Chapter 1

 

 

"I can't believe I'm going to say this, but its way to slow tonight." Hanna opened up the drive-thru window of the coffee shop and poked her head out. The warmth of the summer air caressed her face, giving her a break from the overwhelming smell of coffee and donuts.

"How much do we have in the tip jar?" Hanna's co-worker for the overnight shift and closest friend Jackie asked, coming around the counter and into the drive-thru section of the coffee shop.

Pulling her head in from the window, Hanna grabbed the coffee cup beside the register and emptied the contents onto the counter. She quickly thumbed through the change and frowned. "Ten bucks to split."

Jackie didn't seem thrilled, the look of disappointment lurked on her face. "Shit! I need gas money. We usually have at least thirty by now," she whined.

Hanna's frowned deepened. She wished she was in a position to tell Jackie she could have her share, but sadly, Hanna's financial situation was equally as dire. She was thankful they were allowed to eat what they wanted while working, because her kitchen cupboards were bare with the exception of some cup-o-soups, her refrigerator was stocked with only water and her bank account was currently at a negative balance. The worst part of it all was, payday was still three days away.

Jackie grabbed a cup and poured herself some coffee, adding an obscene amount of sugar. "You know Hanna babe... We really need to find ourselves a couple of rich men."

Hanna laughed at the idea, then grabbed a chocolate glazed donut from the rack and took a bite. "And where are we going to find one of those?"

"Hey, Jessie got together with Senator Morrow," Jackie reminded her with a hint of envy in her tone.

"Hmmm. I suppose." Being one of the newest girls working at the coffee shop, Hanna had never met Jessie, but the girls talked of her from time to time - mostly with envious tones.

"And I heard that one of the girls at the Portland coffee shop met a billionaire!"

Hanna rolled her eyes. "Shit, that doesn't happen to girls like us Jackie. One in a million, and I think Jessie was this coffee shop's one in a million when she met Senator Morrow."

Jackie huffed. "Kill a girls dreams why don't ya. I-" She froze as her dark eyes widened. "Hey, look at that!"

"What?" Leaving her station at the drive-thru window, Hanna walked over to the front counter and peered out of the front pane glass window. Her eyes immediately caught what Jackie was seeing. Turning into the parking lot was a white stretch SUV.

Jackie nudged Hanna in the ribs with her elbow and grinned. "Hey, maybe those are our knights in shining armour, right there."

"Pfft. More like a group of high school students on their way somewhere after prom. It is prom season you know."

The stretch SUV slowly drove past the front window towards the drive-thru.

"He's not going to try and go through the drive-thru?" Hanna's brow furrowed as she raced around the front counter to watch the limo turn the corner of the building towards the speaker. "He's going to get stuck. There's no way that'll fit."

Jackie joined Hanna at the front window. "You sure?"

"Positive."

"Should we go out and stop them?" Just as the words left Jackie's mouth a nasty grinding sound echoed throughout the still, silent night.

"Awwwww, shit." Hanna fought to keep from snickering, but failed. Looking over at Jackie, Hanna's snickering turned to laughter at the look of amusement mixed with astonishment that was present on her face.

"Who in the hell is stupid enough to try to drive that long-assed limo through those tight corners of the drive-thru?"

"Apparently, them."

Jackie joined in Hanna's laughter.

Their laughter subsided at the sound of car doors opening and heated chatter.

"Shit, get behind the counter!" Hanna's spun around and rushed across the dining room of the coffee shop to take her place behind the counter, with Jackie following in her hastened steps. "Whatever you do, don't laugh! Pretend we have no idea what's going on."

"Shhhh. They're coming!"

"Why in the name of God did you hire someone so incompetent!" a male voice growled seconds before the owner of the voice appeared at the front entrance, followed by a number of other people.

"Holy shit, is that-" Jackie whispered.

Hanna nodded, too shocked to respond verbally. The man entering the coffee shop was none other than rock sensation, Bo Savage. His eyes were downcast as he listened to the person on the other end of the phone, and strolled across the dining room towards the front counter.

"Yeah, well. I'm tired and stranded at a coffee shop in the middle of butt fuck nowhere, because that idiot driving the car apparently doesn't know how to drive." He stopped suddenly halfway between the door and front counter, his entourage nearly bumping into him.

"Fine." He growled with even more hostility, pressed the END button on his phone and stuffed it into the front pocket of his jeans.

Bo turned back to the group of five following him and motioned towards the dining room tables. "Go sit down. They're sending a car for us. I'll grab some coffee."

"Fuck," he grumbled under his breath as he made it the rest of the way to the counter and looked up, eyeing the overhead menu.

As Bo studied the menu, Hanna studied him. She'd never been this close to a celebrity before. In all honesty, Hanna never really followed his work; however she was still star struck. His dark hair was just a little too long, giving him a bad boy look. She guessed he was perhaps an inch shy of six foot, his body lean, but muscle defined under his tight fitting white t-shirt.

After carefully scrutinizing the menu for a few minutes, Bo dropped his smoky grey eyes to meet hers and flashed a smile at her that made her weak in the knees. Should she pretend she didn't know who he was? Should she ask for an autograph? She chewed at her lower lip, keeping her eyes locked to his as she considered.

"Oh-my-God! You're Bo Savage!" Jackie squealed beside her, like a love struck teenager, making Hanna wince from her high-pitched tone.

Well, that problem just got solved, Hanna mused.

Bo glanced over at Jackie who was standing at her side. "That would be me." He turned his attention back to Hanna. "I apologize, but my driver appears to have gotten the car stuck in the drive-thru. I hope it won't be an issue until we get the car dislodged."

"I... Ummm... I..." Ahhh shit! she groaned inwardly.

Get it together Ambrose, you sound like a babbling idiot. He's a person, just like you, a voice in the back of her mind chided. Yeah, a person who has millions of fans and is sexy as sin, she argued back.

"No worries, Bo. It's not busy at all tonight." Jackie chimed in, making Hanna feel even more foolish for being tongue tied.

"I wish we could have attended your concert tonight, but we were stuck working." Jackie flashed him her best pouty look.

Hanna glanced over at Jackie and raised a curious brow. It was news to her.

"Awwww. That's unfortunate." He gave her a sympathetic smile, but his eyes said he seriously doubted there was truth in Jackie's statement.

"Yeah." Her lower lip became even more pouty as she nodded her agreement on how unfortunate it was.

Hanna had to fight from rolling her eyes at the show Jackie was putting on.

"So, what can I help you with?" Hanna cut in, finally finding her voice and courage.

"Well, you can start with six large coffee... And how are the biscuits?"

"Hard and about to be thrown out," Hanna admitted.

He chuckled and leaned over the counter, bracing himself on his elbows. "Well... Then what do you have that would be good this time of night?"

Hanna clucked her tongue off the roof of her mouth and remembered the bagels that were less than a minute from being ready to be pulled from the oven. "What about a bagel?"

"Hmmmm." His eyes twinkled with amusement as he pretended to consider. "Alright." His eyes darted back to Jackie's chest, to her nametag. "If Jackie here would be kind enough to prepare the coffees, could you-" His eyes lowered to Hanna's chest and she felt a heat rush down her spine to ignite the throbbing between her legs."-Hanna, take care of my bagels."

He turned towards the group sitting at a table in the dining room. "Hey, Jeremy."

A man slightly younger than Bo, bearing a striking resemblance to him, stopped talking to the woman beside him and turned to face Bo. "Yeah."

He nodded towards Jackie. "Come on over here and tell Jackie what we want in our coffee so I can order the bagels."

Jeremy hesitated, glanced over at the girl next to him, and then nodded. "Yeah, sure." Getting up, he made his way over to the front counter.

A ding from the oven signalled the bagels were finished. "There we go. Just give me a minute to get them."

Hanna was painfully aware of Bo's eyes on her as she turned her back to him and made her way to the oven. She put an extra sway to her hips, for his benefit. The uniforms were a hideous shade of brown and uglier than sin, but the pants to the uniform had one small perk to them, they made virtually any girl's ass look amazing.

Like you'd ever have a shot with him, the voice in her head chimed in.

Grabbing an oven mitt, she turned off the oven, stepped back and pulled the door open. A gust of heat emerged from the oven, along with the delicious aroma of freshly baked bagels. Grabbing a pan of plain, she closed the oven door and brought the heavy pan of two dozen bagels over to the food preparation station.

Bo was already at the station, leaning over the glass showcase, his arms crossed over it and chin sitting atop his crossed arms.

"What kind of cream cheese?" Hanna asked as she proceeded to slice the bagels in half, trying to ignore the feelings of excitement rushing through her as he watched her every movement.

"Put herb and garlic on all of them."

Hanna nodded, uncovering the herb and garlic cream cheese. Grabbing a spreader she scooped up a glob of cream cheese and was embarrassed to see her hand was shaking ever-so-slightly. She prayed he wouldn't notice.

"So tell me."

Hanna lifted her eyes to meet his and waited.