Page 4 of Coral Prince Conundrum (Runaway Prince Hotel #1)

CHAPTER FOUR

Daryl

The past week has been an amazing time working as a barista. Most days, it’s uneventful; a job is a means to an end where you get to buy the things you want and need. I’m trying to fund my grad school life and my apartment. But these past several days have been the best.

And it’s all because of the man I’m currently sitting across from.

“How do you like it?”

He sips his latte and then nods. “It is flavorful.” He licks frothy remains from his lips in an insanely hot gesture. “As always, you should be proud of your skills.”

I snicker. “Being a barista isn’t that skilled.”

“Do not downplay your abilities, Daryl. You are great.” He smiles, and I bite back a swoon.

Today marks the sixth day in a row that Seero has visited the café.

Each time, Justice or the others make sure that I’m the one to serve him.

They give me so much shit behind closed doors about my little crush, but they’re glad he tips so well.

He always commends me on my customer service and coffee-making skills.

Of course, I wish I could service him in a very specific way, but that’s not what we sell at Café Magnifique.

And he makes small talk with me every day.

He sips whatever concoction he orders, I come up with some excuse to restock napkins near him, and we chat.

Typically, I take my break whenever he sits down.

My days go by so quickly after chatting with this beautiful, charming man.

He puts the biggest grin on my face, and I can’t help but notice how natural our banter is.

I’m a barista, so I’m supposed to be polite and friendly, but he doesn’t need to be.

He asks questions about me and seems to be genuinely interested in my graduate work in marine biology.

“You do not have to spend your break with me,” he says with a grin. “If you want to relax.”

“This is relaxing!” I lay out my hands, and we both laugh. “Why, you wanna get rid of me already?”

“No. I like talking to you, Daryl. Did you get your semester grades back?”

He likes talking to me! I smile and nod. “I did. All A’s for the spring. The highest grades!”

“That is wonderful.” He beams at me, and my chest warms. Why is this hot stranger being so friendly to me? “Have you always known you wanted to work with marine life?”

“Yes, ever since I was a little boy.” I gaze at the customers mulling about, having their coffee. They don’t give a second glance at my not-a-date with the pretty Asian man. “I used to walk on the beach and peer at the tiny crabs in the sand.”

“That is so cute,” he replies. I bite my lip at Seero’s words—he thinks young me was cute! “Did you grow up here?”

“Yes. And you? You’re new to the area, right?”

His shoulders slump, and he takes a long sip of coffee. I’m no body language expert, but I can tell I’ve hit a sore subject. “I am. I am from…nowhere important.”

“Oh.” I can tell an evasive answer when I hear one.

Way to dampen the mood, Daryl. I need to remember that not everyone has to be an open book.

The Renversé has a reputation for hiring people from a diverse array of backgrounds.

Moreso, I haven’t told him about my family or the fishery company I’m unfortunately tied to.

His home is obviously very personal since he changes the subject immediately every time I ask.

It’s no big deal; I’m not trying to marry the dude.

I’m becoming friendly with my crush, maybe get him in bed, and that’s more than enough.

Even if he’s not gay or bi, flirting can be fun.

After five seconds of quiet, he sits up straight. “So, you work at the zoo?” He beams at me and sips from his cup.

“Yeah,” I reply. “Well, not technically. My marine conservation degree requires me to spend certain practicum hours at the zoo. Hence, I’m a regular there.”

“And there are ocean creatures there?” he asks.

“Oh, so many.” I smile and tap the table.

“Because we’re near a beach and ports, the Princedelphia Zoo has several aquatic exhibits.

I’m able to, like, study and take pictures of all sorts of animals for my classes.

It’s super convenient for presentations, since it’s not like I can summon fish from the deep whenever I want.

” I laugh, but Seero shoots me an uncomfortable smile. Huh .

“Why do you ask?”

“I am also interested in, uh…marine conservation,” he replies.

Be still my beating heart. A man who’s fine as hell and who wants to take care of the oceans? Talk about my dream prince. I clear my throat and puff up my chest. “Well, you should know, I’m kind of an expert.”

“I can tell,” he says. “You have a true heart for the oceans.” His eyes fill with something more than friendliness. Veneration perhaps? But why…

He sips his coffee, but before I can say more, I notice several patrons lining up. Justice seems swamped, and I know my break is over. I hook my thumb behind me. “My, uh, fifteen minutes is…”

Seero waves his hand. “No, go. I get it.”

I stand up and lean on the chair. “But maybe, if you’d like to see the zoo, I can take you—WOAH!” The chair slips from under me and I fall on my ass. Ouch .

Before I can curl up in a ball and die from embarrassment, a hand appears in front of my face. I look up to see Seero reaching out. Of course, the super-hot guy I’ve been flirting with witnessed my fall. I knew things were going too well for me.

I take his—soft yet strong—hand and allow him to help me up. “Are you hurt?” he asks.

I wince. “Just my butt. But not to worry, that part of my body can take a beating, ha ha.” I laugh and try not to cringe. Why did I say that?

“Are you okay, man?” Justice is standing near me with a mop, and our other coworker Mateo is now at the counter taking orders.

“I’m good.” I dust off my shirt.

“That was alarming. I hope you are well,” Seero says.

“Thank you. I am,” I reply. The smallest hint of a smile breaks from his face.

“Do you need an extension of your break?” Justice asks.

“No, thanks, I can work. Someone’s gotta get to those orders.”

“If you are doing okay, I should get back to my job as well,” Seero says. He bows and adds, “Have a good day.”

“See you, Seero!” I frantically wave as he walks away. When he’s gone, I turn to see an unimpressed Justice.

“What?” I ask as my cheeks burn.

“Nothing.” He places a caution, wet floor sign where I’m standing. “I’m just…glad your butt can take a beating.” I huff and turn away. He snickers and adds, “I’m sure Seero was happy to hear that.”

“Shut up,” I mutter and dash away to the back room. I don’t need any more humiliation for one day.

Apparently, humiliation is not done with me today.

I’ve been trying to get my mind off of this morning’s embarrassing incident with my crush by doing classwork at the zoo.

It’s never too early to do extra credit work for summer courses.

More importantly, taking pictures of the fish always puts me in a good mood.

I get to lose myself in the azure hues of the dark aquatic exhibits.

I wonder what it would be like to talk to the jellyfish or the manta rays.

But this evening’s solitary photo session work has been cut short.

I stare down over the small fence into the outdoor sea lion exhibit where my shutter camera lies in the sand.

I was so airheaded to forget to put the camera strap around my neck.

And now my gear and my schoolwork are property of the exhibit’s sea lions.

This is what I get for daydreaming about Seero.

I reach down, but it’s futile since my arm isn’t six feet long.

Maybe I can get a staff member to help, but that’s assuming the sea lions don’t find my device and start breaking it apart.

Or worse, I could be banned from the zoo.

Or the worst of all, what if a sea lion chokes on my camera or something?

I reach down again, but no, I didn’t miraculously grow in the last five seconds.

I whine and crane my head forward, as if that might summon the sea lions to assist me.

The dread of defeat creeps up my spine. I’ll need to start all my summer schoolwork over again.

This still isn’t nearly as embarrassing as my morning with…

“Good day, Daryl.” My head jolts to my right, and my eyebrows jump.

“Seero?” No, my eyes aren’t deceiving me; Seero is approaching me. He’s wearing a gray hoodie and dark jeans. He has the confident swagger of an emperor or something, and as usual, he’s sexy as hell.

“Why are you reaching your hand down? Are you trying to liberate the sea lions? Can we do that? How can I help?”

“I, uh, what?” I shake my head as he slides right next to me. That was a weird thing for him to suggest, but maybe where he’s from, they don’t have zoos.

I look back down at my camera. “No, I was doing schoolwork.”

He points down. “Is that your schoolwork device?”

I give a sad nod. “It’s my camera, yes.” I sigh. “Now, who knows if I can get it back? If the employees see it, I could get in a lot of trouble.”

“I never want you to get in trouble.”

I turn to my right. His face is so close to mine, all I would need to do is lean forward to place my mouth on his. Such soft lips…

“Let me help you, Daryl.”

I gulp and shake my head. “How?”

Seero looks around, then gazes down at the sea lion exhibit. Then, he purses his lips and…whistles? A strange set of musical sounds leaves his mouth. It’s not a song, but almost like a language. How is his ability to whistle supposed to help me?

“Um, that’s great, but…”

He puts his finger up to shut me up. He whistles again, and I turn forward. What I see next takes my breath away.

The four sea lions are waddling out of the small exhibit pool. They’re approaching the wall near my camera. “No, wait!” I exclaim.

Seero whistles again, and—no joke—the four sea lions climb atop each other. They’re a massive tower, and the animal at the top has my camera in its mouth. They…worked in formation to return my gear?

I’m dumbfounded, at a loss for words, as I reach down and take the camera. It’s a little wet and sandy, but it should still work. “Um, uh…thank you, sea lions?”

The creatures bark and hop off and make their way back to the water. To my right, Seero whistles twice more before standing straight.

My crush looks at me, and after a moment, his smile falls. He’s not at all confused by the sea lions. He…whistled and then…

I clear my throat. “Did you…talk to the animals?”

He glances around, as if the police might ambush him. But no, we’re all alone at this part of the zoo. “I did not.”

I shake my head. “But I heard you?—”

“You heard nothing,” he says with determined force. His face looks so serious as he points at me.

“But—”

“It is in your best interest that you saw nothing today.” Before I can reply, he turns and dashes away.

The events of the past two minutes catch up to me, and I clutch my camera in my hand. I drape the strap around my neck and notice the sand on my gear. Then I look down at the exhibit and see where my camera landed on the sand.

I can’t believe what happened; Seero can talk to animals?

Justice told me he met someone who does the same thing, but not with ocean creatures.

Wow. The sexy stranger at my coffee shop just got way more mysterious and intriguing.

I’m not sure what to do with this unimaginable information.

But if I do some research, maybe I can discover who or what Seero actually is.