Charmed By The Fox's Heart: Superhero Reverse Harem Romance (Cosmic Guardians Book 1), стр. 6

Kyra? Get back here and help me.”

Cael laughs and waves him off. “I’ll be right there.” He leans down and pets the cat. She rolls over, stretching out so he can run his hand over her belly before he gently scratches beneath her chin.

I smile as I watch him. This guy is the whole package. As he makes his way back to the counter, I allow my gaze to travel over his lean, muscular form. Like a marble statue of masculine perfection, this guy is almost too perfect to be real. With a dreamy sigh, I sit back in my chair and then turn my attention back to my writing. I’m completely inspired to write romance today, especially after meeting Cael.

Chapter 2

Cael

As I work behind the counter, it’s hard to keep my gaze from drifting to Kyra. There’s something about her that draws me in, and it’s hard to focus on anything else. I’ve heard of love at first sight, but never really believed in it… until now.

I study her a moment. Her blond hair has almost completely fallen out of her clip, cascading down her shoulders in long, silken waves. I sigh as I think on her luminous blue eyes, her dazzling smile, and the warm flush of her face as she stared up at me, accentuating the slight dusting of freckles across her cheeks and the bridge of her nose.

With her eyes glued to her computer, she steadily types away while sipping on the drinks I’ve made for her. I don’t know how Aris operates, but as far as I’m concerned, I’ll give her all her drinks for free to encourage her to come in here every day.

Now, I just have to walk the fine line between crazy guy she just met that wants to marry her already and cool guy who wants to ask her out on a casual date—which will actually be anything but casual—to get the ball rolling on this relationship.

One of my foster moms—actually, she was more like a foster grandma due to her age—told me that the first time she saw her husband, she knew he was the man she was going to marry. I remember thinking that story was so crazy, but now as I glance back at Kyra, I get it.

Aris always says I’m impulsive, and maybe I am. But right now, I don’t care. There’s just something about Kyra that feels right.

A hand claps me on the shoulder. I look back at Aris, and he gives me a pointed look.

“Kitchen. Now.”

I look over at Tara, who’s mostly been making the orders. I ask her to watch the register, and she agrees as I head into the back kitchen with Aris.

As soon as I step through the doors, he spins to face me, a thunderous look on his face. He lifts his hand, pointing a finger at me with mock authority.

“Don’t even think about it,” he snaps.

I blink at him, shocked by his sharp words and expression.

“Think about what?”

“Kyra. That’s what,” he hisses, gesturing in the direction she is sitting just beyond the door. “She’s my best customer.”

“And?” I ask incredulously.

“I don’t want you flirting with her.”

“You flirt with her,” I protest. “So, how is that fair?”

“No, I don’t.”

“Yes,” I state firmly, “you do. I watched it go down.”

His stony expression softens, and he rolls his eyes.

“All right, fine, I do, but that’s different.”

“How is that different?”

“It just is, all right?”

I arch a brow. He must really be into her because it’s not like him to tell me who I can or cannot flirt with. I’m about to speak, but Tara’s voice draws our attention.

“Uh, guys?” she calls through the door, and our heads both snap toward her. “The lunch crowd is here. We’re starting to get a line.”

I dart a glance at Aris, wordlessly promising to discuss this more later, and we head back to the front to take care of our customers.

My eyes sweep back to Kyra’s table to find her staring directly at me. A pink bloom spreads across her cheeks and the bridge of her nose the moment her gaze meets mine, and she quickly looks back down at her computer. I’m fairly certain she’s attracted to me, but… her face reddened when she talked to Aris earlier too. Maybe she’s just shy.

I look back at Aris, working on heating another batch of pastries. We met in college and have been friends for the past five years. Owning and operating a café has always been our dream, and now that we finally have it, we’re already at a crossroads concerning a customer.

Correction—the woman of my dreams.

With a heavy sigh, I force myself to focus. After a while, the line begins to die down as the lunch hour ends. So far, it’s been a great day for business, but as I dart a glance first at Kyra and then to my friend… a terrible day for our friendship.

I mix up another drink for Kyra and take it to her table. It’s almost like I can feel Aris’s eyes on my back as I make my way toward her. Despite my resolve not to be nosy, I can’t help but glance at her screen again as I approach.

My brows go up when I read the steamy snippet from her display, and I wonder if she’s the kind of writer who writes what she likes or what she thinks the readers will. Or perhaps she pulls from real-life experience like I’ve heard many do. If she agrees to go out with me, and things progress, I’m definitely all in for worshipping her like a goddess, like the hero is doing to the heroine in her story right now.

Kyra lifts her gaze to mine and gives me a stunning smile as I present her next drink to her.

She tips the mug toward her with a thoughtful expression. “What’s this one?”

I arch a teasing brow. “How about you try it and tell me what you think?”

She laughs as