The late afternoon lull at Lily's Café was a stark contrast to the morning rush. A few customers sat scattered across the cozy space, the soft hum of conversations blending with the occasional clinking of cups. The air smelled of freshly brewed coffee and warm cinnamon, a scent that wrapped around Maya like a familiar embrace.
She wiped down the counter, her mind drifting as she moved in steady, repetitive motions. She was grateful for the slow moment. Her muscles ached from the hours of standing, but there was something comforting about the work.
It kept her grounded.
Kept her distracted.
Kept her from thinking about him.
The bell above the door chimed.
Maya glanced up, expecting another regular, but her hands froze mid-wipe at the sight before her.
Aiden Carter stood at the entrance, his presence as commanding as ever.
But this time, he wasn't alone.
A small girl clutched his hand, standing barely past his waist. She had dark brown curls, big expressive gray eyes, and a stubborn pout pressing at her lips.
Maya didn't have to guess.
His daughter.
Margaret's face lit up with genuine warmth.
"Well, well! If it isn't our little princess!"
The girl huffed dramatically, her tiny arms crossing over her chest. "I'm not little. I'm six."
Aiden sighed, rubbing his temple. "Lily, we've talked about this."
Lily shot him a grumpy glare, then turned back to Margaret, her expression instantly brightening. "Grandma Maggie, did you make those cinnamon rolls today?"
Maya blinked at the familiarity.
Grandma Maggie?
Margaret laughed fondly, already reaching for a plate. "Of course, sweetheart. Fresh out of the oven, just for you."
Maya watched as Lily bounced excitedly before climbing onto one of the booth seats. She kicked her legs under the table, her energy bubbling despite her earlier pout.
Aiden, on the other hand, exhaled as if already exhausted.
Maya wasn't sure why she found that so amusing.
Margaret handed Maya a warm plate. "Would you mind taking this to her, Mia?"
Maya hesitated for only a second before nodding.
She approached the small girl, setting the plate gently in front of her.
Lily looked up instantly, her big gray eyes locking onto Maya's face.
"You're new."
Maya offered a small smile. "I am."
Lily studied her very seriously, as if evaluating her worth. After a few seconds, she leaned in, lowering her voice conspiratorially.
"Do you make good hot chocolate?"
Maya bit back a laugh at the unexpected question. "I think so."
Lily nodded solemnly, as if this was the most important qualification in the world.
"Okay. Then you can stay."
Maya blinked, caught off guard by the unexpected acceptance.
She hadn't realized how much the simple statement would warm her heart.
"Thank you," she said softly.
Lily grinned, already focused on her cinnamon roll again.
Maya turned back toward the counter, but her gaze flickered to Aiden once more.
She expected him to be watching his daughter. Instead, his sharp gray eyes were trained on her.
Something unreadable flashed across his expression.
And for some reason, it unsettled her.
Aiden's Perspective
Aiden hadn't thought much of the new barista at first.
Margaret had introduced her—Mia, was it?—and he had nodded politely, assuming she was just another passing face behind the counter.
But something about her reaction when she saw him today lingered in his mind.
For a split second, when he entered with Lily, she had tensed.
Not in a casual way. Not like someone caught off guard by a new customer.
It was deeper. More instinctual.
Like a person ready to run.
Aiden had spent years in business negotiations, reading microexpressions and spotting lies hidden behind polite smiles. And something told him this woman had secrets.
Secrets she didn't want anyone to find.
He watched as she interacted with Lily, the edges of his curiosity sharpening.
Lily wasn't an easy child to please. She was smart, guarded, and often wary of new people. But within minutes, she had accepted Mia.
That was rare.
And it made him take a second look.
Maya's Perspective
Maya felt Aiden's gaze long before she turned back to the counter.
She had met powerful men before.
Men who took without asking.
Men who spoke in clipped, demanding tones.
Men who believed the world owed them something.
But Aiden Carter… felt different.
And that terrified her.
Margaret handed Maya a small milkshake glass, nodding toward Lily's table. "Take this to her, dear."
Maya swallowed and walked back over, placing the glass beside Lily's plate.
The little girl beamed.
"Thank you, Miss Mia!"
Maya chuckled. "Just Mia is fine."
Lily slurped her milkshake happily, swinging her legs under the table. Then she paused, eyeing Maya again.
"Do you like stories?"
Maya blinked. "I do."
Lily perked up instantly. "Can I tell you one?"
Maya hesitated, but something about Lily's eager expression made her nod. "Of course."
Lily grinned, taking a deep breath.
"So, once upon a time, there was a lonely princess who lived in a big castle. But the castle was too quiet because she only had her daddy, and daddies don't know how to play tea parties properly. So, one day, she decided to find a new friend…"
Maya listened, completely drawn in.
But what struck her wasn't just the story.
It was the way Aiden's expression softened as he listened to his daughter's words.
And for the first time since she had met him, she saw something different in his gaze.
Not power. Not cold calculation.
Just a father who loved his child more than anything in the world.
Maya clenched her hands, a lump forming in her throat.
Because, for a moment, she wondered…
Would her child ever have this?
A father who looked at them with undeniable love?
Or had she already taken that chance away?
Aiden Starts Noticing Maya's Small Tells
The café grew livelier as the evening rush approached. More customers trickled in, yet Maya remained hyperaware of Aiden's presence. His attention, though subtle, never seemed to drift far from her.
At one point, Lily grabbed Maya's hand, tugging gently. "You should come over and play with us sometime!"
Maya's breath caught.
Lily's innocent invitation shouldn't have rattled her. But the idea of stepping further into their world, into something warm and unfamiliar, left her hesitant.
"Well, I don't know, sweetheart…"
"Why not? Daddy can make pancakes!" Lily insisted.
Before Maya could answer, Aiden's voice cut in.
"Lily." His tone was firm but not unkind.
The little girl pouted, but Aiden met Maya's gaze with an unreadable expression.
"She just likes making friends easily," he said, almost as if he were trying to explain something deeper.
Maya nodded, forcing a small smile. "She's very sweet."
The tension in Aiden's posture lessened, but the weight of the moment lingered.
For the first time since she had met him, Maya felt like she had been seen.
And that terrified her more than anything else.