Page 2 of Protected by the Loner (The Men of Ghost Security #2)

VIVIAN

T hankfully, the power didn’t go out again after the mishap yesterday. Still, the memory of Owen commanding the room makes me smile. His quieting down everyone was so unbelievably hot.

“Oh my God, Viv! You missed the most amazing thing earlier, when you were on the supply run!” Mika bounces excitedly while wiping down the espresso machine.

“That singer Izzy stopped in—you know, the one who’s been all over the radio?

She bought like six drinks and a dozen pastries for her boyfriend’s work crew.

Super sweet, totally normal, but I was internally screaming the whole time. ”

“Really?” I glance up from counting the register. “I can’t believe I missed that.”

“She was so down-to-earth. Asked about our roasting process, complimented the shop’s vibe. And she left a huge tip.”

The point-of-sale system beeps another error code, and I resist the urge to throw it through the window. The machine has been declining every third card since the power outage yesterday and is turning into a nightmare.

“Great, and now thismachine is dying.” I force a laugh, but it comes out strained. “As if today wasn’t eventful enough.”

“Can’t you call the company?” Mika peers over my shoulder at the blank screen.

“Sure, for only three times what this ancient piece of junk is actually worth.” I pull the backup Square reader from the drawer beneath the register. The small white device feels flimsy in my hands. “Plus, it’s a crapshoot whether they could even send someone out to fix it soon.”

“At least you’ve got backup,” Mika offers, nodding toward the Square reader I’m holding. She’s such an optimist.

The weight ofitpresses on my shoulders.

That glowing review inThe Jefferson Tribune last month called Daily Brew “a hidden gem with coffee that’s worth the trip.

” Great for my ego, less great for my bank account when I’m too out of the way for most people.

When I signed the lease here, a new condo building was slated to be built the next block over, but the developers put it on indefinite hold.

The neighborhood is growing, but not quickly enough for me to stay open much longer.

My eyes fall on the manila envelope tucked into my apron pocket.

It feels like it’s burning a hole through my apron.

Aurora Coffee’s buyout offer. All things considered, it’s a fairly generous offer.

I could certainly pay off my debts from opening Daily Brew, but…

this place is my baby. Still, we’re struggling, and I don’t know if I can afford to say no to their offer.

That’s why everything I lost on my laptop during the power surge is so frustrating–I’m trying to figure out if it’s worth applying for a loan from the bank.

But with the files seemingly lost forever, I don’t know if I can recreate everything before Aurora Coffee’s deadline next week.

“Speaking of your regulars...” Mika sets down her cleaning cloth, studying me with those too-perceptive eyes.

“Who?” I know exactly who she means, but I pretend not to know who she means. Mika is a great employee, but I’m also aware that our relationship is work-based, so I try not to indulge in too much personal gossip with her.

“Your Captain America.” She grins. “He sure stepped up when you needed it. He jumped up like lightning when that Karen started yelling.”

The memory makes me smile. The way he went from quiet to absolute authority in a heartbeat.

It was undeniably hot. I’ve been attracted to Owen for a while, but thought his shyness was a sign of indecisiveness.

But when he stood up for me and literally commanded everyone in the coffee shop, my heart flipped over, and desire erupted like a volcano in my core.

“You know,” Mika continues, her voice taking on a scheming quality I’ve come to recognize, “he seems like the kind of guy who’d know about technology. Computer stuff. I bet he could help with your laptop.”

I freeze. “Why would you think that?”

“Are you kidding? He’s got that whole ‘I speak fluent code’ vibe. He’s worked here a couple of times, and he has the geek look, even if he’s muscled as fuck. Definitely the hottest geek I’ve ever seen.”

“And?” I ask cautiously, already knowing where she’s heading.

“I’m suggesting that maybe your knight in shining armor could help with more than just crowd control.” Mika’s grin is gleeful. “You’ve got technology problems, he’s got technology expertise. Seems like fate.”

“I can’t ask a customer to fix my laptop, Mika.”

“Why not? He’s not a stranger, and I’m pretty sure he has the hots for you.”

My cheeks burn. “He does not—”

“Oh, he absolutely does.” She starts stacking chairs with obvious satisfaction.“Plus, with Aurora Coffee breathing down your neck, you need all the help you can get.”

I laugh and roll my eyes. But what if Mika is right?

“God,” I mutter, staring at the Aurora Coffee paperwork, “if only someone like Izzy had posted about us when she was here. That’s the kind of boost we need to compete with a corporate chain.”

An hour later, I settle into my favorite chair at the front of the cafe, my phone propped up next to me as I use my nonexistent computer knowledge to try to recover my lost files. It’s this or tackle the pile of unpaid bills, and this seems like the lesser evil while I talk to my best friend.

“It’s just frustrating, Sadie,” I sigh as my laptop beeps again, saying it couldn’t find the files I’m searching for. Frustrated, I close the lid and push it away from me. “The review was supposed to help, you know? ‘Best Local Coffee’ should mean something.”

“But it’s not bringing in more customers?” My best friend’s voice carries warm sympathy.

“Not enough. I get a few people who mention the article, but they’re usually people who come once and disappear.

” I sigh and massage the back of my neck.

“I do have a steady group of regulars, but it’s not enough.

The condo building was postponed, and it seems like a lot of the construction around here is stalled.

Though there is a construction crew in the building next door, prepping it for some new company.

But who knows how long it will be before they’re finished and anyone moves in? ”

“When they finish, you’ll have a whole building full of potential customers right next door,” Sadie points out.

“If I can survive that long.” I lean back in my chair and massage my neck. “And now Aurora Coffee wants to buy me out. The offer would solve all my financial problems, but...”

“But you’d lose your baby,” Sadie finishes.

“Exactly. I keep telling myself, one more month, and things will turn around. But what if they don’t? I’m not sure how much longer I can afford Mika, no matter how much I adore her and need her help.”

“You’re being too hard on yourself. Building a business takes time.”

“That’s the problem. Maybe taking their offer is the smart choice. Cut my losses and start over somewhere else.”

“So get help.”

“From who? It’s not like I can afford to hire someone.” I scrub my free hand through my hair.“I wish I had some kind of advantage. Something that could help me compete with a corporate chain.”

The words hang in the air, and I’m suddenly thinking about Owen again.

About how Mika mentioned he might be a tech guy.

And about Izzy’s visit today. God, what I would give if someone like her posted about being here.

Even a single post might do the trick until the construction is finished next door.

She’s the hottest new singer in the country.

“Actually,” I say slowly, “there might be someone.”

“Oh?” Sadie’s voice perks up with interest.

“A customer. He seems to know about technology, and he’s.

..he’s been really kind.” I don’t mention how much I look forward to seeing Owen walk through the door each morning.

Or how I can never quite tell if he looks at me because he’s interested, or because he’s polite.

His face never gives away his emotions. “I don’t know if I can ask him, though.

It feels like too much. Mika suggested asking him if he could help retrieve the files I lost.”

“Vivian, honey, the worst he can do is say no. And if he’s been coming to your shop for months, he’s not a total stranger.”

I hear the bell for the front door and freeze. Didn’t I lock that? “Sadie, I have to go. Someone is trying to get in.”

“This late? Are you sure you locked—”

“I thought so. I’ll call you back.” I put the phone in the pocket of my dress, my finger on the emergency button. I haven’t had any problems, but I can’t yet see who’s at the door, and I don’t want to take chances.

A voice calls out. “Vivian? I saw the lights on. I wanted to check on you after the power cut earlier.”

“Owen,” I sigh in relief as I see him coming in. “How did you get in?”

“The door was unlocked.” He frowns. “You should be more careful.” He pauses and tilts his head when I step into the light beside him. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. Everything.” I wrap my arms around myself.

“Business is slower than I hoped. Aurora Coffee wants to buy me out. And I lost days of work when my laptop crashed during the power outage. I’ve been trying to find the files, but…

I don’t know anything about computers. I should probably be starting over on those files, not wasting time trying to find them. ”

Something shifts in his expression—focused, analytical. “I could help you. With your computer. That’s kind of what I do.”

“Really?” Relief floods through me at the mere possibility of retrieving all my files and work. Mika was right about him being a tech guy.

“Of course. I work in tech. Business systems and cybersecurity, mostly. But anything with computers is my expertise.”

Hope and panic war in my chest. “That would be amazing! You’d be my hero.”

“It would be my pleasure to help,” Owen steps closer, his expression softening, though I still can’t read his emotions.“What’s this about Aurora Coffee? The chain?”

I close my eyes for a long moment, suddenly self-conscious that I’m revealing my problems to Owen. He may be a regular customer, but he’s not a confidant.

“They made an offer. A generous one. They want to move into the neighborhood and apparently want this location.” I gesture around the shop.

“But this is my dream. I don’t know what to do.

I need what I was working on to talk to the bank about a loan.

I love this neighborhood and know it’s up and coming…

I just have to find a way to stick it out a little longer.

We had a celebrity come in earlier, though I wasn’t here to see it.

Do you know who Izzy is? If I could just get someone like her to post about being here… ”

Something flashes in Owen’s eyes, but I can only guess at what he’s thinking. He probably doesn’t even know who Izzy is because he doesn’t look the type to listen to sugar-coated pop music.

“Well, I can certainly help you with the data recovery.”

“Why would you do this for me?”

“Because I like solving problems. And I’m addicted to your coffee.”

I laugh. “Just my coffee?” I tease, boldness rushing through me.

Owen coughs quickly and looks away, and for the first time since we met, he seems genuinely flustered. Maybe Mika was right about the universe throwing us together. If he feels half as much as I do, then we could be explosive.

“Are you sure about helping?”

“Absolutely.” He smiles at me, and it goes straight to my core. “But I’ll need to see your laptop. We can do it here. Or I could come to your home.”

“You want to come to my apartment?”

His cheeks flush. “I thought it might be easier...more comfortable.”

For the first time since I met Owen, he actually looks flustered.

“Tomorrow evening would work,” I say, warmth settling in my chest. “I’ll make dinner.”

For the first time in months, genuine hope rises in me. Not only for my business, but for getting to see Owen outside of Daily Brew.