Steamy Brews and Sinful Desires

Chapter 7: Steamy Encounters

*Italics and bold indicates speech in Italian

Mia woke the next morning feeling a strange mix of excitement and anxiety. Her thoughts drifted back to the previous night—the sound of Lorenzo's breathless voice on the phone and the way her simple "no" had cut through the tension like a knife. She hadn't been able to sleep well after that, her mind replaying every second of their conversation, wondering if she'd pushed him too far. But there was also a sense of satisfaction in having some control over a man like him, even if it was fleeting.

As she dressed for work, Mia reminded herself that it was Friday, the last day of the week. She didn't work weekends, so all she had to do was make it through the day, and then she could take a much-needed break. But even as she told herself this, she knew her mind wouldn't truly rest. Not when Lorenzo was looming in the background, waiting for her next move.

When she arrived at the café, the familiar smell of coffee and the soft hum of conversation settled her nerves, if only slightly. Her staff was already busy with the morning crowd, and she slipped into her usual routine, hoping the bustle of work would help distract her from the heaviness of her thoughts.

Liam was already behind the counter, taking orders and flashing his signature grin at customers. When he saw Mia walk in, he raised an eyebrow, immediately sensing something was off.

"Morning, sunshine!" he greeted her with his usual enthusiasm. But when Mia barely mustered a smile in return, he dropped the act. "Uh-oh. That's a face that says you've been up to something."

Mia sighed, setting her bag down behind the counter. "You have no idea."

Liam leaned against the counter, his expression turning serious. "Does this have anything to do with Mr. Tall, Dark, and Dangerous who stormed out of here yesterday? He looked like someone kicked his puppy."

Mia let out a soft laugh despite herself. "Yeah, it's about him."

Liam raised an eyebrow, waiting for more. When Mia didn't continue, he nudged her. "Well? What happened?"

She hesitated before answering. "Let's just say I left him hanging. He's clearly not used to that."

Liam's expression softened, but his tone was serious. "You know you're playing with fire, right?"

"I know," Mia admitted, running a hand through her hair. "But I don't know what else to do. He's... intense, and I'm not sure I can handle it. He's not someone you can just walk away from. And, honestly, I don't know if I want to."

Liam watched her carefully before speaking. "Look, I get it. He's... a lot. But you don't have to figure everything out right now. Just... be smart about it, okay? I don't want to see you get hurt."

Mia offered him a small smile, touched by his concern. "I will."

Mia moved into her office, grateful for the quiet. The café was busy, but the hum of conversation faded as she focused on the mountain of paperwork in front of her. She spent the next few hours balancing the books, responding to emails, and working on the café's supply orders. Time slipped away, the ticking of the clock blending into the background as she lost herself in the routine.

It wasn't until she overheard her staff saying their goodbyes that she snapped out of her work trance. She glanced at the clock and realized it was already closing time. The café had emptied out without her noticing.

A soft knock at her office door startled her, but before she could respond, Liam popped his head in. "Hey, you okay staying back? I've got a hot date with that guy I bumped into at the club last week," he said, a playful grin lighting up his face.