My hairclip had barely clicked into place when a knock rattled the door, followed immediately by impatient, knee-height pounding.
"Breakfast!" called Mae's voice, "Come on!"
"Yea," added Eva, "there's pancakes today!"
I chuckled, crossing the room. "But is there bacon?" I asked in return.
"A mountain!" replied Mae. I could picture her using her little hands to illustrate just how big of a mountain and I giggled.
"Then," I said, pulling the door open and swooping in to give both girls a hug, "what are we waiting for?"
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The dining hall was big, and filled to the brim with happy noise, delicious scents and, most importantly, coffee.
A few of the diners paused in their eating to stare, but I simply smiled and carried on. I figured I was this mysterious new face that no one really knew about so it makes sense.
"I want a juice," said Mae, pointing to a row of juice boxes.
"Hmm, can you ask better please?" I said, snagging a coffee mug.
"Please can I have a juice?"
I smiled. "Good ask," I said, snagging a juice box and popping the straw in place.
"Thank you," she replied before attacking the straw with gusto. A few of the observers smiled and resumed their breakfast.
"Morning all," called a familiar voice, and I turned to see Noah entering with a younger man hot on his heels.
Probably Liam, I thought, lifting my half prepped coffee in greeting.
"Ready for the show?" he asked, moving in beside me and snagging his own cup.
"Ready as I can," I replied, dumping in sugar to my mug.
"Ugh, how can you drink that?" teased Noah, nose wrinkled in distaste as he poured himself straight black coffee.
"What can I say? I like my sugar with coffee and cream."
"Nah, black as my soul. Only way to go."
"Oh please," quipped the younger man, reaching for his own mug, "you cried watching kids shows with the girls."
"It was an emotional episode," growled Noah in defense. I had to keep from laughing.
"I'm Liam, by the way," said the younger man, reaching around Noah to offer his hand to me.
"Allison," I replied with a smile, shaking his hand. "And cut him some slack, sometimes a kids' show sucker punches you in the gut."
"Thank you," huffed Noah.
"And then sometimes you're just a sap," I added, taking a sip of my coffee.
Noah sputtered, face turning beet red and Liam cackled. Thankfully for me, Gordon used that moment to make his grand appearance. There was a chorus of "Good Morning, Alpha" and I turned to face the door.
His dark hair already looked tousled and despite the bags under his eyes, he still cut a handsome figure. My pulse tripped before I could scold it. Nope. No. Not doing this again.
Stop it. I have work to do and he's a client, not a fling, I chastised myself.
"Morning all," he greeted tiredly, getting in our 'line' for coffee. I scooted aside to give more space. "Noah, Allison and I have an important meeting to attend," he added, pouring cream into his coffee mug before adding coffee and sprinkling the top with cinnamon. I filed that observation away for later. "Please refrain from coming to my office until later this afternoon."
"Are you going to eat anything?" asked Noah, taking a sip of his own coffee.
"I don't have the appetite," admitted Gordon before finally looking at me. "Your role is silent today."
Internally I grimaced. Externally, I just nodded like a well-trained poodle. "If there is something to make a point on, I'll pass a note."
Like a damn kid in high school, I added mentally with a snort. Do you like me, circle one. Yes. No.
Gordon nodded and headed back out. "Alright, my office. Ten minutes."
Noah sighed. "I just wanted bacon and eggs at a leisurely pace. Is that really such a difficult thing?"
"I'll pack a few plates," I said with a chuckle. "Believe me, when you want to bite someone, it's handy to have a snack nearby to keep from violence." Noah chuckled as he refilled his coffee.
"By the way," I added, snagging a plate and piling on bacon, cut up fruit and a few pastries, "any luck with the recorder's office?"
Noah shook his head. "They're going to get back to me tomorrow."