“She hit on you?”

Lucy mock pouted and looked down at her body. “Is that so hard to believe?”

Kelly tried hard not to stare at the cleavage Lucy had unwittingly drawn her gaze too.

“No, that’s not what I meant. Weren’t you offended?”

“I was flattered, actually.”

Trying to understand, Kelly pursed her lips. “Do you like it when women come onto you?”

“You know what, Kelly?” A look Kelly couldn’t decipher glistened in Lucy’s eyes.

It was a cross between sassy and sultry, and it held Kelly captive. She couldn’t look away even if she wanted to.

“The last time you dangled that hook, the night of Paula’s party, I had the most bizarre dream.” She paused then added, “And you were in it. Crazy, huh?”

Lucy cocked her head to the side as if daring Kelly to say something.

With her heart lodged firmly in her throat, Kelly shrugged, feigning a calmness she didn’t feel. “Dreams, they’re weird.”

Elbows on the desk, chin on her hands, Lucy stared at Kelly, her gaze so intense Kelly broke out in a cold sweat.

“Ever had a dream so vivid you could’ve sworn it was real?” Lucy leaned back in the chair.

What the ever-loving fuck?

Heat flared in Kelly’s cheeks and guilt gnawed at her conscience. She had no way of knowing if Lucy was making general conversation or digging for more.

Kelly had to get out of there, and fast. The last thing she needed was to draw another incorrect conclusion and embarrass herself.

“Can’t say I have.” Kelly shrugged off the question. “I better go check on Jacinta. Holler if you need anything.”

“I will.” Lucy picked up a pen and Kelly strode toward the door.

“Oh, and Kelly.”

Hand poised on the doorknob, Kelly froze, cold dread chilling her to the bone.

“Don’t forget my coffee and muffin. See you at ten.”

*

The next hour and a half went by painfully slow yet way too fast. Kelly hadn’t watched the clock at work for longer than she could remember. She loved her job and was never in a hurry to leave.

As much as she wanted to dismiss Lucy’s comments as general chit-chat, every time Kelly thought about what Lucy had said, the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. No matter how often Kelly told herself she was projecting, she couldn’t shake the feeling.

When the clock struck ten, butterflies took flight in her belly. For a minute, Kelly considered asking Jacinta, or the kitchen hand, Benjamin, to deliver Lucy’s order. But not only would that be cowardice, it would also be letting her boss down.

Slipping back into the persona of barista, Kelly put a napkin and muffin on a plate then picked up a large mug.