Green isn't your colour
1465 Words
Mina's POV
The next few weeks, Mina kept the same routine. Five am yoga on her back deck, allowing the glorious morning air and peaceful forest to get her started for the day. Then, she hopped into the shower before getting dressed and heading to her new favorite place, the Book Nook Cafe.
Something about the bookshop cafe helped her write. The moment she stepped into the shop she could feel the ideas pouring out of her. At this rate, she might be able to get two books done instead of just one. Wouldn't that be a nice surprise for Jay? Chuckling at the thought of Jays' shocked face when she got not one but two books, had Mina's mouth curving into a mischievous smile.
Parking Mina was reaching into her back seat to grab her bag when a throat cleared behind her. Seriously, was Tall and grumpy coming to bug her this early? Couldn't he wait until she had her first cup of coffee? She couldn't kill him with kindness if she didn't have her caffeine. No, he would get to see grumpy Mina.
Grabbing her bag, Mina pulled her shoulders back, getting ready to face the big grump this early. Scowling, she spun around to see Liam beaming down at her.
"Liam!" Mina grinned, her scowl long gone along with the approaching cloud of having to deal with Mr. Grumpy.
"Hey," Liam's smirk widened into a devastatingly handsome smile that nearly knocked the wind out of her lungs. "I was going on a morning jog through town and I thought I had seen you parking your car and I thought I would come, say hi," Running a hand through his blonde tousled hair Mina couldn't help her wandering eyes as they perused over his glistening muscles.
He really was handsome. A beautiful piece of art for her to appreciate.
"Well that's very kind of you," Mina grinned. "I am just heading into Book Nook Café to get some coffee and get a little work done. Do you want to come in and have a coffee with me?"
"Oh sure,"
Liam followed behind her quietly as they entered the bookshop. Stepping up to the counter, Mina was not prepared to see Tara smiling at them. Who was this? This couldn't be the same barista that has consistently been giving her the cold shoulder.
"Hi Liam," Tara waved eagerly.
Now that made a lot more sense, Mina smirked watching the barista drool over Liam. Tara had a crush on the big hunk, and she couldn't really blame her. The man was gorgeous.
"Hey Tar, can we get two coffees please," Liam leaned on the counter, giving her what Mina could guess was his signature panty melting smile.
"Of course, anything for you," Tara beamed. "Still three sugars and two milk?"
"You know it," Liam winked, making the barista giggle like a little school girl.
"Just your usual black coffee today Mina?" Mina, nearly chocked on her spit when the Barista turned her smile to Mina, addressing her by name.
"Yes, thanks Tara," Mina smiled back.
"Coming up I'll bring it to your table," Spinning around, the barista began working on their order.
Walking over to her usual table, Mina plopped down. Her jaw hung open in surprise.
"You might want to close that up," His fingers gently pressed under her chin, closing her mouth. "Don't want anything flying in there," he said, his deep chuckle, knocking her out of her stupor.
"Sorry it's just," Mina glanced over at the barista and then back to Liam. "This is the first time she hasn't been icy to me, and she remembered my name, which is just... Wow," She moved her hands up and away from her head in an explosion.
"Yeah, it just takes her a little time to warm up to people. So what are you working on?" Liam asked, nodding his head towards her bag.
"Oh, I am working on a book."
"Make sense with you being Mina Knight and all," His signature panty-melting smile now pointed at her.
"Have you read my books?"
"Maybe,"
The two continued to chat while drinking their coffees. Periodically, Tara would bounce over to see if we needed anything. The barista had it bad for Liam and the man was completely oblivious to the smoking hot brunette. It made her want to giggle at how blind men could be at times. The woman was practically throwing herself at him, and yet he was completely clueless.
"Well, I'll let you get to work," Liam stood from his seat grabbing his empty cup just as Tara dashed over.
"Here let me take that and here is another for the road," Tara nearly threw the to go coffee at him.
"Thanks Tar," He smiled, taking a sip of his coffee. "Before I head out I was wondering if you're busy tonight?" Liam turned back to Mina.
"I have a date with my television and pizza,"
"Would you want to go to the bar with me?" Scratching the back of his neck, he glanced at his feet nervously.
Was he asking her out? Glancing toward Tara who was still standing near the table, she felt a twinge of sadness seeing the young woman's smile falter, hearing him ask another woman out in front of her.
"Would Tara be able to come too?"
"Oh. Umm. I guess. If she can," Liam glanced over at a very shocked Tara. "Want to come with us?"
"Yes!" Tara nearly shouted before coughing and clearing her throat. "I mean I guess I could find the time to come out," She shrugged her shoulders feigning indifference.
"Great, do you want to meet here at let's say 10pm?"
"Sounds good."
"Sure!" Tara added, a big smile spreading across her face.
"Great see you guys later then," Liam grinned, waving before turning and heading out of the shop.
"W-why did you do that?" Tara blurted out.
"You like him," Mina shrugged. "We girls got to look out for one another,"
"Thank you," A timid smile curved Tara's mouth. "Let me get you another coffee and a chocolate croissant," Spinning around, Tara rushed back over to the counter.
Smiling to herself, Mina pulled out her laptop, ready to get to work.
Deacon's POV
His blood boiled seeing that tall dumb mutt getting his sweaty body close to Mina. Not only did he ambush her at her car, he went into Deacon's shop and continued to bug the woman with his idiotic chit-chat. How dumb could he be? Not only was he blatantly drooling over Mina, he was completely oblivious to Tara pining after him like a lost puppy.
What Tara saw in the overgrown mutt Deacon would never know.
"Would you want to go to the bar with me?"
Growling under his breath, Deacon glared, watching them from behind a bookshelf he was supposed to be restocking. Was he really asking her out right in front of Tara? Deacon didn't think Liam had ever dated Tara or even realized the poor woman was in love with him, but still have some decency and wait until the damn barista wasn't within ear shot.
Poking his head around the bookshelf, Deacon glared at the back of Liam's head.
"Would Tara be able to come too?" Mina's response made Deacon want to chuckle.
Clever girl, she wasn't blind like the dumb meat head and if he was correct, which he normally was, she was trying to play matchmaker between the two. So she wasn't interested in the meathead like that afterall. Interesting.
The big i***t fumbled with his response but ended up agreeing to it. Smirking Deacon went back to stocking the shelf, his mood considerably lifting.
Sighing, he leaned in his chair closing his laptop. After the little show earlier with Mina and the dumb mutt, he spent the rest of the morning restocking and then heading back to his office to go over inventory and to get some paperwork done. Heading downstairs and into the cafe, he was surprised to find Mina gone. Normally she doesn't leave until later in the afternoon, but today seemed to be different. Was it because of Liam's invite to go out? Was she getting herself ready? Jealousy like nothing he'd felt before scorched his belly. This was ridiculous. He didn't care what the woman did. She wasn't his.
You keep telling yourself that. Shaking off the intrusive thought, Deacon stalked toward Tara, who was currently leaning on the counter playing on her phone.
"Where is she?" Deacon barked, making Tara jump, her phone dropping onto the counter with a loud thunk.
"Oh Mr. Cane I didn't see you there," She held her hand to her chest.
"Where is she?" He repeated, glaring down at the confused woman.
- Writer
