Summer of Love

I’ll admit that even though my job was indeed a strange one, it was the place I felt the happiest. Being dressed as a maid and calling the couples who entered the cafe Master and Milady was annoying, but the people I worked with were fun and kind.

Caroline, a tall beautiful redhead stepped out of the change room. She spotted me waiting for use of the room and smiled, her hazel eyes dancing. She worked hard as a college student, spending her time here to pay off her student loan and was typically one of the favourites with her rocking body and good looks.

“Oh, you’re early Misa,” she said and moved to the lockers where she put her clothes away and turned to face me.

She looked beautiful in her maid’s outfit of black and white material with a white ruffled headband situated on her head. The lacy getup was what brought customers to the cafe as well as the manner we greet them and cater to their needs.

I returned the smile easily, seeing as she was a good friend of mine. “I got a text from the Chief saying she needed me to come in tonight. She’s expecting it to be busier than normal?”

Caroline nodded, her eyes filled with excitement. “There is a large group of students from the surrounding colleges and high schools coming by for a party to start off another year!”

My smile froze on my face and I laughed nervously. Students from schools...high schools. Oh god, people from my school are going to be here! No one knows I work here! Immediately my thoughts went to Cian and my shoulders slumped. If he found out, he’d never let me live it down.

She batted her pretty lashes. “Is something wrong?”

I snapped out of it and smiled for reassurance and stepped into the change room. I undressed and folded my uniform neatly and shoved them into my bag. I stepped into my uniform and tied the lace in the back before looking at myself in the mirror with a sigh. Somehow I just knew that this night would be my downfall for my senior year.

I entered the kitchen and saw the others girls chatting away happily before the cafe opened and the Chief, a beautiful petite woman with glorious blond locks and bluebell eyes smiled and danced over.

“Thank you so much for coming in, Misa! I really do appreciate it!” she said happily in her child-like voice and I couldn’t help but smile.

“It’s not a problem, Chief. I don’t have anything better to do anyway,” I said sheepishly and she grinned up at me happily.

“Oh, Misa.”

I turned to see Tori standing there with her whitish blond bob, looking at me through beautiful grey blue eyes as if surprised to see me there. Though she was beautifully innocent at first glance, sometimes when she spoke she had a habit of saying nasty things without really thinking about it. Beside her stood the geeky one of our staff, Rita with her long black wavy hair and leaf green eyes hidden behind fashionable glasses.

“Hey guys, I came to help you out tonight with all the students were supposed to be getting,” I said with a smile and was glad when they smiled in return.

Rita sighed and tapped her chin in a cute pose. “Thank goodness. From what the Chief said, it’s going to get really busy tonight.”

I nodded in agreement as the Chief walked over with a smile and as always I was surprised at how much shorter she was than everyone else. At least here I didn’t feel bad for being tall because Rita and Caroline were about the same height being older and college students to boot.

“Alright girls, everyone ready? We’ve already got a line up!” she said excitedly, her fists bunched anxiously and we all smiled in return. “Alright, time to open up! Work hard girls!”

I felt anxious as the Chief walked out to open the doors and flip the sign, wondering how many people from my school I would see here. I shook those thoughts from my mind as we followed her out and stood side by side as she opened the doors and smiled at our customers.

“Welcome Masters and Milady’s!”

The first evening set had already come and gone and yet the students still hadn’t shown up. I carried on with my work with a smile until we managed to get a break from the steady flow and I breathed out a sigh of relief.

“So when are these students coming? I hope there are some cuties!” Caroline said with a wink and a smile while I rolled my eyes and shook my head.

Chief smiled reassuringly. “Don’t worry, the students will be showing up soon, trust me.”

Just as she finished speaking, the bell sounded signalling a customer and I turned automatically with a warm smile.

“Welcome home Master!”

I heard nothing in response and opened my eyes only to freeze in shock when I saw my friends standing there staring at me in surprise. The worst part was that Cian was with them and he was staring at me with wide eyes, his mouth open. I overlooked the light flush to his cheeks without a second thought.

“Uh...” I stuttered in embarrassment and horror while Sara narrowed her eyes and stepped forward with that glint in her eye.

“You have a part time job in a Maid Cafe?” she asked in a low voice that sent chills down my spine and I stepped back with my hands out.

“Uh...”

“Misa!”

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you!” I cried sadly and hung my head. Great, my life was over.

As soon as I heard the sputtering beginning of laughter from Cian, I looked up and glared. He was trying so hard not to laugh as he looked over my maid outfit and the deep blush to my cheeks at being caught red handed working in a cafe dressed as a maid. Hannah smiled up at Fox, who got the hint and elbowed Cian in the side with narrowed eyes of displeasure.

Knowing that everyone in the cafe was watching, especially the Chief I overcome my embarrassment and smiled once more, turning on the charm.

“Welcome home Masters and Milady’s! Please, come and have a seat!” I said cheerfully and led the way to a table in my district before handing out the menus. “Please, order anything you would like and don’t hesitate to call on me for anything you need!”

Cian lifted an eyebrow, obviously enjoying this way too much. “Anything?”

I felt that irritating twitch and struggled to keep my smile in place as I bowed and stepped away to let them order, moving on to the next customers. I smiled and greeted them in the same manner and then noticed it was the same guys who had whistled at me earlier, including the incredibly god-like blonde with the beautiful green eyes. I felt the blush return, but I knew it added to part of the charm of my job.

Once they were seated, I handed them menus and bowed to give them time to decide before moving away. I didn’t make it far however because a certain someone was sitting there snapping his fingers like an idiot. I tried to conceal my glare as I turned and using my eyes, pierced his very soul all the while smiling. I walked over as Sara looked at me with a raised eyebrow as if trying to picture me actually doing this job, or if I was just a look-a-like.

I bowed and flashed Cian a charming smile. “Yes, Master?”

His eyes blinked in surprise and for a moment he just stared at me. I waited as patiently as I could, although I was growing annoyed as the time passed. When Jack laid a hand on his shoulder did he snap out of it and turned that smirk my way.

“I believe we’re ready to order, Misa.”

I nodded and withdrew my pad and pen, ready to take their orders and bowed respectfully when they finished. As I walked away to hand in the orders, I heard the guys from my other table as I passed.

“She looks oddly familiar, doesn’t she?”

“Yeah, I think that’s the hot chick we whistled at earlier, isn’t it?”

“Hey, it is! Who could forget those eyes!”

“Man, she looks so sexy in a maid uniform. She can clean my place any day!”

I fought the urge to roll my eyes, but couldn’t help but notice that the blonde hadn’t said a word the entire time. Instead he sat there with his arms crossed, looking relaxed and at home while those green eyes watched me so intensely, it gave me shivers. Good or bad, I couldn’t tell yet, but it was obvious he was interested. The thought made my heart skip a beat. A tall handsome guy, interested in me? Needless to say, I was thrilled at the idea.

When I finished in the kitchen, I moved to his table and smiled down at them with my pad and pen ready.

“Would you care for some refreshments, Masters?”

“Hey, your that girl we whistled at earlier, aren’t you?” one asked with a growing smirk and I simply continued to smile.

“Yes, Master. Now, what would you care to drink?” I asked, trying to get back on topic.

“Your pretty cute, you know that?” the one on my left said and I felt my temper spike, but I held myself in check.

“Master, I can’t serve you properly if you don’t give me a request,” I said as politely as I could, adding a touch of innocence into the mix and the guy on my right grinned devilishly.

“Oh, you could help me alright,” he said deviously as he reached out and grabbed hold of my wrist and I glared, ridding of my maid personality.

I took a breath and was ready to tear the guy into shreds when the blonde finally spoke in a deep voice that reminded me of prince charming, but with a hostile authority imbedded in it.

“Enough.”

Surprised, I turned to look at him and he was still in the same carefree position, but his eyes were as cold as ice and flashed like a freshly polished emerald jewel toward the man holding my wrist. Astonished, I watched the rest of them sit straight with identical faces of fear and I was immediately released. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Cian sit back down in his seat. He must have gotten up when I was grabbed.

Those emerald eyes met mine and my breath was stolen away, chills raking my spine at the coldness there. However, the ice melted and the green softened to the color of a new spring leaf. He smiled and my heart stopped. I felt the blush before I could control it and mentally slapped myself repeatedly. I returned the smile and lifted my pad and pen.

“Forgive these idiots, they don’t understand a thing about beautiful women,” he said smoothly and I felt a shiver flash over my skin.

“No need to apologize, Master! What would you like?” I asked with a smile and he chuckled and ordered for himself as well as his friends. I bowed once more and stepped into the kitchen.

There, my smile faded and my hands curled into fists. I didn’t like being grabbed by anyone and it took all my willpower not to flip him over the table and break his arm. I was a natural scrapper and didn’t pass up a fight or challenge.

Caroline who had witnessed the whole thing patted me on the back with a look of sympathy.

“I know it must be hard, but please refrain yourself. Chief will have a heart attack if anything gets broken in here,” she said quietly so the others couldn’t hear and I blew out a sigh and slumped my shoulders.

Men...they’re all a bunch of idiots.

Well...except for him.