Spice by Seressia Glass Read Free Book Online Page A

trying to keep her voice light. “I’m not that person anymore. I’m just a café owner now.”
    Jas rolled his eyes. “If you’re looking at me to blow your skirt up with compliments, I guess I will. Even if you weren’t a reality show graduate, you’ll never be ‘just a café owner.’ You’ve got way too much skill for that. I hope to be half as good as you when I grow up. Am I done kissing ass now?”
    Nadia laughed and swatted at him with her hand towel. “You are
so
done. Now get to work on your brizzas.” The breakfast pizzas had become a big hit for cash-strapped college kids who needed a healthy, inexpensive option to start their mornings off right.
    Successfully dodging questions she wasn’t ready to answer, Nadia threw herself into the routine of prepping, baking, and staging. Just before opening for business she pulled out her phone, took a picture of the Wide-Eyed muffins, then sent the photo to her father Victor, with the message: These turned out great! Thanks for the name. See you soon. Smooches!
    Less than a minute later, Victor replied. Told you so. :p Can’t wait for the next one. Smooches back at you.
    Smiling, Nadia slipped her phone back into her pocket and went out to open the café. Daddy Vic had always experimented in the kitchen, with Nadia at his side as soon as she could hold a spoon. As she and Siobhan had planned the menu at the café, she’d sent photos and ingredient lists to both her fathers. It had been as much to solicit their suggestions as to prove that she and Siobhan were handling the pressures of starting their own business. They’d always worry—and God knew she’d given them plenty to worry about—but at least they didn’t hover or do random drive-bys from two hours away.
    At eight o’clock, just when the first rush slowed down, Siobhan entered the café. “You’ve got until the time it takes me to make a cup of coffee, and then you’re going to spill,” her partner said as she rounded the counter.
    Nadia rolled her eyes. “Good morning. How are you? I’m fine, thanks for asking.”
    â€œI don’t need to ask how you’re doing. Everyone who comes in the store is blinded by that glow you’ve got.”
    â€œOh God.” Mortified, Nadia examined her reflection in the chrome surface of the espresso machine. “Is it that obvious?”
    â€œOnly to everyone who knows you had a hot date last night,” her partner teased. “So, you going to spill or what?”
    No, she wasn’t. Not if she could help it. “I don’t know about you, but I have a café to run. Don’t you have some soup to make and bread bowls to bake?”
    â€œWhat, you think I can’t listen and cook at the same time?” Siobhan sighed as she took her first sip of caffeine. “Rosie will be here in thirty minutes to relieve you at the register. Come to the kitchen when she does. Audie and Vanessa want me to call them so you can fill us in on all the dirty details at the same time.”
    Groaning, but knowing her friends wouldn’t let her off the hook, Nadia agreed, then went back to helping customers while Jas kept the cases stocked and the beverages coming. Thirty minutes passed by much too quickly, and she nearly bit poor Rosie’s head off when the perky student greeted her. After fixing herself a chai latte, Nadia headed for the kitchen. Delaying would only make Siobhan come and get her. The last thing she wanted was to recap her evening in front of their staff and customers.
    As usual, stepping into their kitchen made her sigh with satisfaction as the scents of baking bread, simmering soups, and cooking cakes tantalized her. Getting to this point had been a long, hard road for both her and Siobhan, and they both took pride in the results of their efforts.
    â€œStop daydreaming and get your ass in here,” Siobhan ordered as