Coming Home

Chapter 1

A few weeks ago

It was a beautiful Monday morning and Maggie had just arrived at Drip n' Sip. Today she was in charge of unlocking the back doors of the small coffee shop and she had arrived early to do the job.

Unlocking the doors, Maggie suddenly felt the stare. She had been pretty sure that no one had followed her, but all the same, it was there. Shivering in dread, Maggie slowly turned around. There was no one. Still she couldn't shake off the feeling that someone had been watching her.

Her boss, Spike, had warned her that sometimes teenage boys would try to steal her keys to the shop and that she needed to be on her guard when she was unlocking the doors. But for some reason this didn't feel like a teenage boy, who was intent on stealing the keys to the coffee shop. It had been too intense. But she couldn't see anyone standing there. She couldn't find anyone who was staring at her. Shaking it off as only her imagination, Maggie stepped inside the store and started to prepare for the morning crowd.

''Mornin' Maggie!'' a voice suddenly said, close to her ears.

With a startle, Maggie whirled around to find her friend, Kristine, with a big smile on her face. She had finally arrived a few minutes before they had to open the store's doors.

''You just nearly gave me a heart attack!''' Maggie scolded her friend, while busily filling a cup with their famous coffee. Laughing, Kristine danced out of Maggie's reach and started helping Maggie.

At 7 a.m. their boss officially opened the front doors of Drip n' Sip and already, a few customers started filling the coffee shop. Maggie started taking the customers' orders and tried to forget about the weird feelings of earlier.

''I'll take over the tables and booths.'' Kristine told her and went over to the tables.

It was a busy morning and none of the workers had time to relax. Nor should they have the time to think about things at all. But Maggie just couldn't shake off that feeling of being watched. She wondered if it had just been her imagination or if it was something more.

The day was starting to fly by and the door of Drip n' Sip opened and closed constantly. And then the door opened again, just like it had for the past few hours. But for some reason this time Maggie's attention was drawn. It wasn't the door that had drawn her attention, as much as the handsome guy striding through it. Tall, dark and handsome were words that fit him perfectly.

He wore a black sweater that he hadn't bothered to zip up, so that the t-shirt underneath it could be seen. His dark hair was styled up, and cropped short. He was deeply tanned and stubble shadowed his strong jaw; giving him a dangerous edge.

The boy gave off an aura of danger and that he was willing to defend, or take down, anyone who would try to cross the line, into what he considered his. He wasn't someone to mess with.

He simply stood there at first, keeping his well-toned body so still, like a hunter waiting for his prey to come out. His gaze slowly scanned the shop until they locked with Maggie's. His mesmerizing green eyes had captured her full attention and she couldn't breathe. In his eyes she saw triumph and recognition. With a sense of dread, Maggie knew that she had been his target after all.

But forcing herself to break the spell he had put her under, she snapped her attention back to the guy in front of her, who was studying the menu. After taking his order, she turned to prepare his drink. She tried focusing on the task, but it was so hard because she was very aware of him watching her. She was as aware of him the way a wild animal knows it's the target.

Focus. Focus. Don't look at him and don't let him know that you are aware of his stare. She tried prep talking herself into acting as calm as possible. In spite of her best efforts, she glanced at the boy quickly, before going back to the counter.

He had ambled over to the far end of the room, where there were smaller tables for two, and was now sitting down, while still keeping his intense gaze on her.

Quickly she turned towards her customer and chirpily said, ''Here you go,'' She smiled brightly, as she handed the cute guy at the counter his mug of apple cider.

Focus on your task. Pretend you can't see him. Pretend he's not here. C'mon you can do it Maggie McAnge!

''Hey Mags,'' Her friend interrupted her thoughts. ''Hottie over there has been staring at you since he sat down. Heck he's been staring at you since he came in.'' Kristine was grinning at her. Silently Maggie groaned. Kristine loved to play the matchmaker whenever there was an opportunity, and it looked like someone was interested in her right now.

''C'mon. We both know that you need a man who loves you in your life.'' Kristine insisted. ''And I've noticed how hot guy and you seem to have a connection there.'' She wriggled her eyebrows suggestively.

With a snort Maggie turned away and was about to go back to taking orders, but her friend beat her to it.

''I'll handle the to-go customers and you can go wait on him.'' And before Maggie could protest, Kristine quickly turned towards the next customer.

''What can I get you today?''

Moaning and shooting daggers at her friend, Maggie slowly trudged towards the corner table to take the boys order. He looked up as she arrived at his table.

''What can I get for you today?'' she asked, purposefully not looking into his eyes. But she could feel his searing gaze resting on her.

''Just a cup of coffee. No milk, sugar, or cream, just plain black coffee.'' His deep voice rumbled.

''Is that all?'' Maggie asked politely.

''Yes that will be it.'' Nodding, Maggie started to turn away, but his next words stopped her dead in her tracks.

''Thanks Magdalena McAnge,'' He said softly.

Whirling around, Maggie turned back to the boy, her blue eyes open wide. How did this stranger know her full name? No one ever used her full name. Not ever since she had changed it to Maggie years ago!

''Who are you?'' She demanded to know.

''I'm Luke Denton. And I have come here on behalf of your great, great uncle Earl. You are his heirloom, and he has gotten sick so he needs you to take over his state. I'm here to get you to his place.'' Luke said with a determined voice. There was no question whatsoever about it. He wasn't asking her to come with him. He was demanding that she come.

Laughing, Maggie smirked at him. ''Can't come up with a better story to get a girl to go with you?'' snorting she turned away to go get his order.

But she couldn't ignore his next words. ''I will take you with me, with or without your permission.'' There was a bit of a threat in his voice.

She felt a little guilty about turning a guy away like that. She was never rude to her customers, but for some reason this boy brought out the worst in her.

Quickly getting a cup of coffee for Luke, she filled it up and hurriedly walked back over to his corner. She knew that he had watched her every move, the entire time when she was preparing his cup.

''Here you go. Coffee. No sugar, cream or milk. Just plain black coffee. Enjoy it.'' She sounded sarcastic even to her own ears and she felt like she was being rude by refusing to look at him, but she couldn't bring herself to look into those amazing green eyes. Eyes that could look deep inside of her soul; and discover her deepest fears. She was scared that he could, and would; end up convincing her about her heirloom.

''Thanks Magdalena. And don't think you will get rid of me this fast. I promised Earl that I would bring you to him, and I plan on fulfilling that promise.''

Ignoring his comment she turned away and went on to the next customer. She couldn't let him see that she was trembling inside and that she was terrified that he was telling her the truth. She knew that he would see that as a weakness and then he would never stop trying to get there with her permission.

***