“How’s the breakfast, baby?” Wendy grinned as she leaned closer to Irene, fingers brushing stray strands of hair off the beautiful woman’s shoulder.

Irene smiled, not saying a word as she chewed.

“Too good for words?” Wendy smirked. She was pleased with herself. Everything had gone according to plan. The stars had been beautiful and now breakfast was wonderful. She had her flirt on. The world was on her side.

“Wendy, it’s time to wake up,” Irene said suddenly, smile gone.

Wendy lost her smirk. “Wake up?”

“You’re dreaming.”

“No . . .” Wendy’s perfect bliss came crashing down. Her world was shaking.

“Wake up!”

“Okay! I’ll wake up!” Wendy cried and opened her eyes.

Irene’s face was hovering above, eyes opened big and wide in a frown. “Are you okay?”

“Huh?”

“Were you having a nightmare?”

Wendy blinked and blinked. A dream?

“I ordered breakfast for us. Get up and eat before it turns cold.”

Wendy’s jaw dropped. Breakfast? But I was supposed to order it and surprise you . . .

Irene was back on the armchair, wielding a fork and knife, poised to dig in. She stared at Wendy, almost glaring. “Aren’t you going to join me?”

“Yes, yes. Of course. Just a sec.”

Wendy dashed into the bathroom to groom herself into looking presentable. One look at the mirror had her groaning. Hair sticking out. Sleepy eyes. Not a good look. Her plan to wake up early and have everything ready had failed. She should not have gone with this plan. A wine and dine and stroll should have sufficed. Why, oh why, did she try this instead?

After taking a few deep, calming breaths, Wendy nodded at her reflection.

You got this, Wendy.

Irene looked up from her scrambled egg and smiled. “Are you okay?”

Wendy flashed the biggest grin. “Never been better, sweetie.”

Two bites in, she was enjoying the ham and egg meal. The toast’s aroma made her nose come to life and the freshly squeezed orange juice was quite the energy lifter.

“What are your plans for the rest of the day?”

Wendy chewed and mentally ran down her to-do list. “Caffeeh stufff. Resshipee teshting.”

“You’re very busy. Do you have enough time to rest?”

Wendy swallowed her food. “I rest at night.”

“You mean, sleep?”

“Sleep is rest.”

“What about other kinds of rest? What do you do when you have free time?”

“I enjoy baking.”

“Anything unrelated to the café business? Like painting? Or gardening?”

Wendy thought for a moment. “I used to play the guitar. Does that count?”

“Used to?”

“When I was a student.”

“I wish I could’ve seen that.”

“Me playing the guitar?”

Irene nodded. “And university student Wendy.”

“Oh sweetie, it’s for the better that you don’t see university student Wendy.”

“But why?”

“You might change your mind about dating me if you do.”

“Why would I?”

“All I did was study and make coffee.”

“You still make coffee now.”

“That’s true . . .”

Irene giggled. “You went to cafés and worked as a barista during your university days, and now you’re an owner of a café. You’re hiring and training baristas now. You enjoy baking, and you’re selling delicious carrot cake at your café. ”