Tap Dance (Dance Series)

chapter Ten



I was just happy that the damn alarm hadn't gone off last night.

I heard Ram in the shower and considered joining him but I didn't want to distract him from his job. I wasn't sure of all the different pieces that he was responsible for, but as Chief, I knew he had a lot on his plate.

I got up and pulled on the blue nightgown that I had brought but not used and stepped into clean panties.

I made my way to the kitchen, put the milk and tea on to boil before pulling out a couple of packets of Pop Tarts, setting them off to the side for Ram to tuck into his pocket. Then I opened a pack for my breakfast, and put them into the toaster.

After searching I finally found Ram's thermos. A quick wash and rinse had it ready for his tea, which was just about done.

I pulled the now hot Pop Tarts from the toaster, filled Ram's thermos and poured myself a cup before sitting at the bar to enjoy my breakfast.

Ram came through carrying his socks and dropped a kiss on my shoulder as he moved through to the kitchen and stopped.

"Did you do this?" he asked, glancing from his thermos to me.

"The tea?"

"Yeah."

"Isn't that what you have in your thermos when you're out fighting crime?" I could feel my smile dancing around the corners of my mouth.

"Yeah."

"Then, yeah. I made the tea, filled the thermos and set out a couple of your secret Pop Tarts so the big Kahuna of Grantham can make it through the day." I was trying really hard not to giggle, but the look on Ram's face over something as small as filling his thermos was priceless. I was glad I could surprise him like that.

He didn't say anything more but just stared at me as I continued eating the flaky pastry with the strawberry filling.

He took two long steps and caught me around my waist pulling me up and out of the barstool and his mouth claimed mine.

It was hot, wet, but unfortunately short.

"I gotta go, MG," he said loosening his grip and letting me slide down the length of him.

"Yeah, honey. I know."

"Can I call you later?"

"Ram, you can call me anytime," I said with a smile. "Now go get the bad guys but be safe."

I watched as he put on his socks and shoved his feet in his boots.

He donned his coat and tucked the silver packets into the inside pocket then snagged his thermos and his keys.

"Bye, Pyari," he said from the hallway. "Just let the door close behind you, it has an automatic lock."

He poked his head around the corner. "I like the nightie, MG."

"Go catch some bad guys!" I said with a smile.

After he left I puttered around, making the bed, taking my shower. The clothes that I had worn last night were wrinkled from their time on the bedroom floor. I made a mental note to buy a couple of pairs of jeans with some t-shirts.

I was just making my way out to my car when my cell rang, the music was for my cousin Greg.

"Hey, Greg. What's up?"

"I need a favor."

The only time he called me was when he needed a favor.

Usually to have me do a shift at Buxby's which he co-owned but claimed that it cut into his social life. For Greg, a 'social life' meant he had a girl in his bed and couldn't be bothered to make it to the coffee shop on time. Or he was hoping to get a girl in his bed and couldn't be bothered to close the coffee shop.

I sighed loud enough for him to hear me.

"C'mon, Mari. It's just for a couple of hours. And it’s the night shift. Easy, Peasy."

Yeah, I believe that. Last time his 'couple of hours' turned out to be six hours and I wasted a whole Saturday being run off my feet since Buxby's was THE place for coffee in our small town.

"I've got a lot on my plate, Greg. Things I've got to take care of on, you know, like, when I'm done for the day with my real job?"

I made it to my car and shoved my stuff and myself in.

"I just need you to cover for me from 5.30 until we close at 9.00?"

I glanced at the clock in the dashboard.

"I've got to make a couple of stops after work so I'll be there at six. But, honest to God, Greg, I'm not doing a full close. You'll either have to do it yourself or have one of those goof-balls you hired do it. I'm serious. I am outta there at nine. Understand?"

"You're the best! I owe you one."

Actually the rat-bastard owed me thousands.

Greg disconnected without saying good-bye.

As the one and only child of Aunt Estella and Uncle Roger, Greg had been spoiled rotten. A lot of people have had that same situation growing up but then they grow out of it as an adult.

We were still waiting for Greg to grow out of it.

Or grow up, take your pick.

I swung by my aunt's house to drop off my tote and changed into my Suzie Professional clothes. I didn't have time for the mall so I raced to Meer's at lunchtime and got a pair of jeans and pair of black pants since the uniform at Buxby's was black pants and a white t-shirt. I tagged a couple of t-shirts in different colors and made my way to the shoe department to pick up a pair of tennis shoes.

Not having an accessible wardrobe was getting on my last nerve.

I whizzed through my day at D & J then grabbed my clothes for Buxby's and headed over.

I made it to Buxby's and luckily from what I could see it just seemed to be a slow steady stream of customers. Which I thought was better than the morning shift when Buxby's was absolutely slammed. I ducked into the Ladies room and changed. I was just pulling the Buxby's apron on when I saw a couple of employees standing at the back counter chewing the fat. I glanced around the tables, noticing they hadn't been wiped down and one of the trash receptacles was overflowing.

And, thus, my evening shift as an unpaid barista began.

As Greg was very aware, I was not one of his typical employees.

I do not work the wonky espresso machine.

I do not do the syrups.

I do not froth or foam or whip the cream.

I do the cash register.

Period.

I do not clear the tables or wipe up the spills.

I take the orders, write the name and the customer's choice on the cup, smile prettily and take their money.

Period.

Like most food service places, customers seem to come in waves. You'll be busy, busy with a line of people waiting to order and then you'll have just a couple of stragglers.

We were into the really slow straggler portion of the evening when I looked at the clock.

8:50 p.m.

Cool. Ten minutes to go.

"Hey, handsome. What can I get you?" Just like at the office, I like to talk and joke with the customers. It makes the day go faster and, when you're an unpaid laborer, you'll do anything to make that time go as fast as humanly possible.

"Large Caramel Latte with double shot espresso, no toppings."

And I wasn't lying.

He was handsome with his jet black hair and light blue eyes. He was dressed casually but you could tell his jeans cost more than my car payment and forget about the price of the black v-neck sweater which appeared to be cashmere.

"You got it. Name?"

"Niko," he said. His pronunciation was a little bit different, a slight foreign accent that I only caught when he said his name.

And I think I speak for a lot of American girls when I say, accents are good.

Very good.

"Cool name. That'll be $6.75," I said with a smile.

"I haven't see you here before. Did you just get hired?"

"No such luck, I'm afraid. Just doing my cousin a favor."

"Who's your cousin?"

"Greg."

"Wow. Didn't know Greg had a cousin. Especially a cousin like you." Okay, Niko with the killer looks and great clothes was handsome. But when he smiled, you could forget your own name.

And that killer smile came with just the smallest dimple in his right cheek.

I had to blink a couple of times just to get back in the game.

"You know my name," he said. "What's yours?"

"Marianne," I replied and held my hand out to shake his. But he took my hand and turned it before pressing his lips to the back of it, all the while staring into my eyes.

Wow.

Just, wow.

Lucky for me, Greg walked in. Right on time, for once.

"Well, I'm off," I said trying to make my voice firm instead of the breathy mewl that wanted to come out. "It was nice to meet you, Niko."

"What are you doing later tonight, Marianne?"

"Tonight?" I think my voice went up an octave.

"I would like it very much if you joined me for dinner."

"Ah, well. Uhm, you see…"

"If not tonight, then perhaps another night."

"I'm kind of seeing someone," I tried to explain but my voice sounded unsure even to me.

Niko looked at me and blinked slowly. Even his eyelashes were hot, framing his exquisite eyes.

"Perhaps another time then," he murmured standing far too close to me as I made my way around the counter and took off the apron.

I just nodded. And high-tailed it into the back of the shop as fast as my new tennis shoes could carry me.

Wow.

Just, wow.