Coffee and Pistols

Two

Cat trudged down the street, still wearing the clothes she'd had on the other day, and pushed open the door to the coffee shop, the bells clanging noisily to announce her arrival. She sat herself down in one of the chairs, this time, away from the window. Sore and half dead, she ignored the waitress that came to take her order and watched her leave from the corner of her eye. Cat kicked her boots up onto the table and rested her chin on her chest, closing her eyes. Note to self, she thought, shoot first and ask questions later.

Ace nearly tripped down the stairs of his apartment, shuffling and coming to a stop just outside of the kitchen. He stretched and ran a hand through his hair. Instead of passing him a cup of coffee, Zach shoved a clean apron into into his arms and spun him toward the front counter and a fresh plate of donuts.

It was Patti's day off, Ace remembered this as the waitress he'd inherited with the shop gave him the evil eye. What was her name again? Helen? Ethel? Something that sounded like it was out of a black and white movie. Usually his favorite. He gave a her a thumbs up and downed a mug of caffeine - two sugars and one cream. Already he felt his body waking back up from the dead. The hot shower and pain meds for his headache didn't hurt either. He tied the fresh apron around his waist and noticed a familiar blonde at a corner table, passed out. It didn't take Zach's pointing and whispers about the female James Bond curled up like a kitten.

What was the phrase? Let sleeping dogs lie. He wondered if it applied to Cats too. He chuckled at his own joke and saluted the coffee Nazi, signaling he'd heard her grumbling and would wake Cat. He'd just have to figure out how. Fresh baked donuts, while not powdered sugar today, might be a good place to start. He held a plate of chocolate with sprinkles under her nose. He watched the smile on her lips and admired the curve of her face, the way her body was stretched out.

She sniffed, shifting in her seat before slowly blinking open her eyes. Cat's lips curved into a grin as she eyed the plate of donuts before her nose. Hearing a chuckle, her eyes rose from the plate to Ace's bemused expression. Her smile fell. "What? Never seen someone sleep before?" she asked, tightening her crossed arms.

"Oh, I've seen them sleep plenty, just not usually so easily roused by donuts. Usually takes true love's kiss in all those fairytales, right?" Ace arches his eyebrow and grinned, suddenly feeling more awake than he had in days. He didn't know what it was, but this blonde had him wanting to take stock out in donuts. Cat's nose scrunched up. "Not your style?" Ace offered.

Cat snatched a donut from the plate and took a bite. "Not really. A prince in shining armour just means he hides behind castle doors. I prefer the villains. And true love's kiss doesn't exist." She said between bites. Cat yawned.

"Pessimist with a thing for bad boys, table of one." Ace's grin widened. What would she say if she only knew his last career path. Not quite coffee man standards. "Well I have tattoos and a fresh pot of coffee." He stole one off a passing tray, which earned him a glare from Ethel. "Does that earn me any points, Cat?"

She finished off the donut and licked her fingers before nodding. "Sure. I suppose you can have two points for that. That is, if your tattoo isn't some sort of cliché."

"Guess you'll have to be the judge sometime." He filled her mug and left the pot next to the plate, he stole a donut end and popped it into his mouth chewing. What was he doing? He didn't need a woman in his life complicating things. He was trying for boring, uncomplicated. That's why he'd bought the shop. But he couldn't help himself.

Finishing off another donut, Cat eyed him. How brazen he was to have taken one of her donuts. Her eyes narrowed at his theft. "How come it's always you comin' up to me? Are the other waitresses all blind, deaf and dumb or somethin'?" she snagged her coffee mug and blew on it, sending ripples through the liquid and squinting at the steam in displeasure.

"Guess I'm just a lucky guy?" The truth was Ethel was frustrated by the invading blonde and Zach intimidated. With Patti out he was one of the few left.

Cat sighed and set her mug down on the table before glancing over to where Zach and one of the waitresses peered over at her as though making sure she didn't slit their co-worker's throat. "I think you might not be so lucky," she muttered under her breath. Cat itched for another donut but she was certain, now, that she was unwelcome. "I guess I'll take my donuts to go," she gestured to the plate.

"You were just taking a Cat nap, are you sure? Besides, you are always running out on me. Could hurt a guy's ego. You are using me for my donuts aren't you?" He winked before his eyes caught a man in a dark suit striding through the door with purpose. Ace felt his whole body tense and his eyes narrow. Old instincts coming back.

Cat looked up and smiled widely. "Phil!" she nearly leapt out of her seat as she threw herself into the large man's arms. The man's rugged face smoothed out as he smiled and patted her head, "Kitty cat," he cooed. "I just got a call, we have to head to the office today." He glanced around the shop, his gloved hands still ruffling her hair. "Is this where you spend your off days now?" Cat shrugged, "Sometimes."

Ace clenched and unclenched his fist. "Try everyday for the last week." The guy Cat had her arms around looked like the bad boy she just proclaimed to be attracted to. His brow furrowed as his eyes took in Ace's apparel and rolled up sleeves. "Can I get you coffee, Phil?" Ace looked away from Cat's hand resting on his chest. It was like she was his pet.

Phil shook his head, "No thanks. I've got to get Cat and I to work, can't be late for the fourth time in a row," he laughed. His laugh was deep and it made Cat smile, too, infectious as it was. She pulled away from Phil only to grab another of the donuts that sat next to Ace, and as she reached over him she whispered, "Have a doggy bag of these ready for me tonight?"

He didn't want to imagine what could cause them to be late. It was clear by the way Phil puffed up and the underlying possessiveness in his tone. Ace rolled his eyes and whispered back. "It's a date and a promise, Cat." He made a big show of winking before taking the plate and heading back to the kitchen.

Watching Ace as he left, Phil grabbed hold of Cat's hand and led her in the direction of the shop's door. "You should beware of dogs, Cat," he said, just loud enough so that Ace could hear him from where they stood. Cat tilted her head to the side, "But I like dogs, they're so cute! Betsy on the other hand," she mused, referring to her cat, "would hate them." Cat nodded sagely before heading out the door.