Life in Draft Mode: BOOK 1

THE GRIND ACCIDENT

The air between them was thick with more than just the scent of roasted beans. Every time Elias laughed, his eyes lingered on the way Maya’s blouse moved, and every time Maya spoke, she found herself glancing at the broad set of his shoulders.

When the cheesecake arrived, the tension reached a boiling point. Elias scooped up a perfect bite—creamy filling, graham cracker crust, and a thick, glistening dollop of strawberry jam. "Open up, Lois," he murmured.

Maya didn't hesitate. She parted her lips, her eyes locked on his as she took the bite. But the jam was generous; a bright red drop escaped, trailing slowly down her bottom lip and over the curve of her chin.

Elias reached for the napkin dispenser, but it was empty—nothing but a stray crumb at the bottom. His heart hammered. He saw the drop of red moving toward the white silk of her blouse—the same blouse they’d spent the morning drying. Without thinking, his instincts took over. He leaned across the narrow table, his hand cupping her jaw to tilt her face up.

Instead of a napkin, he used his tongue, swiping the sweet, tart jam off her skin in one slow, deliberate motion.

The contact sent a physical jolt through Maya. She let out a soft, sharp intake of breath. When he pulled back just an inch, their eyes met, and the "draft mode" was officially over. Elias leaned the rest of the way in, and Maya met him halfway. Their lips locked—a passionate, hungry kiss that tasted of strawberries and espresso. It was the kind of kiss that made the rest of the coffee shop disappear.

"Napkins, as requested!" The waiter appeared out of nowhere, dropping a fresh stack on the table with a loud thwack.

They broke apart instantly, both of them breathless and flushed. Elias sat back, rubbing the back of his neck, his face turning that familiar shade of Clark Kent crimson. "I... I am so sorry, Maya. I don't know what came over me. That was... unprofessional."

Maya took a shaky breath, trying to settle her racing heart. She looked at him, her lips still tingling, and shook her head with a small, dazed smile. "Don't worry about it, Elias. It’s okay. It was just... an accidental smack."

She paused, her eyes dropping to his phone sitting on the table, then back to his face. "But if we’re going to keep having these 'accidents,' I think we might need a change of scenery. Somewhere with fewer waiters."

Elias felt the weight of the phone in his pocket—and the photo still hidden there. He knew he had to tell her, but he also knew that if he did, it was going to get a lot more intense.