When I looked up, Caleb was pressing his pin into the machine. I punched him in the arm before thinking the action through. He turned to look at me with raised brows and wide astonished eyes. I blushed. "I was going to pay for that." I squeaked.
The woman behind the till smirked, but continued to watch us with interest.
"You just punched me." Caleb stated.
Jeez, I hit him in the arm not the head. Why was he acting like I had damaged his brain? I didn't even hit him hard.
I planted my hands against my hips and nodded curtly. An action straight out of my mothers books. "You weren't supposed to pay. It was my treat to you for being willing to help me transport them back to the shop."
Caleb shook his head. "You actually just punched me."
I scoffed. "Get over it. You're a big boy." I turned and walked to the other side of the counter to wait for the order.
"You really are a perfect match for my friend. He needs someone who can throw him around a few times." He chuckled under his breath. "I cannot believe you punched me."
I looked directly into his eyes as though I could find the answer there, but nothing jumped out at me. "Who is your friend?"
"I'm sure you will find out soon enough?"
"Have I already met this person?" I asked.
He looked at me funny before rubbing his forehead. "Yeah, I believe you might have."
"Hum, well..." I crossed my arms over my chest. "No one I've met has really made that much of an impression on me. I'm sorry, but this friend of yours has no place in my life aside from the past."
Caleb cocked his head. Amusement flickered in his eyes. "Really?"
"Really."
"We will see about that."
The coffees were placed in front of us in their trays. Caleb took two and I took one. A kind customer held the door open for us as we walked out onto the street.
When we had walked half the distance in silence, I couldn't take it any longer and decided I had to know what he had been talking about. "What do you mean that we will see about this friend of yours having more than just a past place in my life?"
"My friend is determined and it's very rare he is denied something he wants." Caleb answered, after a moment of thought.
I blushed and quickly blamed it on the heat. "And, this friend of yours wants me?"
"I didn't say that."
"Oh." I blushed again and wished I had some way of controlling my humiliation. Normally, I didn't care about what a guy thought of me, but I had a feeling this friend was none other than Jace Rush...and, I wanted him to want me. There was no doubt in my mind I would do almost anything to be with him again. But, I knew it was for the best we go our separate ways. I would just have to forget him. It was better this way. So long as his beautiful, mysterious friends stayed out of my life...surely, I would be able to forget him.
"Well, this is me," I said as I came to a stop outside the door of my shop. "Thank you for your help and for the coffees."
His green eyes sparkled and I found myself wishing they were blue. "It was all my pleasure, Olivia."
The door opened beside us and Trey stepped out onto the sidewalk. His eyes narrowed on Caleb and his jaw tightened. "Olivia, what's going on?"
I looked between Caleb and Trey. "Trey, this is Mr. Cage. Mr. Cage, this is Mr. Boyd."
Caleb grinned easily, but behind his friendly demeanor there was something that made me feel as though Trey was a bug that was about to get squashed. I shivered.
"Well, we should be getting back to work." I breathed and Caleb passed the trays to Trey. He slid his coffee from the corner and nodded to me.
"I'll see you around, Olivia." Caleb promised.
I nodded. "Mr. Cage."
I watched as Caleb turned and walked to a very expensive looking white car. The only thing I recognized was the Audi symbol. I had no idea what the car was.
Trey sighed beside me, and when I looked up at him, I found he was looking down at me with a tired expression on his face. "How do you know him, Olivia?"
I chewed the corner of my lip in thought. "I don't know him. I just met him today."
Trey shook his head. "You attract the vultures in swarms, don't you?"
"Vultures?" I laughed. "Trey, that was a man and he was, actually, quite nice."
Trey's jaw tightened and I could see his frustration. "No, Olivia. That was a vulture and he now has you in his sights."
I felt my spine stiffen. "Do you know who he is, Trey?"
"Yeah Olivia, I do." He stated, tiredly. "Caleb Cage is Jace Rush's best friend and business partner. They are both dangerous, and they have both come here for you now. What's going on?"