Killian Jones sorted his mail as he walked through the door of the brownstone he shared with his brother Liam and Liam's wife Alana. Liam and Killian had moved to the large townhome five years ago.
He continued looking through the mail as Alana waddled her way into the foyer.
"Anything interesting today?"
Killian looked up at her with a smile. "Two for one coupon for Charlie's Java House."
She rolled her eyes, "As much money as your brother spent working up the nerve to ask me out we should have part ownership by now. When they met Alana had been a barista at Charlie's Java House. Liam went in three times a day and bought coffee for everyone he knew just so he could see her. Then one day he finally worked up the nerve and asked her out. She said yes and a year later they were married and now they were due to have their first baby in less than a month. While Liam was stationed in Iraq. Killian had offered countless times to move out but they insisted he stay.
"She rubbed one hand over her protruding belly in a soothing manner. "I swear this baby is hyped up on coffee. He never stops moving."
"That's because my nephew is happy to be near me and not the oaf you married. " She grabbed his hand and placed it high on her belly.
"He likes your voice." Alana had this bubbly always happy and optimistic attitude about life. Her personality was such that she made friends everywhere she went and not just passing acquaintances but actual friends that she genuinely liked. Such as Maggie their once a week housekeeper. On Maggie's first day Alana and she had become the best of pals.
"Can babies hear in there, Luv?" He asked then raised his eyebrows when he felt a pushing motion against his hand. His face lit up. "That's amazing."
Alana smiled back and dropped his hand. Killian flipped through the stack of mail. He held up a pink card with pictures of donuts in tap shoes. Alana took it and looked it over.
"Grand opening of The Dancing Donut. Today only one free donut to every customer." She looked up at Killian. "Let's go get donuts and coffee."
"It's four o'clock in the afternoon and you can't drink coffee."
"A. Donuts are not just breakfast food. They taste great no matter when you eat them.
And B. I can't drink coffee but I can smell it."
Liam was out of the state for a Naval assignment for the next few weeks or until they sent him home. So it was just Alana and Killian and she was such a sweetheart he couldn't deny her anything.
"Sure why not."
The donut shop was a block over from their house. Alana insisted they walk that the baby needed exercise. He watched her as she moved uncomfortably two house lengths her long black hair was nearly the same color as his own. She had large cobalt colored eyes and petite in stature. What she lacked in height she made up in personality. Killian loved her so much he sometimes forgot the in-law part of their relationship thinking of her as a sister instead. She stopped at the second house and turned to him. "Go get your truck. I'll wait here. The baby doesn't want to walk." He chuckled as he walked back to his truck then picked her up.
The Dancing Donut was a small cafe that sported brightly painted dancing donuts on the window. Inside the walls were painted a pastel Aqua color. One wall held a bright pink shelf with pegs and various wooden painted donuts. The cases were silver and clear and filled with donuts of many kinds. There were tables set around the room mostly two-seaters. A small jukebox was playing a lot of 80's classics compliments of Emma Swan. She loved the classics.
Emma shoved a stray strand of blonde hair up into a messy bun for the seventh time that hour. She gave up and let it hang loose after all she was done baking for the day. She didn't know why she ever decided to open a donut shop but it seemed like a good idea.
One thing was for sure as she narrowed her green eyes to assess how many trays of donuts they were going to need of each kind for the near future, being trapped in the shop all day with the smell of donuts and coffee, she ate them a lot less. She glanced back at Grace, her irreplaceable assistant donut chef and co-owner, Grace.
"We are good through the rest of the day. Go ahead and clean up and take off, we close in two hours and you can go home to your sexy husband and put your feet up. "
Grace turned to Emma, her slight baby bump sticking out under her apron. "We timed the opening of this place just right because had we not waited, I would spend more time in your hideous bathroom than the kitchen."
"The bathroom is not hideous, it's unique. And charming. It adds to the overall aesthetic theme."
"It's hideous. All those donuts staring at you."
"Neal and I got it at a flea market a million years ago. I never wanted to use it, it was so ugly. When we bought this place and decided to open a donut shop I knew it was perfect. Where else would a bunch of donuts fit in? I mean, when I discovered this place had a shower and was not just a half bath, I dug out Neal's things, and voila! Besides, it is kinda kismet because Neal's legacy bought this place. He would have loved it."
"I know, I still can't believe he left you in his will and I understand Henry but you and he were not even together when he died."
"It's not like he had any other family just us, and we were still friends, I will always love and cherish the memories I have of him and I wouldn't have Henry if not for him."
"Very true." Grace pulled off her apron and sat down in one of the chairs on the custom side of the store. At four months pregnant she was just beginning to show but that didn't stop her back and feet from aching.
They both glanced up when the bells above the door chimed and a young couple walked in. The woman was extremely pregnant, Grace groaned in her head she hoped she didn't look that uncomfortable when she was nine months pregnant. The woman walked straight to the counter and looked at Emma with desperation.
"Please. I need your help"
Emma rushed around the counter and took the woman's elbow. Was she hurt? Was she abused? Was the man she was with her abuser? She glanced up at the man with a glare he held up both arms in a surrendering position.
"I can help you. Whatever you need."
"I need to use your bathroom, I know the sign says no public bathroom but please I need your help."
Emma chuckled of course. That was a kind of desperation she understood very well.
"Right through there and to the left." She pointed in the direction.
The man looked out of place with his black leather jacket and tight black jeans. He was gorgeous and his wife was beautiful, that was going to be a hell of a good looking baby. Emma decided. A happy squeal from the bathroom had them all looking up in concern.
"I love your bathroom decor! It's perfect for a donut shop." She came out wiping her hands dry on a paper towel. "I have never peed on a donut toilet seat before."
Emma glanced smugly at Grace who rolled her eyes. The lady sat down across from Grace and waved her fingers at the man they assumed was her husband. He shot forward.
"Donuts."
"Right." He moved to the counter and read off some of the names and flavors of donuts."...and Maple bacon chocolate." He made a face.
"Chocolate and bacon on a donut? Oh my God, that's the one. I want three."
"Three?"
"Make it four. One for me, one for the baby, and two for when I wake up at 3 am to pee and remember peeing on the donut seat here, then remembering the donuts and craving them like a dying man craves redemption. The baby will want donuts."
Emma laughed out loud at the woman she liked the way she thinks, "I'll give you six for the price of four since you both get one free."
Killian gave her a flirty smile, "What if I don't want bacon? Why don't you tell me about your other options." he smiled charmingly. "I'm Killian Jones. You have a great place." When she didn't even crack a smile he felt his own self-confidence fail. He rubbed the back of his neck. "Perhaps just plain chocolate for me." He pointed a finger at the plain chocolate one. His silver wedding ring glinted in the light that poured through the window.
She was appalled, how dare he flirt with her right in front of his pregnant wife. She pretended to ignore him.
He frowned inwardly; he wasn't sure why blew him off so easily. "Can I get a large coffee with that?"
"Two." Alana corrected.
"Two? You can't drink coffee."
"No, but I can smell it."
Grace was the one to laugh out loud, she held up her hand for a high five, "Amen sister."
Alana high fived her. "When are you due?"
"Not for about five months. You?"
"In about two weeks. I'm hoping my husband makes it home before then. He's in the military stationed in Iraq. He and his brother," She nodded toward Killian, "Moved to America as children then joined the navy as soon as they were old enough. Killian left the Navy but Liam stayed in, he tried to get out of the mission as it was too close to my time but they sent him anyway. So I take advantage of Killian's kindness and sometimes I use my pregnancy to sway him to give me my way. I know it's horrible and I'll probably regret it after the baby is born but right now all I have to do is mention to Killian that his nephew wants something. It's great!"
"I do that to my husband August. I have no regrets."
Alana smiled, obviously pleased to find someone who thinks as she does." Isn't pregnancy great?"
"I'm Grace Booth. That's Emma Swan, we own the place. Besides Emma's seventeen-year-old son we are the only employees too. It's exhausting."
Alana laughed. "I'd offer to help but I'm afraid I would spend my entire day sitting on my ass eating the profits."
"I'm so afraid that's going to be me in a few months."
"Probably. But if Emma is a mother, I'm sure she will understand and I know I will be here almost every day till I have the baby, and by that time I'm going to have a bouncing baby boy to bring in and show off to my new friends." Killian set her donuts and coffee on the table next to her, She picked up the coffee and pulled the lid off, and inhaled. "Ahh, thanks, I needed that. Killian bought me one of those fancy candles that smell like coffee. Not nearly the same as the real thing. I make a pot of my coffee every day and the only one who drinks it is the housekeeper, Maggie."
"But you have earned her unconditional love for doing so." Killian put in. He glanced over his shoulder hoping the blonde was going to come to sit down with them since the shop was empty. She shot him another glare from behind the counter. Blonde hair, green eyes with an edge sharper than a sword. He couldn't help wanting to get to know her better.
Alana took a bite of her donut and moaned. "Oh God, these are better than an orgasm." She exclaimed loudly.
Emma laughed while wiping off the counter."The highest compliment I have ever received."
Alana laughed, "Oh I am about to become your best customer."
Grace slapped her hand on the table, "And our favorite."
The bells above the door rang and a boy walked through the door with a brown-haired girl. "Hey, mom. Hey, Aunt Grace."
"Hi, Henry. Hi, Violet."
"Hello, Mrs. Booth."
"Violet, I love my husband and would never want to not be his wife but I am not nor will I ever be Mrs. Booth. I am Grace or Aunt Grace or Hey You. If I had a mother in law she would be Mrs. Booth. Now I love you like my own little crotch fruit but if you call me Mrs. Booth again, I'll be forced to take you out."
"Yes, Ma'am."
"If you value your girlfriend's life, Henry. You will take her into the office. I love you both but I am pregnant and hormonal and she is making me want to cry and rage at the same time."
Killian placed the lid on the box of donuts over Alana's objections. "Come, Luv. I think we have to go now."
Alana pouted and He rolled his eyes."I need to go home and rest, and Maggie is probably ready to strangle us for leaving on a snack run so close to dinner."
"Oooh. Maggie, we should get Maggie some donuts and a big cup of coffee. She will be less mad at us then."
"You do have a point. What type of donut would Maggie like?"
Alana hefted herself out of the chair and walked over to the case, "Let's get her a half dozen variety."
"Sounds like a plan. He looked up at Emma and smiled, "Half dozen variety, and a large coffee to go." Alana had wandered back over to chat with Grace, he smiled at her energy, eight months pregnant and still busy as a bee, nothing slowed her down. Turning back to the blonde who was filling his order.
"How was your grand opening?" He asked nicely...
"It's been fine, very busy," Emma answered.
"I bet. The closest thing we have to a decent donut around here are the frispy frames at Gas-Mart. On Hiatt Ave."
She looked up, "Frispy Fremes?"
"Fake Krispy Kremes." He explained. Her lips twitched as she tried to hide the humor she felt at his nicknames.
"I saw that smile, I'm winning you over. I can tell."
"Whatever helps you sleep at night." She responded dryly. Damit he was cute. She could understand his flirtation if his wife was a total bitch not that she would ever
"Now that you mention it, visions of you dancing in my head like a sugar plum will soothe me to sleep."
She shoved the box of donuts against his chest then moved to the coffee pot. She filled a mug and handed it to him roughly, telling herself it would be justified in the end when the hot liquid spilled over the uncapped cup. She slapped the lid on the counter and walked away.
"I haven't paid yet." He reminded her. His British accent was annoying her. She twisted with her hands on her hips and glared him down.
Emma said nothing, just set her jaw tight and stared at him. He met her stare with a tick in her clenched cheek. He slapped his money on the counter and walked out. Alana and Grace watched the interaction with wide-eyed entertainment.
Alana broke the tension and spoke to the room in general. "I feel like this is the old west and they're going to draw guns and have an old-fashioned shoot out any second."
"Save the pregnant women and take the children instead," Grace called out from her seat.
Killian strode out the door and climbed into his truck, then honked the horn. Alana rolled her eyes. "I love him as if he were my very own brother but he is as stubborn as a two assed mule."
Grace looked at the petite woman and grinned. "I've never heard that phrase before but it kind of fits. See you tomorrow?"
"Naturally. I'll leave my pet jackass at home this time."
Grace held the door for the smaller women to walk out and waved at Killian who was standing next to Alana's door waiting to help her in. She turned back to her business partner.
"What the fucking hell is wrong with you Emma?"
"He was flirting with me the entire time he was here."
"Yeah so?"
"He had his very pregnant wi-"
Grace interrupted, "Sister in law."
"But he had a wedding ring on."
"Oh, well he's a lousy husband but a great brother in law." Grace sympathized. "Maybe he's divorced? Widower? Maybe he just likes jewelry? Maybe he's a retired jewel thief and that ring is from his last conquest."
"Maybe you've had too much sugar today?"
"I haven't had a drop I swear." She made a cross over her heart with her finger.
"Okay, maybe you need some sugar. Have a donut." Emma shoved a donut in Grace's mouth and walked into the office to see Henry and violet head bent over homework sharing a pair of earbuds. She tapped on the table. "August will be here for Grace in a few minutes. I'm going back to the kitchen to do prep for tomorrow. I need you to say goodbye to Violet and watch the front make sure the coolers are filled and the coffee machine is clean. Wipe down the tables and chairs."
"Got it, but can Violet stay? We're working on Spanish Vocab."
"As long as you do your work while you whistle I don't care."
"Uh, mom, that whistle while you work."
"I know. I was trying to be funny."
"Oh, well you failed but I still love you. "
"Aww, thanks, kid. Now get to work."
Emma pulled her own earbuds out of her pocket and turned the volume of her music up loud and tried to block out the British adulterer that her blood was boiling in multiple ways.
Alana waited till after Maggie left and Killian was sprawled out on the couch with a book. She sat down in the chair next to the couch and sighed loudly. He didn't look up from his book. She sighed louder. He continued reading. She picked up a pillow from behind her back and tossed it, knocking the book out of his hand.
"Hey!"
"Hey is for horses. I want to talk to you."
"Then why didn't you talk?"
"You didn't acknowledge I was in the room."
"Lana, Luv, I always know when you're in the room."
"Okay, smooth talker. What was with you today? You're not usually so mean."
"I wasn't mean. I just don't grow roses with every step you like to do."
"You make me sound like a Disney princess! I just prefer to be nice."
"Well, maybe I'm not a nice man."
She glared at him and then put one hand behind her back and let out a soft groan and added a tiny whimper behind it. Killian was off the couch and over to her side in a heartbeat.
"Are you okay? Is it the baby? It's too early for him right?"
"Yes, no, and yes. I'm fine. Baby's fine and you are a nice man."
"That was a dirty trick." She just smiled. "I kinda liked the blonde. But she completely blew me off and treated me like scum."
"I saw she was on edge over you, maybe she doesn't like men."
"You think she's a lesbian? She has a kid."
"Doesn't mean anything. I know lots of women that are bisexual, they like men and women, and sometimes they have a preference. Or maybe she likes men but she has a boyfriend or a girlfriend."
He grinned, "A girlfriend, that's hot. No matter which sex she prefers if there is a partner, I won't interfere."
"I mean she might be just gay because you're so wonderful no one could ever resist you." Alana dripped sarcasm over every word. Killian just grinned at her.
"I prefer devilishly handsome."
"I could text Grace."
"Who is Grace?"
"The other owner, the pregnant one."
"She's pregnant?" He pulled up a picture of the other women in his head, Curly red wild hair, bright blue eyes, and a slight bump, hiding under her apron. He hadn't even noticed. "Huh. I never noticed."
"Obviously. She isn't very far along."
"What? Does pregnancy come with bat sonar? You can sense and seek out other pregnant women?"
"I suppose it does. I don't know, I have never been pregnant before."
Killian stood up and kissed the top of her head. "I love you, Alana. I'm glad you are my sister - In-law but, I can handle my own love life thank-you."
"I am going to go upstairs and sleep for a few hours till your brother calls or the baby wakes me up to pee. Whichever comes first."
"Goodnight, give Liam my love and tell him to keep safe."
"I will."
A few blocks over Emma tossed and turned in her bed. Visions of a tall dark handsome man wouldn't stop dancing in her head. She rolled over and scrunched a pillow under her head. It didn't keep Killian Jones from strutting through her dreams. She decided to count sheep in an attempt to sleep but soon the sheep started to look an awful lot like Killian Jones. It made her mad. She thought about the way he had flirted with her. It made her mad because she liked the way he flirted she liked his stupid accent and his blue eyes and his pointy ears and slightly flushed cheeks. She realized that she was thinking about him and covered her face with the pillow and screamed. Then she rolled that pillow back under her head and tried again. She thought of those sheep again. They jumped over the fence one by one and the last one turned to look at her and in a British accent, he said: "Sweet Dreams, Luv. "
She growled and tossed the scrunched pillow across the room.
The timer on the oven dinged and Grace swapped freshly baked donuts with a metal tray full of raw donuts. She turned to look at Emma who was bathing the round in chocolate icing. She had barely looked up from her work. Since it was Saturday they had come to the shop early Saturday was one of their busiest days. They left Grace's husband August in charge of the front of the store.
August stepped into the kitchen and picked up an iced donut and took a bite. Emma didn't even lookup.
"That's coming out of your pay."
"You don't pay me."
"You're right. So you owe me three dollars."
August looked at the remainder of his treat and frowned. "These are three dollars each?"
"They're gourmet."
"That's just a fancy way of saying expensive."
"It is what it is," Emma said curtly.
August raised his eyebrows at Grace. She sighed. August looked at Emma. "Did you have a bad night?"
"I didn't sleep well. Kept thinking of the married idiot that was flirting with me yesterday."
"Ooh come on tell papa all about it."
Emma laughed in spite of herself. She threw a wad of dough at him.
"Go away. Don't you have a book to write?"
"Actually, I finished it last night and sent it off to my editor."
Both women exclaimed excitedly. "What?"
"What's it about?" Emma asked.
"I'll tell you if you tell me about the married guy."
"That's not fair."
"Tit for tat"
"That's a stupid saying."
August shrugged and Emma glared at him and sighed. "His name is Killian. He came in with this wonderfully delightful and very pregnant woman yesterday and I thought they were married and he kept flirting with me. He wears a wedding ring. The woman told Grace she was his sister in law."
"Killian? Jones? Killian Jones?"
"Yeah. I think so."
"I can't believe you don't know this story." Both women shook their heads.
"It was in all the papers, I think it was even on 20/20. Probably make a Netflix film about it someday. Killian Jones's girlfriend-fiance was murdered in a home invasion by her ex-husband. Gold was interviewed all over the place. Very adamant about blaming Jones for it he said that Killian Jones had stolen his wife away from him. "
Grace linked her arm through August's arm. "But most importantly is he currently married?"
"Not as far as I know."
"That's great. Ain't that great Emma?" Grace asked.
"Terrific." Emma deadpanned.
Grace smiled when she saw the truck pull up out front and the man in question behind the steering wheel.
"Honey, I really need your help upstairs in the storage room. We're completely out of sprinkles. I think we need two maybe three boxes brought down. I need you and Henry's help right away."
She nodded her head toward Emma who had her back to them whipping a new batch of pink icing, then toward the truck parked in the parking lot outside the shop. August grabbed Henry by the shoulder.
"We need to bring heavy boxes downstairs." Henry shrugged and followed August upstairs.
"I am just going to go make sure they bring the right boxes down," Grace told Emma. "You might want to watch for customers."
Emma turned to Grace and narrowed her eyes as the redhead dashed quickly up the stairs. She brushed the excess flour off her hands and walked to the hand sink to wash her hands. She heard the bells over the door chime and didn't have to see to know it, Killian Jones,
"Damnit Grace," She cursed under her breath. The woman was about as subtle as a brick through a window. She looked her eyes toward the upstairs where she could hear feet moving around vowing revenge as soon as could be arranged.
Killian Jones walked to the counter and said an inward prayer that the lady wouldn't hassle him today. It was only seven in the morning and it had already been a long day.
"Hi. I need three of the maple and bacon, three bacon, and two of the powder sugared cream-filled long johns and two- no - three large coffees." He sighed and ran a hand over his face. "Can you just pour the coffee into my mouth?"
She decided to be friendly after hearing about his wife and knowing he probably wasn't married.
"Bad night's sleep?"
"I don't think I slept at all. We had a rough night and it's only going to be worse."
She reached out and touched his hand. "Not Alana?"
"Oh. Not exactly. My brother Liam has been on assignment in Iraq, he calls Alana every night and she didn't hear from him last night. Alana is freaking out and I gotta tell you I'm not doing so well, either. Liam and Alana are all the family I have left. Alana's family is all spread out around the country. I finally convinced her to go to sleep for a while. I need coffee and I can't bloody work the blasted machine Alana has. I figured a huge variety of donuts would entice her to eat."
"I'm so sorry. The order is on the house. If there is anything we can do to help. We've become very fond of Alana over the last few days." Emma spoke as she filled his order. "Please leave us your address, I'll arrange to have lunch sent to you. It's not much but we'd like to help. I know Grace would feel the same way."
Killian jotted his address and phone number on a napkin and handed it to her, "We appreciate it. I know Alana is pretty fond of your friend."
Emma gave him a sincere smile and he smiled back. He held up the coffee and said thanks as he grabbed the box of donuts and left.
Grace followed by August and Henry came back into the room as Killian was leaving. August looked around, "No blood. The building's still intact. Was this a successful meeting?"
Emma looked up. "Alana's husband is overseas in Iraq and he calls her every night but he didn't call last night and they haven't heard from him. Jones just came in and bought like two hundred donuts because she's so upset she won't eat."
"Oh my God, poor Alana."
"Poor Jones. Liam is all the family he has, I remember from the articles that his mother died when he was little and his father deserted him and Liam in the States as kids."
"I told him we'd have dinner sent over. I know we didn't plan to start serving lunch for a few more weeks but I figure we can make an exception for them."
"Agreed."
"Henry, you keep watch over the front while Grace and I fix sandwiches. August I need you to run to the market and get some things, I'll make a list." They all bustled into action.
When Emma pulled up in front of the Jones residence, she took in a deep breath. Then gathered the box from the passenger seat of her bug. She balanced the box as she walked up the steps to the brownstone. And with her pinky she pushed the door bell. A short woman with brown hair and blue eyes answered the door. She looked Emma up and down then at the box in her hands. "May I help you?"
"I'm Emma. I own the Dancing Donut. I brought food for Mr. Jones and Alana."
"Oh. Right, this way. Killian and Alana are in the study. Liam's commander called."
"Is he okay?"
"I don't know anything yet. I wanted to give them privacy." Maria said as she led the way to the dining room.
Emma set the box down and began unloading boxed lunches. Maria's eyes widened. "Were you feeding the entire neighborhood?"
Emma smiled sheepishly, "I overcooked. I always do."
"It will get eaten. Don't worry about that. "
Killian came into the dining room and stopped short when he saw Emma. He rubbed the back of his neck.
Maggie looked at him. "Liam?"
"As far as anyone knows, it's just lost communication. No signs of distress. The ship's still there, but it's been almost 24 hours without communication. The Admiral is sending a flight crew to find out what's going on. He'll let us know."
"That's good news then isn't it?"
"I hope so." He rubbed his hand over his face and looked at Maggie."Alana is sleeping. I'll be here all day and I will call you as soon as we hear anything. Thanks for being here Maggie."
"Of course. I will see you tomorrow." She subtly nodded her head toward Emma and wiggled her eyebrows at Killian. He grinned as she shook her head.
He turned back to Emma and looked at all the food on the table. "I guess we won't have to cook for the rest of the month. I didn't think you cared." He took a slight step toward her.
Emma rolled her eyes and purposefully held her ground, "I was just concerned."
He swaggered closer to her. "You were concerned for me?" His grin was practically eating up his face.
Emma watched him carefully. "I was concerned about Alana."
"Oh really?"
'Yes, I like Alana?" his face was a breath away from hers now. His grin was everything she knew she should walk away from.
"Sorry, Alana is taken. My brother will be very upset to hear you're making a move on her. Me however he wouldn't complain at all about."
Emma decided it was time to fight fire with fire and scoffed at him. "You couldn't handle it."
He raised one eyebrow and moved impossibly closer, "Perhaps you're the one who couldn't handle it."
She was not one to back away from a challenge. She grabbed his shirt with both fists and pulled his cocky grin to her mouth and kissed him. Before she could even process how wonderful that kiss was he opened his mouth and his tongue requested - no demanded entrance and her body betrayed her by opening right up and letting him in. Her body showed further betrayal when her hands snaked up his back and tangled in his silky black hair. His own hands had roamed all over her back and pulled her closer as he changed the angle of the kiss. On a moan, she pulled away and gasped. They stared at each other for a few seconds before she spoke.
"I have to get back to the store." She turned and picked up the box. He covered her hands with his own and looked at her.
"Emma."
"Killian, really it was just a kiss, it didn't mean anything."
"Emma. It meant a hell of a lot."
"Not to me." she picked her box up again and walked away from him.