ar keys?" Maya shou

iately caught the hem of my t

sleeping for work wasn't enough-now this fall too. I scrambled to my feet, straighten

tment like a trapped rabbit. Wat

u looking fo

rried eyes, and said, "I think I left

noticed immediately-Maya was the head chef at the restaurant, and I was the manager.

anging room while I went straight to my tiny office. My day was full of paperwork, so I bo

," I said, setting the documents aside.

tomer is ask

n so peaceful until now. I si

on? Who's serv

but I have no idea

go fi

an elegant brunette. The man looked oddly familiar, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't

the manager, Vera.

pastry"-she pointed to the plate-"is so wonderful that I s

se call the one who prepared that pastry?" Then, turning

excused myself and stepped aside to take a call from one of our suppliers. While s

erved all the praise coming her way. When I hung up, I smiled, watching Maya's eyes sparkle as she talked with the brunette. My g

led from behind me,

iving one last glance at my beaming f

The years were catching up with him; running the restaurant had become a strain. Still, he stubb

that meant he was displeased, "how did you miss the

, I did warn you that this supplier was unreliable. Let me

feeling like a squeezed lemon. The stress of the past few days

aya came to get me, and

I froze, looking around for its source. The alley was as quiet and empty as al

u're looking around

bad feeling,

grin. "This time I'll make sure

blocking our way. Maya let go of my arm and took a cautious step back. I kept my eyes on the

the man from the café - the same one who'd been sitting with t

fore. He was the werewolf we'd encount

go!" I

and said, "I wish I could, but she's mine now

racks. I glanced behind me; the two men were just standing there, w

doubt there's anything in tha

ed it, pulled out a small spr

nd what exactly are you p