A Slice of Heaven (Cupid's Cafe Where love is on the menu Book 6)

by Ashley Lauren

  A Slice

  of Heaven

  Cupid’s Café

  Where love is on the menu

  Book #6

  By Ashley Lauren

  Copyright © 2017 Ashley Lauren

  All Rights Reserved.

  http://www.ashleylaurenbooks.com

  No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including scanning, photocopying, or otherwise without prior written permission of the copyright holder.

  Any inquiries regarding this book, please email

  ashleylaurenbooks@gmail.com

  Tab le of Contents

  Introduction

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Introduction and Note from Author

  In downtown Berkeley, California there’s a small diner where big things are happening. The locals gossip that at Cupid’s Café love is on the menu… and they would be right!

  Hi, this is Ashley, and I love the Cupid’s Café series, especially Katy. So far, eight books in the series have been written, and I am in various stages of editing them. In honor of that and because I love my readers, I want to offer you the fifth book in the Cupid’s Café series. All you have to do is go to

  http://www.ashleylaurenbooks.com/#!free-romance-novella/v1lmi

  And tell me where to send your complimentary book.

  Chapter 1

  Katy Cupid’s feet hurt, not that she’d ever admit that to anyone, and she was ready to close the diner for the day. It had been one of those days, a few too many broken dishes, an irate customer that even she couldn’t placate, and absolutely no romantic vibes. Katy could handle the worst of days as long as she saw one of her happily matched couples or met someone who she had the perfect match for—but there wasn’t even a single tingle of possible love today.

  Katy took a deep breath and tried to shake the melancholy off. Cupid’s Café was her pride and joy. A chance to share the gift that ran in her family and own something that was completely hers. Cupid’s reflected her taste for classic, family-friendly food, and the 1950’s diner décor from the black and white, checked tile to the chrome barstools with cherry-red, vinyl seats made her smile. That should be enough. Pep talk accomplished, Katy left her office, heading to the front door to lock up.

  The sleigh bells above the front door jangled, halting Katy mid-stride. Now, who could that be? There was only one minute to closing time, and she’d just asked Robert to shut down the grill. The last hour had been slow, with no customers at all for the last fifteen minutes. Clarisse was in the kitchen helping Robert, so Katy brightened her smile and moved toward her front counter to greet her customer. A very large man stood just inside the door. Katy surveyed him, thinking that he looked tired and a little sad.

  “Good afternoon, sir. Take a seat anywhere. Clarisse will be out in just a few minutes to help you.”

  The man startled at Katy’s voice and blinked a couple of times before ambling over to the long front counter with bar seating. Maybe I shouldn’t have had Robert start shutting down. He could probably use something warm.

  “Clarisse! Customer!” Katy called out to the kitchen.

  Clarisse stepped out of the kitchen, the distracted look on her face quickly turning to a smile as she strode toward the front. Katy started to turn and go back to her office, but then busied herself with the coffee urn. She wanted to see how this turned out.

  Will he want something off the grill? How will Clarisse handle that? Clarisse had worked for her for about eight months or so and demonstrated just those people skills Katy wanted in her servers. She watched while working to put a new coffee filter in the machine.

  Clarisse approached the big man, trying to hide the disappointment she felt. She was tired and still a little wet from the customer that had turned abruptly, knocking her tray of drinks all over her. He’d just gotten a drop or two of water on him, while she’d looked like a drown rat. Clarisse managed to keep her mouth shut when he began yelling. True, she needed to be skilled enough to avoid people even when they did unexpected things, but he’d moved so quick that the collision was unavoidable.

  Katy was an angel of a boss and immediately began to placate the man, but no amount of apologies from Clarisse or offers of free waffles helped. The man was just determined to rant. When he finally left, Katy patted her shoulder and told her not to worry.

  Clarisse thanked her lucky stars that she’d found this job and Katy. It was perfect. She had taken this job because it was near the Berkeley campus, and the early closing hours allowed her to work mornings and take afternoon or evening classes and still have time for her boy, Tommy.

  No matter how wonderful the job or how understanding her boss, Clarisse still worried about leaving Tommy home alone on Saturday mornings. At twelve, he was old enough, but a mother never stopped worrying. Besides Saturday afternoons was their special time together.

  Refocusing on the task at hand, Clarisse smiled at the linebacker-wide man who had just seated himself on one of the end stools at the front counter. She grabbed a menu from the stand, heading to him.

  Sweeping a stray lock of black hair out of her eyes, she handed him the menu and said, “What’ll it be?”

  Katy’s food and legendary matchmaker reputation had made a lot of customers into regulars. Clarisse had never seen this man before, but she was aware of Katy’s eagle-eye watching her from the coffee maker. Clarisse made it a point to get to know every customer in case they became a regular. Katy treated all her customers with friendly service and attention, but her regulars were treated like family. Clarisse liked that about Katy and tried to emulate her.

  The man in front of Clarisse looked like a giant precariously perched on a stool a few sizes too small. He looked like he could eat an entire cow in one sitting. He’d probably want a full meal, and that meant Robert would have to turn the grill back on.

  More dishes . . . Clarisse suppressed a sigh, trying to avoid thinking about recleaning everything in the back.

  Tommy will be there when I get home. I’d just hoped this would be one of those days we could do something together if I got out the door quick. Trying not to show her disappointment, Clarisse pulled her order pad out of her apron pocket and poised a pen over it.

  He took the menu in one bear-sized hand and set it down gently on the counter. “You wouldn’t have a slice of pie, would you? That and a cup of coffee, black, will do me.”

  He smiled a wide grin, but his eyes showed signs of exhaustion. Clarisse felt a pang in her heart for the poor man. Polite as can be, even though he looked ready to fall asleep on the counter top.

  Smile wide, Clarisse said, “Why sure, handsome. We got apple, strawberry, and I’d have to check to see if we had any chocolate meringue left. What would you like?”

  “Apple, please. I love a good, warm, apple pie. I don’t suppose you could put it in the microwave?”

  “I can do one better. How about a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top of that warm apple pie?”

  The exhaustion lifted from the man’s face, making him look like she’d just offered him the most amazing gift ever. Clarisse’s heart did a funny flip in her chest.r />
  “You’re an angel from heaven.”

  Clarisse laughed and suppressed an urge to rub at her heart that had doubled its rhythm from the man’s outrageous claim. She was a waitress, a mother of a young son, and a struggling college student. “Not likely. The way I see it, warm pie calls out for ice cream.”

  Russel Burke lifted a hand in surrender. “No argument here.”

  “Give me just a minute to warm up the pie and add a scoop.”

  Russel watched the attractive waitress bustle around, plating the pie and placing it in a microwave near the coffee pot. His eyes lingered on the coffee pot just for a second. He was so tired and could use the caffeine. Though… Clarisse, herself, had done a good job of perking him up. Her smile alone was enough to keep him from falling asleep and landing face first on the counter top.

  Russel’s eyes moved back to her as she filled a mug of life-saving coffee. She was tall for a woman yet fine boned with dark, smooth skin, and a bob of glossy black hair. Yes, sir. Pretty as a picture.

  The jangle of keys caught his attention, and he looked over to see the other woman who greeted him walking to the front door.

  “Just locking up, sir,” she said.

  “Sorry, I didn’t realize you were closing,” he said. “I could take the pie home with me. I don’t live too far from here.”

  “Don’t be silly,” Katy interjected before he went on with such an absurd notion. “You’re our guest, and if my radar is correct… and I know it is, you could use some food.”

  “If you’re sure,” he hedged.

  “Cupid’s Café treats people like family,” Clarisse said, setting down a full cup of coffee and a piece of steaming pie topped with ice cream. “Katy would never let you take your pie and run when what you need to do is sit and eat.”

  Katy felt like a proud momma. Not only had Clarisse grasped the fact that she prided herself on making people feel welcome at Cupid’s, but also that she insisted the man sit and eat. She’d have to see about giving Clarisse a raise. It was just about time for that.

  “I certainly wouldn’t let you take your pie and run. We still have things to clean and shut down before we leave. You enjoy that pie, and the ice cream is on the house.”

  “I couldn’t—”

  “Not another word.” Katy looked at Clarisse. “You make sure to leave the ice cream off his ticket.”

  Clarisse grinned at her boss. “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Who am I to argue with two pretty ladies? Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome,” Katy said, studying the man and his broad smile.

  Suddenly, Katy realized that she knew who he was. Though he’d never been in before, she’d seen him in the bank often enough to nod a friendly hello to. Shifting through her mental files, Katy remembered that one of the tellers told her he ran a heating and air conditioning business in the area. He was casually dressed today, but she had seen him wearing a suit and tie and his company’s uniform.

  Katy put the front door keys in her apron pocket and wandered the room, tidying up the front area and rearranging the tabletop condiments so that they were just so.

  “Will there be anything else, sir?” Clarisse asked.

  “How about a bit of conversation? It’s been a long day, and talking with a pretty woman always puts me in a good mood.”

  A tingle went up Katy’s spine, and she looked up to see Clarisse looking a bit like she’d been struck by Cupid’s arrow. Oh, how could I have missed it before? Katy double checked that internal radar of hers and smiled. Katy had once promised Clarisse that she’d tell her if her Mr. Right walked through Cupid’s doors. But where’s the fun in that? Katy left the couple to talk for a few minutes. She had some scheming to do.

  Chapter 2

  “Um, okay,” Clarisse answered hesitantly. “What would you like to talk about?”

  “Let’s start with the basics. I’m Russel and you’re Clarisse.”

  “How did you—”

  “Name tag and Katy, the owner I’d guess, said your name.”

  Clarisse was impressed he’d gotten all that information in the brief time he’d been here. “Two for two. I give you full points for memory and your accurate guess.”

  “My memory doesn’t even come close to measuring up to this pie.”

  “I’m glad you like it,” Clarisse said, admiring Russel’s smile. There was something about it that hit her just right. Before she realized what she was doing, Clarisse blurted out. “Well, if you are into strawberry shortcake you should come by sometime during lunch. You should come early, though. It tends to go fast. It’s a real hit with the regulars.”

  Russel set down his fork and stared at Clarisse, a crooked grin on his face. “Hmm. I might just consider becoming a regular myself. If it means dessert and another conversation with you.”

  Flustered, Clarisse sputtered, “You, sir, are just too much.”

  Russel broke eye contact with Clarisse, digging into his pie and ice cream. The pressure of being watched by an attractive man went away, but the butterflies his comments caused remained.

  Still focused on his pie, Russel said, “I’ve meant to stop by for coffee and check this place out, just never seem to get the time.”

  Feeling on firmer ground, Clarisse answered, “I know what you mean about time, sir—I mean Russel. What with school and all, there aren’t enough hours in the day!”

  “Tell me about it. So, you go to school at Berkeley?”

  “Yes, I’m working on finishing my degree.” Clarisse busied herself with wiping down the counter, refilling napkin holders, sugar and salt shakers, and wrapping utensils in napkins as she chatted idly with Russel.

  Katy walked back toward the front and eavesdropped on Russel’s and Clarisse’s conversation. She seemed to be having a good time talking with him. That’s a good start, but I should stick around to make sure things keep moving along. Katy moved out into the dining area, doing a last walk through to make sure everything was tidy. As she went about her work, she sized up her intended match.

  At five feet ten, Clarisse didn’t meet many men who measured up, so to speak. Russel probably stood six-four, at least, and was a big fella. Probably at least 240, 250, but not fat, just tall and muscular. They would complement each other nicely. Now, she just had to convince them both of that fact. Katy had a few ideas—it just depended on them.

  Done with her sweep through the front, she saw that Robert was signaling her from the kitchen. She nodded that it was fine if he left. He disappeared into the kitchen, heading for the back exit.

  Hands on hips, she surveyed her couple. They were talking and laughing together, but they didn’t seem to be getting to arraigning a date. Katy checked her watch and sighed. Normally, she would give a couple more time to come together, but it had been a long day, and she wanted to head home and soak in her huge clawfoot tub.

  “Sorry to interrupt.” Two sets of eyes swiveled toward Katy. Both looked like they had completely forgotten she was in the room. Well, that’s something at least. “Clarisse, I was wondering if you’d ever gotten your heater fixed. It’s been getting cold in the evenings, and I don’t want to have to worry about you and your little boy freezing at night.”

  Clarisse frowned. “The owners said they’d get to it, but it’s been over a week. We have extra blankets, and that should be okay for a while—”

  “That’s unacceptable. It’s been too cold at night for no heat. Who’s the owner?” Russel asked.

  Katy smiled to herself, hoping that was all the push the two needed.

  “Umm, the McMillian group,” Clarisse answered.

  “What? That’s one of my contracts. I’ll personally make sure that you have heat by tomorrow.”

  Clarisse blinked a few times. Yes, it had been cold the past few nights, it was December after all, but she and Tommy had been through much worse. She’d thought of the lack of heat as a slight inconvenience, but it surprised her that this man would even care about her predicament, and even mo
re shocking that he could do something about it. “You know the McMillian group?”

  “I run a heating and air-conditioning business. The McMillian group owns thousands of units in this area. They’re one of my biggest clients. I’ve been out of town… and distracted for the past couple of days, but my team knows that any McMillian properties should be serviced immediately. I’m so sorry you and your boy were without heat.”

  “It’s okay. It’s just Tommy and me, and it really hasn’t been that cold. We’ve been doing fine.”

  Clarisse felt like she was babbling nonsense. She couldn’t think straight when Russel’s eyes were locked on hers. He had this peculiar look of fierce concern, and it made her forget about everything around her. No man had ever looked at her quite like that. She’d been doing everything on her own for so long… It would be heavenly to lean on someone, even if it was just to help fix the heat.

  “I’m sure you have, but I need to have a talk with my people.”

  Concerned about someone losing their job, Clarisse said, “Oh, I don’t want anyone getting into trouble.”

  “Don’t worry about that. We’ll get it sorted out. I’ve been distracted lately, and it could be as much my fault as theirs. I really do feel responsible,” Russel frowned for a second, and then a wide smile lit his face. “How about I make it up to you? Could I take you out to dinner Sunday night?”

  Clarisse’s immediate reaction was to say no. She avoided men and their advances. She had Tommy and her classes to think about, but there was something sure and steady about Russel that had her hesitating. He knew she had a little boy at home, and yet he’d asked her out on a date. Men might think she was good-looking enough to ask on a date, but one mention of Tommy had them rethinking their offer.