Chapter 6

CHAPTER SIX

CHARLIE

My alarm went off at 5 a.m. and I crawled out of bed before putting the coffee on. Then I made my way back to my room to get dressed. For opening day, I'd decided to wear an ankle-length emerald green skirt paired with a shimmery peacock blue sleeveless top and matching ankle boots. I pulled my hair up into a twist, added some blue green hair clips, and I was ready to go.

At 5:55 Kerry arrived and I was out the door. I made my way to the shop and stepped inside after unlocking the door.

I flipped the light switch and looked around. Within hours of signing the deed, news had spread about me opening the shop and several townspeople offered to help get it ready. The once white walls were now a warm espresso color. There were several inspirational quotes in white scattered about the space. There were also references and quotes from some of my favorite movies. A few paintings adorned the walls, and of course, behind the counter was the board that told customers what they could get.

Getting myself moving, I went behind the counter and got the coffee brewing.

At 6:30, my only employee, Emily, who'd recently turned eighteen, arrived and let herself in. She'd learned the menu quickly. I just hoped she could work well under pressure.

“Good morning!” she said cheerily.

“Good morning. Are you ready for this?” I asked. “Of course, we could be completely dead for all I know,” I added under my breath.

“It's going to be great! My friends and I have been hyping it up all week. There's already a line forming,” she reassured me.

“What? No way,” I exclaimed and peeked out the window shade. “Oh wow! You're right. There is,” I added, suddenly feeling nervous.

“We'll do fine,” Emily promised.

“You're right. We've got this,” I agreed and we got the last minute preparations done.

At 6:58 I nodded at the door. “Go ahead and flip the sign to open,” I instructed.

She squealed and bounced over to the door. As soon as she flipped the sign, she scurried behind the counter as the first customers entered.

As the first few hours passed, I heard different variations of ‘It's too bad Amelia's family never opened the shop, but I'm sure glad there's a coffee shop now’.

Things slowed down a bit and I looked over at Emily. “Why don't you fix yourself a coffee and go take a break.”

“Are you sure?” she asked.

“Yeah. I can take care of things,” I assured her.

No sooner was she seated, the bell over the door alerted me to new customers. “Welcome to Brewed Awakening,” I said as I looked toward the door.

I couldn’t believe my eyes. The four men who stood there were sex on a stick. The first man had short-cropped black hair, piercing black eyes and a light beard. The man behind him was a clean-shaven blonde with deep gray eyes. Both of them had noticeable tattoos. Then there was a sexy redhead with vibrant green eyes and a neatly trimmed beard. The last man was just as stunning with light brown hair, soulful brown eyes, and a light beard as well.

Seeing them had my inner bobcat taking an interest. Down, girl .

“Hello, beautiful,” the first guy said and I arched a brow.

“Hello to you, too. What can I get for you?” I asked, trying to play it cool

“Your number,” he replied with a wink that made me shake my head.

“I'm Rhys. This is Riley, Pierce, and Linc,” he said, introducing himself and the three men with him.

“Charlie,” I replied.

“Nice to meet you, Charlie. We've heard good things about your coffee, so we had to come try it out,” Rhys said.

“Well, I hope it stands up to the hype.”

“I'm sure it will,” Pierce piped up from behind him.

“So, Charlie, how about you go out with us sometime,” Riley suddenly said and I frowned.

“Us? Us, who?”

“The four of us,” he replied.

I blinked. “Come again?”

“Go out with us,” he said again.

“We don't bite,” Rhys interjected, “unless you want us to,” he added with a smirk.

“I apologize for these two boneheads,” Linc commented. “What Rhys means is, no pressure. It's just dinner and conversation between a group of people.”

“Do you guys do this often?” I asked. “All four of you asking the same woman out?”

“We've done it a few times, but no, not often,” Rhys answered before anyone else could.

“Come on, give us a chance,” Pierce said.

I rubbed my brow. “What's in it for me?”

“Good food, good company, and a great time,” Linc replied with a wink.

I studied them for a moment. My bobcat was urging me to agree, the hussy. Damn the offer did sound enticing.

“What the hell. You only live once, right?” I finally said.

“That’a girl!” Riley replied with a grin.

“When are you free?” Linc eagerly asked.

“That's a good question. Between running this place and taking care of my uncle, I'm pretty busy.”

“What if we can get someone to sit with him for you?” Pierce offered.

“You thinking Sarah?” Rhys asked his buddy.

“Yep. I know she'll do it,” he replied.

“Who's Sarah?” I questioned.

“My sister. She's a nurse at Mercy Community Hospital in Draycott,” Pierce replied.

“Oh. Okay. Well, why don't you find out if she'll do it and when she's free, and we can get together then?” I suggested.

“Sweet,” Riley said.

“As long as it's not tonight. I have a meeting with the elders after we close.”

“That explains why the council has been called,” Linc put in.

“Council?”

“Yeah. It’s official title is the Council of Businesses,” Pierce explained.

“Oh. Interesting. Anyway, what can I get you guys?” I asked again.

This time they gave their orders. I got them done quickly and handed their cups over after they paid.

“See ya later, Peaches,” Rhys said with a wink and was gone before I could ask about the unexpected nickname.

“Did that really just happen? You have a date with all four of them?” Emily asked.

“Looks like it,” I replied.

“You go girl! They are sexy!”

I laughed because she seemed more excited than I was. “Let's get back to work,” I said, putting my personal life aside.

At 2:30 p.m. we began the closing clean up. By 2:55 we were done and I bid Emily goodnight. After locking the door behind me, I made my way to the address I'd been given to meet the elders and swallowed at all the vehicles in the lot. Looked like it was a full house.

Taking a few calming breaths, I got out of my car and headed inside. The meeting room was packed when I entered.

“Ah, welcome. You must be Miss Reid,” one of the six people who sat at a table at the head of the room said.

“Yes, I am,” I replied as I approached.

“Esteemed Council, you have been summoned because Miss Reid has a request. Miss Reid please approach,” the speaker, who was clearly the leader, said.

I approached the waiting podium and nodded at those I passed. “Esteemed Council, Elders, thank you for agreeing to see me. As you all know, my uncle, Henry Reid, is very ill. In truth, he's dying. I honestly doubt he'll still be here a week from now.

“With that said, the town needs a new veterinarian. I have one in mind. My friend Caitronia McConnell. I'm requesting permission because she's human.”

“Absolutely not!” I heard from behind me and glanced to see who was speaking. He had messy, reddish rust-colored hair, green eyes, and a 5 o'clock shadow. I frowned at him before I turned back to the elders.

“As I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted,” I resumed. “Caitronia has known about shifters her whole life. Her grandmother is a shifter and we've been best friends since birth. She’s known my secret since we were children, and she's never betrayed it. She would keep the town's secret as well.”

“I agree with Marko. How do we know she can really be trusted? Miss Reid is new to town,” another voice said.

I glanced to find a baby-faced redhead with green eyes standing next to the first guy who'd spoke.

“I disagree,” Rhys said. “Miss Reid is being truthful. We would all smell it if she were lying.”

He was right. There would be a foul odor in the air.

“Besides, we've spent some time talking to Miss Reid. She doesn't come across as dishonest,” Riley added. Linc and Pierce nodded in agreement.

“Tell us a bit about Miss McConnell,” the elder leader said.

So I did. “She can also double as a regular doctor. She majored in medicine and minored in veterinarian care. She was in the top three of both classes,” I added at the end.

“Give us a few moments,” the elder said and I watched as all six moved away from the table.

I stood there lightly tapping my fingers on the top of the podium. My best friend's future hung in the balance.

When the elders returned to their seats, I stopped fidgeting.

“We have taken what each of you have said into consideration and come to a decision. We formally invite Caitronia McConnell to Grimsby.”

I wanted to sag in relief, but I stood tall. Or as tall as my 5’4” frame would allow. “Thank you. You won't regret this decision,” I assured them.

“Council is dismissed,” the elder replied and people started filtering out of the meeting space.

“Good job,” Rhys said when he approached.

“Thanks. And thank you all for speaking up on my behalf,” I told him.

“You're welcome, Peaches.”

I tipped my head at him. “Why do you call me that?”

“You're from Georgia, right?” he asked.

“Yeah. How did you know?”

“I have my ways,” he replied with a smirk. “Georgia peach, and your peaches and cream skin,” he added.

“Huh. Guess that makes sense. Anyway, thanks again.”

“Before you leave, dinner tomorrow. We'll pick you up at your place at 5,” Pierce said.

“It's a date,” I replied and headed out to my car. I sensed they were following me and I turned to look at them. “What?”

“Just making sure you get to your car safely,” Linc replied with a grin.

“Uh huh. And y'all weren't checking me out,” I teased with an eye roll.

“Oh, we were definitely doing that, Peaches,” Riley said and I threw my hands in the air.

“You four are incorrigible. You're going to be such a fucking handful.”

“But what a handful it is,” Rhys growled.

“I'm leaving now,” I said with a laugh and climbed into my car.

I couldn’t wait to call Cait when I got home.