SEDUCING THE CUSTOMER
CHAPTER 1
AVA
The rain hammered the windows like it was trying to get inside. Tuesday, 5:45 p.m., and the shop had been dead for an hour. I wiped the counters for the third time, stealing glances at Mark in his usual corner booth. Navy suit, tie loosened, dark roast cooling in front of him. He always stayed until closing on rainy days.
I flipped the sign to CLOSED at 6:01, locked the door, and leaned against it, heart racing.
He looked up, one eyebrow raised. “Little early tonight, Ava?”
I crooked a finger. “Come here.”
He stood slow, like he’d been waiting months for the invitation. Because he had. We both had.
I walked behind the bar, hips swaying, green apron still tied over my black crop top and tiny denim skirt. No panties. Hadn’t worn them for weeks, jus
