Chapter 6: cont'd.

**

I woke up before her the next morning. She didn’t look as graceful, my mind drifted back to mornings when Emily would wake up at my place. Not a single hair would be out of place

I used to think she would wake up hours before to make sure she looked perfect.

But here, Allison looked so natural, hair out of place. A drool line and all but somehow, I found that more attractive. She was subconsciously her self around me.

I stared at her for a few more minutes before I went out to see my maid

“good morning” I greeted with a smile on her face.

“Good morning sir.” She said as she placed the plate of food in front of me.

“how was your night” I asked with a smile on my face. She looked at me with shock. Like she didn’t expect me to ask. It was a valid shock though

Most times, I didn’t care, but today, I was feeling extra giddy. I felt ... Happy? I didn’t know the word to use. To express how I felt.

I went back to the room to see she was still sleeping and I left a quick note saying that I was going to work.

I went to work, all I could think about was the girl that laid on my bed back home.

I buried my head in work as the customers filled up the shop.

After rush hour, Ally came bursting through the front door looking not really put together.

“you’re late!” Stella scolded.

“I am so sorry, I slept late last night and...”

“I’m glad you had a nice time” she said sarcastically rolling her eyes.

“I am really sorry” she looked around, waiting to see if I would interfere.

“You are lucky Ben isn’t out here, you would have gotten the scolding of your life.” She said as she continued her work.

I wouldn’t have though. I would have let it slide. I was the one who didn’t wake her after all.

Something about the way she talked to her didn’t sit right with me. But I ignored it. I came out from where I was in the storage room to meet the pastry chef.

I met Allison on her way to get her apron and she avoided eye contact with me.

“I am sorry I’m late. I.. it won’t happen again.” She said and rushed in the dressing room, not giving me the chance to tell her I wasn’t mad.

Through out the day I watched her, I saw her shiver from the cold from time to time. Her light clothed long sleeve didn’t do much to protect her from the cold.

I picked up my phone and did the only thing I could think of to help her out.

**

Allison’s.p.o.v

I worked through most of the shifts since Stella was still pissed off about this morning.

It was cold. I took the warmest clothes in my wardrobe but it still wasn’t enough. I needed to get some warmer clothes since winter was approaching.

A man walked in an hour later with a paper bag in his hand.

“Hey, cam I help you?” I said walking towards the man.

“umm. Yes. I was sent to deliver this to an Allison?”

I looked at the bag, then back to him.

I didn’t order anything

“I am she?” he nodded and handed me the bag.

“please sign here” he said handing me the clip board. I did as I was told and signed.

I opened the bag and was met with a beautiful, thick brown sweater.

It felt as though it was made with the softest materials.

I brought it out if the bag completely and a note fell out.

Dress warmly for the weather

X

I read the little note again. I knew instantly who it was from.

But how?

He had been sitting at the desk since morning so how?

I put on the sweater. It had that new cloth scent which made me want to bury my head in the cloth forever.

I smiled. The butterflies were slowly turning to bats in my stomach. It was hard to ignore them.

Later in the day before we closed the café, he came out of the office to notify us about two new staff that would be working with us.

“Finally” I said from happiness. It did get overwhelming most times, Especially during work hours.

“tell me about it” Stella agreed with me.

After our little meeting Stella went back to the kitchen to relay a message to the chefs, but Ben stayed back.

“brown is a pretty colour on you” he smiled before going back into his office.

I could not hide the blush that appeared on my face even though my life depended on it.

I was all alone, clearing up the front desk smiling to myself.

There was no way around it, I was definitely falling for Ben. If I wasn’t sure before, this was definitely the assurance I needed to confirm it.

**

I threw on the sweatr and went to work, the customers were not as much Nd everything this g seemed to go well until a woman came around looking for Ben.

she was drop dead gorgeous

"he is not around at the moment. you could drop your message and I'll give it to him when he comes?" I smiled politely at her. i didn't know ehat but she had this vibe around her, it made me very skeptical around her.

" tell him to come find me or I'm dropping his baby on his front porch." i felt my mouth become dry.

I didn't know he had a child. I wanted to face palm at that it's not like I knew the first thing about him.

"oh, okay" I nodded ready to leave. luckily, she saved me from that as she herself decided to leave.

I felt stupid.

he was just being nice to me nothing more. and yet, here I was, falling for a man who had a child.

the front door opened, revealing the man who had occupied my thoughts.

"everything okay?" he asked looking at me for an update. his eyes lingered on the sweater, a look of appreciation

and satisfaction crossed his face

"yes" he nodded and started making his way into his office.

"umm a woman came here, she left a message for you" that got his attention.

"okay?" he turned to look at me

"she said you should see her or drop your baby on your porch" he was frozen, and shock was written across his face.

I almost kicked myself across the room for saying it, out in the open