Beautiful Failure by Mariah Cole Read Free Book Online

who’s been holding up the line for at least ten minutes. 
    “Ah...” he says. “What about that soy latte?”
    “There’s no added sugar in that one either.”
    “Hmmm.” He nods, still seemingly transfixed by the menu above. “I just don’t know...Everything looks so good today. I mean, I come here every day, but there’s something about today...”
    “Okay sir.” I try my hardest not to roll my eyes. “Could you step to the side please? I’ll help you whenever you make up your fuck—whenever you make up your mind .”
    He smiles and kindly steps to the right, letting me assist the fifteen other customers that have been waiting behind him. When I’ve served everyone, he tells me that he’s settled on a plain black cup of coffee.
    “You ready to go on your break?” Sarah taps me on the shoulder and I notice she’s wearing a different Cartier watch on her wrist.
    Maybe she’s a drug dealer...I wonder if she needs a new transporter... “I’m more than ready.”
    “Okay. See you in an hour.”
    I press a few buttons on the register and hear a familiar voice.
    “Can I have the same thing I had yesterday?” It’s Carter. “With the right amount of sugar?”
    “You think I actually remember what you had yesterday?” I definitely do, but I refuse to admit it. “Sarah will have to make it for you. I’m on break.”
    I walk away with a smile and feel his eyes watch my every move as I slip into the backroom.
    I grab the warm concoction I made earlier—a French vanilla latte with cinnamon and chocolate shots, and head outside to the patio, taking a table near the back.
    Going on break is always my favorite part of having a job—especially the jobs where they give you a full hour; thirty minutes is never long enough to convince myself not to quit.
    “Is this seat taken?” Carter steps in front of me.
    “Did you not hear me say I was on break ? That means I don’t want to be anywhere near customers .”
    “All the other tables are full.”
    I look behind him and see that he’s right.
    As if he thinks that fact makes it okay for him to be my company, he takes a seat across from me. “I’ve never seen you around here before.” He blows on his coffee. “How long have you been living in Blythe?”
    I blink.
    “Do I need to repeat the question?”
    “I don’t share personal information with strangers.”
    “ Strangers ?”
    “Yes, i.e. people I’ve only seen once or twice, or assholes who like to make my life difficult by not adding sugar to their own coffee.”
    “Are you normally this wound up?”
    “Are you normally this chatty ?”
    “ Chatty ?” He leans forward and brushes a stray hair away from my face. “I’m not chatty. I’m intrigued.” He trails a finger across my cheek before leaning back. “ Very intrigued.”
    Silence.
    “If you’re going to ruin my break by talking to me...” I try to think of something because I need to get him away from me for a few seconds. He’s a lot sexier than I remembered. “You could at least buy me a brownie.”
    He smiles and heads inside, giving me a few minutes to breathe. Anyone I’m instantly attracted to is always trouble. Always.
    “You have a very beautiful name, Emerald.” He sits down again and hands me two brownies.
    “Thank you.”
    “I take it that buying you brownies doesn’t make me any less of a stranger?”
    “Excellent guess.”
    “Hmmm.” He watches me take small bites. “Do you like your job here?”
    “ No .”
    “That’s good. I don’t think customer service is for you.”
    “Excuse me?”
    “Someone like you should never be allowed to work directly with people—or any breathing organisms for that matter.” He’s grinning, and I want to laugh but I keep it inside. “How old are you?” His voice is serious all of a sudden.
    “How old do you want me to be?”
    “ Legal .”
    “Do I look like a minor ?”
    “No, but it’s always good to double check.”
    “Young girls have been a problem for