Free Ashes to Flames by Nichelle Gregory Page A

towel and moaned with delight when she pressed the towel to her face. The damp coolness was heaven on her hot cheeks.
    Minutes ticked by before she forced herself to pitch the paper towel into the trash. She exited the bathroom without a backward glance to the mirror. It didn’t matter what she or Jai looked like—they knew each other’s soul and he would know who she was the moment he laid eyes on her.
    Sabria made her way to the lobby of the library, ready to check out each coffee shop she’d cataloged using her cell phone. She pushed through the heavy glass doors and stepped out into the crisp fall air, ignoring the colorful leaves blowing around her. This was her favorite season, but she took no solace in the decorative harvest decorations and beautifully carved pumpkins on display as she walked down the busy street.
    A gust of wind swirled the gathering leaves around her feet and Sabria pulled her black shawl around her shoulders, still trying to shake off her disappointment at not finding a sign from Jai in the library. Many years ago they’d selected four libraries in four major cities as starting points to begin searching for each other if they couldn’t easily pick up one another’s signature aura.
    Sabria had never had any trouble before, but it had taken almost six months to home in on Jai this time. She’d searched the last library on their list. Almost a year of traveling and looking for Jai was beginning to take its toll on her usually bottomless optimism. She took some comfort in knowing he was somewhere close by.
    Sabria quickened her pace as the coffee shop she sought came into view. This was the one she felt the strongest pull to. Jai liked chocolate croissants and she knew he’d eventually turn up at a café that served them. He loved them almost as much as she loved coffee.
    The café was crowded for a Saturday afternoon. Sabria drew in a deep breath, enjoying the comforting scent of coffee wafting over her the moment she opened the door. The intensity of Jai’s aura enveloping her rendered her momentarily motionless.
    He had been here!
    Excited, Sabria quickly scanned the café for any hint of Jai.
    “Welcome to Java Blue.”
    “Thank you,” Sabria said, walking up to the barista, who went by ‘Erika’ according to her name tag. She looked to be in her early twenties, adorable with freckles to go along with her straight strawberry-blonde hair and friendly smile.
    “What can I get you?” Erika asked, looking at her expectantly.
    Sabria glanced down into the bakery case in front of her and smiled upon seeing the chocolate croissants. “I’ll have a medium vanilla latte and a blueberry scone.”
    Erika nodded. “Good choice. Coming right up.”
    There were two men in the coffee shop and Sabria surreptitiously studied them as the barista got her order ready. A businessman talked on his cell by the window. He was deep in conversation, oblivious to her scrutiny, but Sabria didn’t feel any kind of connection to him. The second guy in the café was dressed well, reading Grindr, a clear indication he’d be more interested in the dedicated businessman than her.
    Definitely not Jai.
    “Here you are.”
    She whirled around to see Erika holding her coffee and scone on a plate. “Thanks. How much?” Sabria opened her purse.
    “Four dollars and sixty-three cents. I forgot to ask if you wanted this pastry to go.”
    “It’s fine. I think I’ll have it here.” Sabria pushed back a wad of cash, grabbed a ten-dollar bill and handed it to Erika. “I know this may seem like an odd question, but have you recently had a man come in here who orders a chocolate croissant with a black coffee?”
    Erika frowned. “Hmm…I don’t know. I don’t usually work on Fridays. You should come back tomorrow morning and ask Vance.”
    “Okay, thank you.”
    “No problem,” Erika said with a grin. “If he tasted one of our chocolate croissants he’ll be back. They’re to die for.”
    Sabria laughed, but