Free Bear Claw by Crissy Smith

his story, Angela came out.
    “I’m so sorry.” She rushed over with two mugs full of coffee. “At least I could deliver both your drinks since neither of you ever orders anything different. If you didn’t bring me so much business, I might be worried about the fact you both have the same coffee addiction.”
    They laughed at Angela’s observation.
    “Now tell me what my two favorite customers are doing together? Date?”
    Brandy had picked up her coffee to blow on it. She jerked her hand, slopping some over the edge. “Jeez.”
    “Oh, honey,” Angela chided. “A woman can hope.” She handed Brandy some napkins.
    Jamie couldn’t help but notice Brandy’s deep blush.
    “Hoping?” he inquired, picking up his cup.
    “Well, I have two smart and kind customers who are the same age and single. If the two of you ever came in at the same time I would have done everything I could have to make sure you met.”
    “Angela!”
    Jamie chuckled at Brandy’s exclamation.
    “Guess it turns out we figured it out on our own,” he said and winked at Angela.
    The older woman beamed back.
    Brandy set the napkins to the side, peering at him. “Uh, yeah. Guess we didn’t need any help.”
    Her bright eyes urged him to lean forward.
    Clearing her throat, Angela started backing away. “Just coffee?”
    Without taking his gaze from Brandy’s, Jamie nodded. “Yes. Thanks, Angela.”
    She made a quick but discreet exit.
    “So addiction, huh?” Brandy asked, blinking and breaking eye contact.
    “I may drink a cup or two or ten a day,” he confessed.
    “Should I ask about any other vices you may have? I think I can live with the caffeine.”
    “I hope so since I know I can’t do without my daily java,” he said. “But other than beautiful, sexy, sweet librarians, I can’t say I have any other dependencies at this time.”
    Brandy’s mouth opened slightly as her heartbeat sped up enough for him to pick up the change easily. Jamie itched to reach out and touch her. Seeing her hand shaking, he wondered if she had the same need.
    She cleared her throat, the spell once again breaking between them.
    “It’s funny. I never saw you anywhere other than the library,” Brandy told him, quickly changing the subject.
    Jamie let her move to a safer topic. The way the heat burned in her gaze was enough to let him know he wasn’t alone in his desire. “Yeah, although I have to blame that on my job. I work some weird hours. Plus, you don’t actually live around here, do you?”
    “No, I live in Park Palace Estates.”
    “Wow.” He was impressed. “Nice neighborhood.”
    “Yeah, well, I guess you can say I had some help.”
    Curious, Jamie waved for her to continue.
    “So you know Chris is my cousin.”
    “Yes.”
    “And our family is…”
    Jamie couldn’t believe he’d never put it together. “The Brooks. Of course.” He’d known her last name but he would have never have associated Brandy with the wealthy relatives from a high-society status. Her kin owned several large business and the others had high-profile jobs.
    “Yeah, so I have family money. I got an inheritance from my great-grandma on my mom’s side.”
    “And you work at the library,” he said flatly. He wasn’t sure how to take this new information. If he’d thought Brandy was out of his league before, he had no doubt anymore that she was untouchable.
    “I choose to work there. Just like it is my decision to support the shifters and not the legislation against them.”
    “The list Chris handed out named several businesses your family owns that are huge donators.”
    “Yes,” she replied tensely.
    He was at a loss on what to say. How this coffee date had turned so quickly was devastating. He should have gone back to work.
    “Can I tell you how I found myself working a county job before you judge me?”
    “I’m not—”
    “You are. And I don’t blame you. However, I’m not like my parents, or my brothers, and I don’t believe the same