jude, but the coffee is all about the cream for me," I say half-jokingly.
Beau stands, rocking on his feet. He seems unsure, like he wants to say no. I remember he's probably just here for his book.
"If you need to get going, I can grab your book for you right quick."
He puts his hat back on, and I wonder why he hides under it. "I guess I could try something."
I think he's just said yes not to be rude, and it makes me wish I hadn't asked. "Let me grab your book first, that way if you need to get going you'll be set." I add, letting him off the hook.
As I reach the front, Jess and Jude are leaning close and talking quietly. Anna is looking toward my office. She perks up when she sees Beau coming out. Her makeup, which is always picture perfect, looks even more so now. Did she have time to freshen up?
I take her in. Her pin straight black hair falls across the front of her shoulders stopping just above her breasts. Anna is model thin. She comes from a family with "old money" and appearance is something she takes very seriously.
It's rare that I feel intimidated by her looks, but I do today. I guess I've never wanted someone to notice me. I'm being ridiculous. I'm acting drastically out of character for a guy, purely because I am more comfortable around Beau than any other man. He doesn’t belong to me, even if it makes him feel special to me.
I hear his steps behind me slow as I get closer to the desk. I smile at Anna before rounding the cash register to grab his bag.
I make my way to where he's stopped, "Here you go." He takes the bag from me and peeks inside. "I just realized I need to interview her first, so it could be a while before we get to the taste testing.” I look up at him, under the brim of his hat to meet his eyes, “You don't need to stick around. I can use a few of my regulars as guinea pigs." I keep my voice light, like it’s no big deal, which it shouldn't be.
Beau looks around the store. We're not too busy this time of the day. It's too late for the lunch crowd and too early for the after-work people.
"I have a few minutes," he says quietly. I'm surprised he's not leaving.
"Ah okay. Why don't we grab a seat over there? She should be here any minute," he nods. We walk over to the soft, old sofa with two empty chairs angled in front of it, and low table that separates the grouping. I place the papers on the table as Jude walks over to us and extends his hand out to Beau.
"Hey, I'm Jude," he says shaking Beau's hand.
"Beau. How’s it going?" Jude shrugs and smiles as he takes a seat near the middle of the sofa, leaving me to sit closer than I normally would. I look over at him with a frown. What's he up to? "You want me to sit over there, till you're ready for your guinea pig?" Beau asks.
I shake my head, "No it's fine. I'll just mostly watch too. Whomever we hire will be working closely with Jude." I gesture to the man seating next to me, "So it's him that'll do most of the interviewing."
Beau nods his understanding. He sits in one of the empty chairs and looks back and forth between Jude and me. An uncomfortable silence lasts a few moments before a tall girl with blue hair walks over to our awkward group.
"Hey Jude," she says and giggles at her overused joke.
Jude rolls his dark blues eyes, "Molly, this is Sam the owner." I stand and shake her hand then introduce Beau.
"This is Beau he'll be helping us determine how well you can handle the drink station." Molly smiles and takes a seat in the only empty chair.
