Love Beyond Words (City Lights, #1)(10)
Natalie eyed the telephone on the wall by the back door; too far to grab unless she ran. The tension in the air held her fast. If she ran, she might crack it.
If Julian felt any tension at all, it didn’t show. “Milk fat acts like grease when heated,” he said matter-of-factly.
Garrett blinked stupidly. “What?”
“You can try to break my face but not before I scald you. It will burn like hell, you’ll be scarred for life, and if I aim well enough, you just might lose an eye.” He raised an eyebrow. “But go ahead, if you think it’s worth it.”
Garrett apparently did think it was worth it; he balled his hands into meaty fists and his lower lip protruded like a wet, fleshy shelf. But his friend held him back.
“Fuck this. Let’s get that beer.”
Garrett let himself be pulled toward the door. “Asshole,” he called. “Come outside without your little bucket and we’ll see who loses an eye. I’ll make hash out of your whole f*cking face and you know it, bitch.”
The curses and epithets continued, muffled, after the door closed. Garrett banged his fist on the glass, making it rattle, and then they were gone.
Natalie let out a slow breath and took another to calm her racing heart. Julian returned the milk pot to its place on the cappuccino maker. His beauty, up close, made the ugliness of the two men seem far away.
“Thank you,” she said. “That was quick-thinking.”
“I don’t like this,” Julian said. “You working alone. At night. Every night.” He stared at window where Garrett and his friend had been, his body rigid with anger.
“Nothing like this has ever happened before,” Natalie told him. “Not in three years. I had a couple of run-ins with homeless men before, but they weren’t so bad once they had something warm to drink and a bit of kindness. And I have pepper spray. It’s in my purse. Usually I have it up front, but I forgot tonight. I forgot…”
Julian looked around at her and some of the tension in him eased, though his eyes were still stormy. “Are you all right?” When she nodded he said, “I’m sorry, I…what those men said to you…” He appeared to bite back harsh words. “I’ll wait with you while you close up.”
She nodded and gathered her purse and keys, leaving some duties unfinished for the first time in three years. The milk steamer was crusted over now and needed a cleaning, but could wait. Julian stood at the door.
“Do you take the Muni?” he asked, as she locked up. “I’d like to walk you to the stop and wait with you.”
“I live right here,” she said, and indicated the locked gate over the door next to Niko’s. “Upstairs, remember?”
“Oh, yes. I had forgotten.” His gaze swept the street, his blue eyes hard, looking for signs of the two men. He waited for her as she unlocked the gate that led up to the darkened stairway. “Good night, Natalie,” he said and closed the gate so that they were separated by the rusted white metal.
“Good night, Julian,” she said. “Thank you again.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow night.”
Chapter Five
The next night, Natalie noticed right away how things were different between her and Julian. He lingered at the counter as he made his order, chatting lightly, and she found the nerve to offer him more coffee later when she saw him pause in his writing. They chatted further before she was pulled away to attend to customers. At quarter past ten the café emptied and then it was just she and Julian. He set down his pen and stretched.
“Is it against the rules for you to have something to eat with me? I’ll pay, of course.” He pulled out a leather billfold. “I don’t want to get you in trouble, but I’d like it if you joined me for a bit. If it’s allowed.”
“It’s allowed,” Natalie said, trying not to shout over the sudden pounding of her heart in her ears. She chose a croissant and after Julian paid for it, he carried her plate to his table and pulled out her chair for her.
His blue cashmere sweater was form-fitting enough to reveal he was a regular gym-goer, and made his blue eyes seem backlit for their brilliance. Not wanting to ogle his beautiful physique or become lost in those incredible eyes, Natalie was at a loss for where to look. She concentrated on her pastry and a silence fell between them.
Julian shifted in his chair. “I hate to open the evening with an unpleasant subject, but I’ve been thinking about last night. Those two men who harassed you.”
“I’m sure they won’t be back.”
“Maybe not but I can’t be here every night that you work and I’m not sure I can say anything more without…I don’t know, offending your feminist sensibilities perhaps. Or coming across like a creep myself. I just worry.”
Natalie blushed and looked away. She was sure Liberty would have spat out some retort about being able to take care of herself thank you very much, but Natalie felt warmed by his concern.
“On that note…” Julian rummaged in his messenger bag and pulled out a small box marked One Touch Security Systems. “This is for you. It’s a keychain fob with GPS. Just push the button and it sends the police wherever you are.” He cleared his throat. “I’m sorry. A morbid gift, I know, but after last night…”