Dawn Again

Four

The city was yet far from waking at 4:30 a.m. as Richard jogged down the 1st Ave in Seattle. Generally, quiet times like this would inspire a sense of peace in a person, but not so with Richard. He was never one for jogging with peaceful music pouring into his ears. And so it was this morning also that Richard found himself heading towards his new office with his ground-eating strides.

Jason, Brian and Chad had worked late last night setting up fit-outs for their own cabins as well as the reception. Richard had been busy squaring away the paperwork for their last mission.

Today, he knew he would not see the boys before noon. But that was okay. He was a morning person and he would enjoy the peace the quiet to set up and get ready to interview the three women they had shortlisted for the position of receptionist. It would be interesting, to say the least. With the surplus of testosterone in their office, Richard was sure any woman they hired would have to be something special.

But, first things first, he needed a good cup of coffee. Given the time of day, the chances were slim to none and Richard resigned himself to start the day with a brew from the machine. They had got themselves the best machine on the market, so Richard was hoping for a decent cup. If not, God help the three women who came for the interview!

Light in one of the shops outside of Pike market caught Richard's attention. He muttered and rushed toward the shop when he saw a woman inside seemingly hanging off the overhead cupboard. The door was locked which wasn't really a problem as it was a simple latch. As Richard worked the lock, he noticed the that the woman was trying to hold up a large sack like thing, or trying to get it down. Either way, she was botching the job up royally and had got herself stuck where she could neither bring the sack down nor shove it back inside the cabinet.

Richard hissed out another curse as he got the door to open and went inside.

"You are early, Josh!", Sophie said relieved. "Not that I am complaining, as you can see!", she continued with a soft, embarrassed laugh. Josh was not expected to come in until 6:30. Actually, neither was Sophie, but she could not go back to sleep after waking up at 2 and decided to come in and try the new muffins she had thought up last evening. So, finally, at 3:30, an hour before her normal start, she found herself in the shop. Sophie had done the tester batch and they had come out perfect. So she decided to make a larger batch. She would need a lot more flour, and it was in the overhead cabinet. Normally Josh would take it down the night before for Sophie to use, but since this was unplanned, she would have to take it down herself. At 5 foot 3, Sophie was not tall by anyone's standard...but she hoped the two-step stool would give her enough boost to take the sack of flour down. But she just about made it to the edge of the cabinet by going on tiptoes on the stool. The sack was a full 40 pounds and she had clearly overestimated her upper body strength! And thus she found herself stuck with the sack half way out - neither able to bring it down completely nor push it back inside.

"Well...hurry up already Josh! Don't leave me hanging here." Sophie snapped when Josh did not come up to lend a hand straight away. That's when she felt a very hard, very thick arm go around her waist and another warm, sweaty arm reach up to support the flour. "What the hell do you think you are trying to do?", growled a deep voice in her ear.

Sophie stiffened and would have toppled down taking the flour with her if the two arms were not supporting her and the sack. As it was, the owner of the arms not only caught her but also pushed the sack back in so it would not land on their heads. "Who are you? How did you get in?", Sophie spluttered as the man set her aside, off the stool. He proceeded to take the flour out of the cabinet and thunked it down on the counter before turning to glare at her.

"What the hell do you think you are trying to do?", Richard repeated turning to the girl who was standing where he had put her glaring daggers at him. He saw her hands clench into small fists as she repeated her own question.

Richard looked around and noted the warm welcoming decor of the shop and the fact that it was a quaint little café seeped in. He was not about to answer the slip of a woman who had not even thanked him for saving her neck. Turning back to her, he said, "I know your shop is far from open, but can you get me a cup of coffee?" He also smelled something baking and added, "And some breakfast would be great too."

Sophie stared at the very large man standing there filling up her entire shop. "I am doing no such thing!" she hissed, and continued, "You broke into my shop. Please leave." Richard took a step towards her and calmed down slightly when the woman took two large steps behind. "You are lucky I was able to come in on time. Otherwise, you were doing a great job of breaking your neck. Now, about the coffee and breakfast?"

Sophie had to agree with the man. He had indeed saved her neck. But she hated having him in her shop. He was too big, too large and he was giving her a headache! But she did owe him. She stalked back behind the counter muttering, "Who is out at this crazy hour?" Out loud, she said, "Sure. I have scones coming out of the oven in a bit if you like, and muffins." "Coffee and scones will be nice, thank you," replied Richard.

She nodded and turned back to the stacked chairs to set up the tables. She would not have done this now as she wanted to get the second batch of apricot muffins started, but she had to seat the man somewhere. His hulking presence was beginning to grate on her nerves. She had just touched the chairs when she felt his heat at her back, and his deep, bass voice say, "I will do that. You can start the coffee and breakfast." Sophie bristled at the order, for it was clearly an order. But then walking back to her counter she realised that the man probably never even realised that he spoke in "orders".

Back at the counter Sophie pointedly ignored the man and got the coffee machine to start its initial cleaning. She noted that the man had not only set up a table for himself but also set up the rest of the tables too. Grudgingly she realised that she had to thank him, not only for this but also for the fact that he had indeed saved her neck by coming in when he did. He had sat himself down on a table from where he could easily see her and also the door. She was surprised to see his choice of the table as she knew James chose this same spot every time he came into the café.

While the coffee machine was coughing and gurgling its startup, Sophie decided to start on the muffins. She looked up to ask the man how he liked his coffee and thought, trying to imitate his deep voice, "Black, no sugar". Out loud she asked, "How would you like your coffee?" Richard looked up and replied, "Black, no sugar", and the girl suddenly giggled. He pinned her with his cold blue stare, "Care to share what's so funny about a coffee?" The girl blushed a shade of pink that could only be described as cute. "I am sorry, it was really nothing," she said and busied herself starting his coffee.

Richard watched her as she bent down to take what he assumed were the scones out of the oven. She was a very beautiful woman. She would never have been a model as she was just about 5'3". She was wearing a pair of loose fitting white pants that came up to her mid calf and a fairly loose yellow shirt. But under the shapeless clothes, he knew she had a tiny waist and her full breasts could not be hidden. The slim calves ended in delicate ankles and tiny feet. Even her arms were somehow sensual. Her hair was a very dark red-brown which she had tied in a no-nonsense bun at the nape of her very slender neck. She had a round face, again not your typical model shape, but it worked on her. She had large doe eyes that were the very darkest of black, fringed with long upturned black eyelashes. A tiny but straight nose followed by a set of the most delicate lips he had ever seen. Overall the woman just oozed s*x appeal, and this when she seemed to desperately hide herself behind shapeless clothes and an unflattering hairstyle.

She moved with a sensual grace as she plated out two large scones, cream and jam and put his mug of coffee on a tray. She picked up the tray and walked up to where he was sitting. She placed the plates and coffee in front of him, said with a soft smile, "Enjoy", and went back to the counter. Richard knew she was aware of his blatant perusal of her from the way her colour gradually deepened from her neck to the root of her hair. But she did not call him out for checking her out.

The aroma of the coffee and the freshly baked scones soon had Richard digging in and Sophie went back to making the muffins in the small but very well equipped kitchen and pantry adjoining the sitting area of the café.

The muffins were done and she took her time to look at the man sitting at the table which had a clear view of everything including the kitchen where she was working. He was big, at least 6'3" if she had to guess and had very wide shoulders. His tightly packed biceps and roped forearms screamed regular and heavy workouts as did his strong hard thighs. His blond hair was short and parted on the side. He had an air of command which screamed military. She had an unhealthy, but well-deserved fear of big men, but she was still struck by the clear blue of his eyes. If the coldness ever left his gaze, she could imagine his eyes like the clear and happy blue of a warm spring day. She doubted the cold hardness ever left his eyes though.

Sophie was unceremoniously pulled out of her thoughts by a deep, smug growl "I take it you like what you see". Sophie mumbled, "I am sorry, that was rude" and quickly went to the counter to arrange the muffins that she had just pulled out of the oven. Richard was now down to his coffee and intended to take his time drinking it. This woman intrigued him. She came out from behind the counter and went to the blackboard propped by the door of the café. She knelt in front of the board with her back to Richard and cleaned it out with a damp cloth. Then she took out a chalk from her apron pocket and proceeded to write "Today's Specials" at the top. Richard picked up his coffee and walked to stand behind the blackboard so he could look at her, and asked, "What is your name?" She did not reply, did not even look up. But the fact that she had coiled up tight like a spring as soon as he had walked to her did not escape Richard. His already deep voice fell another octave when he added, "I expect an answer when I ask a question."

This statement had a more dramatic effect than Richard could have ever imagined. Sophie looked up at him with eyes filled with such terror that it felt like a physical blow to Richard. She scrambled to her feet and stepped back until she hit the glass wall. For once Richard did not know how to react, so he stepped back himself to try and let her know that he was not a threat. In a gentler tone, he continued, "I'd like to know your name." She relaxed with visible effort, swallowed and said, "Sophie. My name is Sophie." But she did not look him in the eye. After years in SpecOps, specialising in interrogation, Richard knew with everything in him that she was lying. He also knew now was not the time to call it out. "Okay, Sophie. My name is Richard", he told her as if speaking to a spooked horse.

Sophie did not respond and went back behind the counter. Richard had no doubt that behind the counter was her safe place. She hid there whenever she was uncomfortable. But why was she uncomfortable? Why was she hiding? Why was she scared? He would find out everything eventually. Richard always did, always solved the mystery, always got what he wanted. And he wanted to solve this girl more than anything he had wanted in a long, long time.

Richard finished his coffee and went to the counter to pay. Sophie looked up from where she was laying the muffins put, and said, "It's on the house. Thank you for helping me earlier." "Thanks. See you later", Richard nodded, turned around and walked out of the café. Sophie watched as his large presence finally left the shop and hoped that she never had to see him ever again. With a sigh of relief, she went back to work. It was almost 6:30 and Josh would be in any moment, just before the morning rush began.