My Shifter Boss

“Lucy!” Her best friend and coworker, Kayla, called her name. “Come here! Hurry!”

Lucy’s eyes widened at the urgency in Kayla’s voice, and she scurried behind the counter and into the backroom. Kayla stood in front of her cubby, pointing with a mile-wide smile on her face.

“Look what just got delivered to the back door!”

Lucy’s eyes widened even more; a huge vase filled with an assortment of roses in different colors sat near her cubby. They were too large to fit inside. She gasped at their beauty and the lovely smell filling the air around them. Kayla was practically bouncing up and down with excitement as she handed Lucy the card. Lucy opened it and nearly teared up.

“What’s it say? Tell me,” Kayla exclaimed.

“To Lucy, The woman who has changed my life by making it brighter. I look forward to years of brightness with you. Love, Nathan.”

“Oh my god, I am so jealous!” Kayla squealed as she leaned over the flowers to breathe in their heavenly scent.

Lucy was at a loss for words. No one had ever sent her roses before. She shook her head, a dreamy smile on her face. She’d only just met Nathan, but she knew she loved him already. And she was pretty sure he felt the same way. She joined Kayla and breathed in their beauty, and her smile grew to fill her whole face. She opened her mouth to speak, but their boss, Jeff, walked in before she could utter a sound.

“What the hell is that smell?” Jeff muttered. He looked at the two of them standing there, their noses over the roses and grimaced.

“Look, Jeff. Lucy’s boyfriend sent her roses. Aren’t they gorgeous?” Kayla asked, excitement still tinging her voice.

Jeff snorted. “I guess.” He looked at Lucy. “How much longer are you on shift? Those things reek.”

Lucy rolled her eyes at Kayla; Jeff had turned his back and walked into his office. She raised her voice and answered, “About an hour.”

Lucy and Kayla looked at each other as he grumbled to himself, not quite loud enough to hear. “Go home now and take those things with you. I can’t stand that smell.”

Lucy’s eyebrows shot up; she’d been hoping he would say that but hadn’t actually expected him to. Kayla giggled and mouthed “Lucky” at her. “Ok, boss. I’ll be out in ten. Have to take care of my tables first.”

“Hurry up,” he growled at her. “And Kayla, get out front. You’ve got tables.”

“Yes, boss,” Kayla called, mock saluting his crassness. As they walked back out front, Kayla mumbled to Lucy, “What an ass.”

“Yeah. Who doesn’t like the smell of fresh flowers?”

“An ass who likes the smell of sh*t,” Kayla quipped. They laughed loudly as they re-entered the dining area. “You’ve only got that one table left. Clear the other two and I’ll handle the last one until they leave or Tiffany gets here.”

“Thanks, babe. I owe you one,” Lucy said as she grabbed a tub to bus the two tables. She stopped at the table with the two college kids one last time, although they hadn’t asked for anything but endless coffee refills. After she’d cleared the tables, she called to Kayla to let her know she was leaving and left quickly before Jeff could change his mind.

The older couple, as usual, had left her a sizable tip, so she decided to spring for a cab since the flowers and vase would be difficult to carry the two blocks to her apartment. Five minutes later, she was climbing out in front of her apartment and pushing the door closed with her butt. She balanced the roses precariously on her thigh as she opened the door to the building and again when she pressed the button for the elevator. At her door, the only option was to set them down to dig out her key and unlock the door.

Once inside with her beautiful burden, she decided they needed to be in her bedroom on her dresser. Her phone pinged as she put the flower food into the vase after having checked the stems to make sure they’d been cut at an angle. A text message from Nathan awaited her response.

Nathan: Hey babe. I’ll be there around 7. OK?

Lucy: Sounds good. I just got home. PS. I love the roses. They’re perfect!

Nathan: Perfect like you.

Lucy: You smooth talker, you!

She imagined him laughing at her comment and smiled to herself. This man had somehow worked his way into her heart in a very short time. Being with him felt right, like she’d met her other half. She’d always thought that saying was stupid, but now she understood that it was true. She glanced at the clock on her phone and gasped. It was already 5:30, and he would be here at seven. She needed a shower to wash the café food smell off her and she still hadn’t decided what she was going to wear.

Lucy locked her door before rushing to the bathroom to get ready.

*****

Lucy wiped her lips daintily with her napkin. She and Nathan had shared a sumptuous meal at her favorite hibachi grill. She watched him as he scooped more rice mixed with veggies and chicken into his mouth and smiled when he dribbled some down his chin. She leaned closer and wiped his chin with her napkin.

Nathan grinned at her. “Thanks, babe.”

“I swear you’re the cutest thing,” Lucy commented, admiring his blonde locks and tanned skin. He was All-American good looking, and he was hers.

“Thanks, I guess,” he laughed. “You kind of make me sound like a little boy.”

She giggled. “Yes, but an adorable one.”

He shook his head and took her hand in his. He lifted it to her lips and smiled at her as he kissed the knuckles. “So, I have something important I want to talk to you about.”