Steamy Brews and Sinful Desires

Chapter 5: Igniting Tension

*Italics and bold indicates speech in Italian

Mia stepped quietly into her house, heading straight to her father's room. She peeked inside to find him fast asleep, his breathing steady. Relief washed over her as she gently closed the door and made her way to the bathroom. She needed a shower—anything to wash away the events of the night. As the hot water cascaded over her, Mia let her thoughts drift back to Lorenzo. She'd always suspected there was something darker beneath his charm, but seeing it firsthand rattled her.

Wrapping herself in a towel, she couldn't help but remember his words: "Take the day off." But the last thing Mia wanted was to stay home and replay the night over and over in her head. Tomorrow was another busy day at the café, and with staff shortages, she couldn't afford to take a break. Shoving her worries aside, Mia got changed and climbed into bed, the exhaustion pulling her under. Yet one moment stood out, vivid against the chaos: the feel of Lorenzo's lips pressing gently against her forehead and the roughness of his fingertips trailing down her skin...

Her alarm blared, pulling her out of a restless sleep. She groaned, dragging herself out of bed. After a quick glance in the mirror, she applied extra concealer in an attempt to hide the dark circles under her eyes. It didn't help much. Shaking off her nerves, she got dressed and steeled herself for the day. She was determined to avoid Lorenzo, hoping to be tucked away in her office by 9 a.m., safely out of sight.

As Mia pulled up to the café, she spotted Liam waiting outside, hands stuffed into his pockets. He flashed her a wide grin, his golden retriever energy as infectious as always. His shaggy, golden hair and warm smile were a welcome sight. Mia chuckled at the memory of when she'd once tried to hit on him in college, only for him to laugh and admit he wasn't into girls. Their friendship had blossomed from there.

"Good morning, beautiful. You look like you had the best sleep of your life," Liam teased, though Mia could hear the blatant lie in his voice.

Rolling her eyes, she playfully pinched his bicep. "Cut it out," she muttered, feigning annoyance as he yelped dramatically.

They opened up the café, and Mia busied herself with preparations for the day ahead. The staff trickled in one by one, and soon enough, customers filled the café with their usual morning buzz. As Mia glanced at the clock, it read 8:30 a.m. If she wanted to avoid Lorenzo, now was the time to disappear into her office.

"Hey, Liam," she called over to him, "can you manage the floor for a bit? I've got a mountain of paperwork to catch up on, and it's probably going to take me all day."

Liam shot her a concerned look, sensing something off. "Of course, darling. But... are you okay? You seem a little off."

Mia quickly forced a smile, trying to shake off the weight of last night. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just got hit with a huge bill. Don't worry, I'll handle it."

It wasn't a total lie. Business had been booming, but the rising costs had started to cause a bit of strain on her financial situation. Nothing she couldn't handle, though.

"If you say so. Just let me know if you need anything, alright?" Liam responded, his tone still laced with concern.

Mia nodded and slipped into her office, the door closing behind her like a temporary barrier from the world outside. She hoped she could make it through the day without any more surprises.

Mia stepped into her office, closing the door behind her as she let out a deep sigh. She leaned back against the door, feeling the weight of exhaustion from the sleepless night. Her mind raced, replaying the events of the previous night—the alleyway, the gunshots, and the strange mix of emotions Lorenzo had stirred in her. It was hard to forget the way he had touched her cheek, the tenderness in his kiss despite the bloodstained reality of his life.