“Excuse me, where’s Green Street?”
The guy pointed toward a coffee shop. “One block over.”
“Thanks.” Anthony could barely wait for a break in traffic to sprint across the busy street. When he reached Claudia’s steps, he took them two at a time. She buzzed him in, and he dashed up the stairs to the third floor.
She opened the door the minute he knocked, and Anthony walked right into her waiting arms. With no discussion, and none needed, he cupped her head and his lips descended to hers. She tipped her face up to meet his, and they stood for who knows how long in a fervent lip-lock.
When they broke apart, Claudia was breathing hard.
“I guess we should go inside and close the door,” Anthony said.
She giggled. “What? You don’t want to put on a show for the neighbors?”
He walked forward while she took a couple steps back. Absently, he kicked the door shut behind them, and as soon as it clicked, he kissed her again. Their hands explored and caressed each other as if of their own volition.
Five years of waiting. Five years of pent-up sexual frustration. Anthony didn’t know if he could stop touching and kissing her—ever.
When they finally broke apart, he rested his forehead against hers. Then, they gazed into each other’s eyes for several long moments.
Eventually, he said, “I’ve wanted to do that for five years.”
Claudia smiled. “Me too. What took you so long?”
They both knew the answer to that. Ruxandra.
Claudia stepped away and offered him a beverage. Anthony opted for tea since Type O was probably not on the menu.
While she was in the kitchen, he glanced around the room. It was in much better shape than before. Like the woman he knew, it was well put together and immaculate. He remembered her first request as his new bar manager. She’d wanted to wear her fashionable clothes and not the uniform he had her wear as a waitress.
When she returned with his tea, he took a moment to notice her outfit. She wore a little black dress and strappy sandals. He could take her anywhere in that. Of course, all he wanted to do was take her into the next room and remove said little black dress.
But it was too soon for that.
“Have a seat.” Claudia didn’t specify where, so Anthony sat on the couch, expecting she’d join him there. She set his tea on a coaster next to him and settled herself on his other side.
Kicking off her sandals and pulling her feet up under her thigh, she looked casual and comfortable. He was glad she hadn’t suddenly become shy after their first kiss. A lot of women would have.
“It’s nice to see you again,” she said. “You look well.”
Okay. She wasn’t acting shy but a little formal.
“You too. I trust you’re feeling better.”
She groaned and hung her head. “Let’s pretend the other night never happened.”
“Why?”
She snorted. “You didn’t exactly see me in my best light.”
Anthony took a sip of his tea while he tried to think of something to say to that. Should he acknowledge her sober assessment? Downplay it? He opted for reaching over and taking her hand in his. Giving it a squeeze he said, “I’ve seen you in your best light for far too long. It was about time you showed me your flawed human side.”
She smiled. “Thanks. Maybe someday you’ll show me your human side too.”
Doubtful, since I’m no longer human.
She let go of his hand. “Speaking of which, where are your emotions? You can be upset around me, you know. I won’t wilt, and I want to be supportive. I’m kind of surprised you seem so unaffected by everything that’s happened. After all, it was your business that burned to the ground.”
“I’m just glad no one was hurt. It could have been so much worse.”
“That’s true.” She worried her lip for a moment. “The other night, when you were talking about rebuilding. Did you mean it?”
“Absolutely. I still want a place in the neighborhood for the locals to socialize.” Especially the local paranormals. “And I’d like to get it under way as quickly as possible.”
“Then, as hard as this is to say, I should tell you that you might want to find another manager.”
Anthony’s brows shot up. He couldn’t picture anyone but Claudia running his place during daylight hours. How could he trust anyone else? It not only made no business sense, but he wouldn’t have the same enthusiasm. The best part of going to work was knowing she would be there waiting for him at sunset.
“But, why? Do you need money to live on in the meantime? Because if you do, I can—”
She held up a hand to stop him. “No. That’s not it.” She fidgeted a little, then faced him head-on. “There’s something I need to tell you. Something I should have told you long ago.”
“Oh?” This sounds ominous. Could Ruxandra have threatened her? “Whatever it is, I’m on your side.”
She let out a deep breath. “I know, but wait until you hear what I have to say. You might feel differently.”
He didn’t want to protest; he just wanted her to keep talking. Whatever it was, he was sure they could handle it together—just like they’d handled everything. So he waited and let her gather her courage.
“Anthony, I have a drinking problem. I have no business working in a bar.”
Of all the secrets she could have shared, this was one he’d never even considered. “What? Are you sure? I never saw anything to indicate…”
She held up her hand again. “I know. I was…I mean I am what they call a functional alcoholic. I could hold it together all day long in order to do my job, but as soon as I got home at night, all bets were off. You’re not the only one who didn’t know. I was very good at hiding it.”
He took a quick glance at the open kitchen where she’d had her booze and didn’t see a single bottle.
“It’s all gone. I have to quit, Anthony. It’s starting to affect my health.”
“I see.” He really didn’t see. How could this have happened? Was the job too stressful? The hours too long? “Claudia, I mean it. I’m here for you. I’ll give you any assistance you need. How can I help?”
She gave him a sad smile. “That’s just it. You can’t. I have to do this myself. I went to my first AA meeting yesterday, and it sounds like I have a long road ahead of me.”
Anthony blew out a rare breath and shook his head at the floor. “I wish I had known sooner. It must have been difficult for you.”
“You could say that. As soon as I explained it all to my parents, they wanted me to move back to Florida where they could keep an eye on me. I had to promise them I’d go to AA and call them regularly before they’d agree to drop it and go home.”
“So they’re on their way?”
“Yes. It’s a long drive and my dad doesn’t trust anyone to run his business correctly while he’s away. At least he’s given up the idea that I should take over for him someday.”
“I can’t imagine anyone else I’d want running my business—whatever it is. Claudia, I don’t have to reopen as a bar. I could make it a coffee shop.”
“With a bakery and coffee bar right next door? I’m sure they’d love that.”
Anthony was desperate to think of something. Not only did he want to help Claudia, but he also wanted to be sure Sadie was taken care of. Both women were too proud to take his charity. He’d have to find a way to employ them both. Sadie just needed a booth to read tarot cards. But now that Claudia was a teetotaler…
As if a lightbulb hovering over his head suddenly went on, Anthony grabbed his cup and blurted out, “Tea! A tea room! Sadie can read tea leaves. She told me so. You can make the place over however you want. I can picture you serving high tea and offering special blends from all over the world. It even fits better with the upper-class flavor of Beacon Hill than a bar.”