I looked up from the counter as the door chime rang. In stepped Landon first and then Lao behind him. I couldn't help but smile, the two brothers were a wonderful sight to see. Similarly striking yet greatly different.

Landon was about an inch taller than his little brother. But his hair was in a nice shortcut that framed his face. He was leaner and dressed more could we say elegant? I mean the fact that he was a lawyer might have something to do with it. But I liked the way he dressed, mostly slacks and comfortable buttoned shirts instead of those stuffy suits. He dressed like a J. Crew worker, there it was, that would perfectly describe him. It also made him seem more approachable as a lawyer one could say. Although if I had a lawyer that looked like that, it wouldn't matter what he was wearing. Landon had both ears pierced, but only wore one tiny black stud in his left. He walked upright, head straight with the most confident demeanor that somehow did not at all give off douchebag vibes.

Y'all I was feening. If star eyes were really, that's how I know people would catch me staring at him. There was just something so warm and familiar that pulled me to him.

"Good morning Aquina." Landon smiled as he held his small computer bag in one hand.

"Hi." I knew I was smiling too big, but I couldn't help it. I even shifted on my feet shyly. I never got around to asking him out. I usually waited for the guys to do this, but this time I will make an exception. Don't shun me! You would do it too if you were around a guy like that.

The scoff, broke the eye contact that Landon and I held momentarily as his brother rolled his eyes at us. He shot his brother a look of annoyance and then to me scrunched his face in disbelief

"Oh hi Lao." I said brightly with a slight hand wave.

Lao frowned and grunted as he passed his brother and made his way towards the back room. I think it was a grunt. It could have been a hello back, but I wasn't wasting my breath. Like I said Lao looked like his older brother, just a little more edgy. Even though his face looked younger, his jaw line was more defined. He didn't have the same two-toned eyes as his brother, but his dark brown eyes held a depth behind that hooded structure. Where Landon was lean, Lao clearly worked out. His muscles were apparent which made him slightly bulkier. Where Landon had one ear pierced, Lao had both pierced and sported the same black stud in both. Landon did not have any physical markings on his body (none that I knew of yet) but Lao's neck tattoo was more than evident, even as it disappeared into his shirt. After having stared at it off an on, I had a feeling it was a bird and on his neck was just the tip of the wing that probably stretched out to his shoulder and either down his back or down his chest. I was intrigued. But of course Lao wasn't as approachable as his older brother was. Where Landon was all smiles and warmth, Lao was silent, cold and grim.

Two sides to a coin.

Landon sighed and shook his head as he made his way to me. "Don't take it personally, he's like that with everybody."

I shook my head. "Yeah, I kind of felt that. No personal feelings taken."

When Landon smiled, I couldn't help but smile back.

"Did you come to drop me off, or is this your lame excuse to flirt?"

We both turned to Lao who'd came out the back room with a box of the fancy china sets I'd just ordered. Even though he was talking to us, he wasn't even looking or facing in our direction. He put the box down and we watched was he carefully took the pieces.

His delicate handling of the precious set was such a sharp contrast to his tough demeanor that I couldn't help but stare at him. It was only when I noticed Landon watching me that I realized he'd been watching me stare at his brother. I looked away from Lao to Landon with a soft smile.

"I'm not here to just flirt." Landon replied warmly, giving me a soft wink.

I giggled like a little school girl.

We both heard Lao's sarcastic sigh in the background.

"I heard you were looking for a bakery, and that's what's been holding off the opening of your store." Landon explained as he put his computer case on the counter and opened one of the compartments. "I know this bakery that I go to occasionally when I'm in the area. It's a bit far otherwise I would go everyday." He said as he took out a business card. "Honestly everything about the place is phenomenal, from the service to the desserts."

"Oh." I whispered pleasantly surprised as I took the business card.

"They specialize in cupcakes, but I know once a week they branch into other types of baked goods."

Nana's Cupcake Shop

"Wow thank you." I replied, truly surprised.

"I gave them a call and they said that they would be happy to talk to you and figure out what exactly it is you need."

My heart shook as I looked to Landon. "Landon, oh my god..." I whispered breathlessly. "Thank you so much, this is truly..."

"It's really not a big deal." He waved it off almost shyly.

"You didn't have to do this." I smiled.

"You didn't have to do that either." He motioned his head to Lao. "We're all really appreciative of you."

I shook my head. "No he earned it. Trust me, it makes my work easier."

Landon smiled as he leaned on the counter. "Well I'm glad to hear that. If there's any issue, or anything else I can help you with. Just let me know."

My mouth dropped. I wanted to propose to him. I smiled and nodded. "Thanks a lot. Truly, thank you—-"

Lao sighed loudly and got up. We both turned our heads to him as he walked away and went to the back room.

I turned back to Landon. "Thanks."

"The baker's name is Phoenix." He smiled. "I think you two will work great together, give her a call."

I nodded as he tapped my counter. "Will do."

"I gotta go, or I'll be late."

"Don't want you to be late."

He started to walk away and turned back to me with a small wave. "Let me know if you need anything."

I nodded and bit down on my bottom lip to stop my smile. I watched as he walked out and the door closed behind him. His divorce was probably messy because the woman didn't want to leave him. Who would want to leave him? Unless he was a fucking psychopath, but usually I could sense the instability in those kind of people really quick.

No Landon was giving out the most amazing connection to my soul.

"Close your mouth, you're drooling."

I didn't even hear him come out as he snatched the business card from my hand and inspected it. I rubbed my lips together realizing that he was being petty. My mouth wasn't even open.

"Uhm, haven't you heard it's rude to snatch?"

Lao grunted and shrugged. "I'll call them."

I snatched the card from his hand. "I can call them, thank you." I took out my phone and stared wearily as he leaned against the counter, arms crossed. "What?" I whispered to him as I dialed the number.

"Do you even know what you're doing?"

I sucked my teeth at him as I pressed the call button.

Just as quickly he took my phone.

"Hey!"

He pressed the speaker and put it down on the counter.

"You're gonna have to learn to stop snatching." I whispered as we heard the phone ring.

He shrugged and I put my hands on my hips.

"Nana's Cupcake Shop, can I help you?" A young male teen's voice answered the phone.

I opened my mouth.

Lao got in front of my phone and leaned forward. "Hey River, your mom there?"

"Yeah, who's this?"

"Lao."

"Yo Lao wassup!" The teens voice grew more enthusiastic as I stared at the interaction in shock. "Older brother it's been forever. Hey Kazuki can you tell mom to come here real quick? Someone's on the phone for her."

"Okay." We heard a distant voice of a younger kid.

"Hey how've you been?" Lao asked the kid.

"Better. Nobody's messing with me now that's for sure." The young teen chuckled. "I saw Howie the other day, and he still had that arm brace."

Lao chuckled.

I crossed my arms over my chest and cocked my head to the side at him. Seeing my movements he turned to me as if remembering I was there. I frowned at him, and he turned his back to me.

"Just let me know if they try to mess with you and your little brother again. They're pussies for messing with kids still in school."

I hit his back and he shrugged me off.

"You can't talk like that." I whispered. "How old is this kid? Did you fight? Was this some sort of gang fight?"

Lao had the audacity to push me further away from him and the phone, as if I was interrupting his phone call.

"Hey." I grabbed his arm as he moved the phone away from me.

"Here's mom. Stop by the shop sometimes okay? You still gotta teach us some tricks on your skate."

"Sure. Will do." Lao responded as he tried to wriggle his arm away from me.

"Who is it?"

"It's older brother Lao."

"Oh hello—-hello?"

We both stopped moving as the softest beautiful voice picked up the phone.

I pushed Lao and grabbed my phone from his outstretched hand. His back hit the side of the counter. "Hi. Hello." I answered with a big smile as I turned away from him. "I'm Aquina Vichy, I'm Lao's boss." I turned and glared at him.

He had the nerve to stretch out his hand and ask me for the phone.

"Oh hello. Yes, I was expecting a phone call from you." She chuckled softly. "Landon had mentioned you before, you own the tea shop right?"

"Hi Phoenix." Lao said brightly as he pressed against my back to talk into the phone.

I elbowed him away. "Yes, I own the tea shop."

"Oh Lao, hello sweetheart, how have you been?" Phoenix's sweet voice rang out on the speaker.

Lao smirked at me and took my wrist, so the phone was now by his mouth. "I'm good." It might be my imagination, but I swore I saw him sniff my wrist briefly.

"I heard you got into some trouble—-"

"Nothing to worry your pretty self about Phoenix." Lao responded confidently with a smile. His warm breath on my wrist as he seemed to lean his head closer to the phone as if it was a walkie-talkie.

My mouth dropped as I stared at this youngster flirting, with what was obviously a grown woman.

"I have been crazing some of your cupcakes lately though." He responded. "It's been too long." His voice dropped an octave lower.

Was he seriously trying to flirt with this lady over my phone? I pulled my wrist away from him, so the phone was in front of me.

Phoenix laughed. "I see you haven't changed. I'll send you some cupcakes, but please stay out of trouble. River and Kazuki talk about you all the time. As their "older brother" please don't make jail sound cool."

I reluctantly passed the phone to Lao, because she was still clearly talking to him and not me.

He took it from my hand. "Don't worry Phoenix, I promise I won't go there again. I'll make sure not to get caught next time."

"Oh Lord." I heard her soft sigh on the other end. "Please stop giving Landon more work, you know how much he cares and worries for you."

With that sentence Lao handed me the phone and walked away. I stared blankly at his retreating back and then to the phone.

"Uhm...hello?"

"Hi. I'm guessing he didn't like what I had to say." Phoenix replied.

"Guess not." I admitted. "Sorry about that."

Phoenix's voice was light and full of laughter. "You don't have to apologize for him. So tell me Aquina dear, how can I help you?"

As I talked to Phoenix, it truly felt like talking to an old friend. She was as excited as I was. I wanted to meet her. Landon had seemed to like her and even Lao on the phone had smiled when he'd talked to her. She sounded great. Besides with two kids by the name of River and Kazuki, I had a feeling she was an intriguing human being.

I wanted to sit and have tea with her.

"I can ship out some samples tonight and have it to you tomorrow morning."

"Phoenix that sounds wonderful."

"Oh I'm so excited. Honestly Nate has been begging me to branch out, but I've always been hesitant on collaborations, but Aquina this just feels right."

"It does, doesn't it." I beamed. "Can I also send you some tea samples? Do you like tea?"

"I love tea." She answered.

I had long taken her off speaker phone as if chatting to an old friend. Lao had came back to the counter and was currently brewing something. I followed him curiously.

"It was wonderful talking with you Aquina, I'll also send you Shania's contact, in case you can't reach me."

"That sounds wonderful." I replied. "Oh and this is my personal number, please save it."

"What are you doing?" I whispered behind Lao's back as I tried to look at the different tea leaves and dried goods he put in the glass pot.

"Mind your business." He replied without turning back to me.

"Will do, oh and Aquina..."

"Yes?" I replied nudging Lao in annoyance as I went back to the wonderful phone call.

"You're in good hands with the Yang brothers." She said surprising me, as that's not what I thought she was going to say.

"Yeah?" I turned to Lao. "They were one of the first people I met here."

His back stiffened. He knew I was talking about him. I smirked. Good.

"Landon's a charm, but Lao probably needs therapy." I said casually.

I saw Lao's face twitch, as the corner of his lips went up into a little smirk. I smiled.

Phoenix laughed. "Sounds about right. But don't let his off putting demeanor full you. He is just as charming as Landon. If not more."

I lifted my eyes to Lao.

"Let me know when you receive the samples." Phoenix said excitedly, before we said our goodbyes.

Happy, I hung up.

It always felt so nice when things aligned and worked out. It made you feel like whatever you were doing was just right.

I pointed my phone at him. "You don't grab other people's phone."

He ignored me and strained the tea into the glass container. He rinsed the two new tea cups with boiling hot water from the kettle, before carefully pouring the tea into a cup, lifting it up and waving it slightly up and down until it was 3/4th of the way full.

"Don't ignore me. I know you heard me." I insisted. "If we're going to work together, we need respect and boundaries—-"

I trailed off as he brought the freshly brewed tea to me.

"Hurry and drink. It's the freshest 5 seconds after being poured." He ordered.

I barely had time to protest or react as he put the tea close to my mouth. I grabbed the teacup and blew it slowly before carefully taking a warm sip. The heat travelled down my throat. My nerves tingled, as I felt my body relax into a content buzz. An involuntary smile crept on my lips.

"What is this?" I whispered before taking another sip. The tea made me feel happy. Satisfied.

"How do you feel?" Lao asked.

"Content...happy, satisfied?" I responded as I finished the tea on the third sip.

He nodded. "It's a congratulation tea." He remarked. He turned around and poured some into the next cup before bringing it to his lips and taking a sip. "What is it?" He asked not turning to me.

"It's a black tea." I started. I walked over and he handed me his cup and I took a sip from it. "Cinnamon, coconut...almond?" I guessed the last one.

He nodded. "And?"

I drank the rest of the tea and he watched me carefully. I licked my bottom lip and Lao cocked his head to the side watching my lips. "Is it....pineapple?"

His smile was soft and it caused me to blink in absolute surprise. He turned back around. "Nana would make this when she heard good news." He explained. His smile, everything gone from his face as if it was never there.

I stared at him in surprise, and then cleared my throat. "Do you want to add it on the menu?" I offered. "Like a special tea a week?" I gasped. "Oh that sounds so cool. We can get repeat customers from that. If the special tea changes weekly." I clapped my hands.

Lao shrugged and turned around. I grabbed his arm without knowing why. We both looked down at my hold on his tanned firm arm. Instead of releasing him, I looked up at him.

"I didn't hire you just because of your grandma." I told him carefully. "I hired you because you make really good tea. If it's a talent, you for sure have it."

His expression didn't change, and I wasn't sure if he was listening to me, but he made no indication of turning away.

"But I have to admit...you seem like a wildcard to me."

Lao cocked his head to the side to take me in.

"I don't know what you did, nor do I really care to know. Your grandma said you didn't physically hurt anybody, so that's good for me for right now." I admitted. "Maybe the less I know, the better...but..."

"But?" He asked arching an eyebrow.

"I need to know if I can trust you?"

"You think I'm gonna steal your teas?" He asked.

I sighed.

"Rob you?" He smirked. "You don't really have much going on here."

I huffed loudly and pushed his arm that I was holding to the side. "I'm trying to——" I took a deep breath. "I'm trying to establish a working relationship here." I gritted.

"By asking if you can trust me?" He questioned with a chuckle.

I slowly closed my eyes and sighed. I put my hands up. "Whatever." I whispered and turned away from him. "I was giving you a compliment."

"A conditional compliment."

I whirled around. "There were no conditions to my compliment!"

"I will acknowledge you make great tea, as long as you comfort my anxiety by making yourself trustworthy." He replied.

I scoffed in disbelief. "That is nothing of what I said."

"That's what I heard."

"Then fix your hearing."

"Fix your compliments."

"What?!" I screeched in disbelief. I threw my hand up. "Fine, I take it back."

"Good." He responded. "It was a shitty compliment."

I put my hands on my hips, breathing a little harder as I watched him turn to the sink and clean the cups, using the wrong soap. "That's the wrong soap!"

He stopped from reaching for it. "Geez shoot me."

I walked over to the sink. "Go, I'll wash it."

"Just tell me what soap it is."

"You don't know what you're doing."

"It's just dishes."

"Give me the cup."

"I'll do it."

"Stop—-"

"Just let—"

"I'll do—-"

The teacup slipped between my fingers and we watched almost as if in slow motion as it dropped and cracked down the middle. A chip coming off. My mouth dropped open as I turned to Lao.

"You were the last one to hold it." He remarked calmly.

I wanted to hit him. God I wanted to slap him. I closed my eyes and exhaled deeply.

"Maybe you should learn to control your emotions."

"You have two seconds to get out of my face." I warned him with a glare.

He put his hands up in surrender with a small smile and walked away.

"Go make yourself useful." I muttered as I bent down to pick up the chipped cup.

What was wrong with me? Why was I reacting like this? I usually didn't let people get to me. Even this, this argument was stupid. I knew it was stupid. Stupid and childish. Why did he irritate me so much?

As soon as I picked up the cracked cup, I felt Lao's presence return in my space.

"Here." He said stretching out his hand to take the cup from me as soon as I stood.

"I don't want to throw it."

"I wasn't going to throw it." He countered.

It was then that I saw the small glass box he was holding.

"What are you going to do?"

"Do you ask questions for everything?"

"I wouldn't have to ask questions if you would talk more." I countered as I handed him the cup.

"Words lose their meaning once it's spoken." He answered.

"What?" I gasped in shock. "That makes no sense. If you don't talk, you don't speak, you end up getting misunderstood." I walked up to his side to see him add crazy glue to the bottom of the cup. He placed it inside the glass box.

He picked up a strip of paper and took the sharpie out of his pocket.

I looked at him briefly, realizing he'd gone in the back room to get all of this, while I had been fuming angrily about him. My attention turned back to him writing. I smiled. Left-handed. Him and his brother both I'd noticed.

He finished writing on the paper and placed it inside the glass box before covering it with a lid. He moved to the side so I could read it.

The most beautiful things in life are always full of imperfections

I froze as tears welled up in the corner of my eyes. My heart raced, as I read the words over and over again. I slowly turned to Lao.

He nodded at me slowly and stiffly.

He was apologizing.

My bottom lip trembled and all I could do was nod back. I smiled softly. "I like it." My whispered voice cracked with emotions.

Lao took the display and put it by the counter. I watched him as something weird stirred inside me.

"Maybe don't be so clumsy next time."

And then it was gone. I groaned. "You just ruined a perfect moment. How about you just don't talk?"

He grinned. "Told you. Words lose their meaning once spoken."

"This is not what this is."

"I said it." He claimed. "This is what it is."

"What are you even arguing about?" I asked. "I think you're just arguing with me just to argue with me." I put my hand up. "I'm not fighting with a kid."

He turned to me and narrowed his eyes. "I'm not a kid."

"Really?" I feigned surprise. "Than why are you so childish?" I put my hand over my heart in a mocked pout.

"You're childish." He remarked.

I laughed and shrugged innocently. "Hummm."

Lao sighed and muttered something under his breath, that I didn't catch.

"What did you say?" I asked.

"Hummm." He shrugged and looked around the tea room. "You haven't installed the WiFi yet."

"What did you say?" I asked him again. He ignored me and went to get the un opened box with the router and modem.

"Oh selective hearing is that what that is?" I called out to him.

"It's called leave me alone."

I gasped and ran to him, turning him around. "Did I hurt your feelings?" I asked excitedly. I know it was evil of me, but I needed the upper hand somehow.

He smirked. "No, I just want this old hag to leave me alone."

I narrowed my eyes at him and pushed on his shoulder. "Petty." I whispered.

Lao grabbed my wrist as soon as my hand left his shoulder, much to my surprise and brought it up to his nose and inhaled strongly.

I didn't know what to do, so I simply stood there in shock. What—-what was—-

He lowered my hand slowly. "I like this perfume on you." He stated simply and turned around to continue unboxing the router. "Different from the one you wore last week."

I cradled my hand as I brought it back to me. Cautiously I lifted my wrist to my nose. It was true that I had changed my perfume today, spur of the moment decision. But could he really smell it. I sniffed my wrist and caught the lingering scent of my perfume. How had he smelled it? "What is it?" I tested him. Maybe he was just playing games. Trying to have the last word. Trying to throw me off.

"Jasmine, linen and musk...goes great with your body chemistry."

Those were the exact ingredients in my perfume. Who was this guy?

"Next time spray behind your ears." He continued without turning to me. "Or inside of your elbows. The scent lingers more throughout the day. The pulse there enhances the smell."

I blinked for lack of anything else to say. I brought my wrist up to my nose and sniffed it again. It was there but so light, it made me wonder again, how had he smelled it? And had he smelled it before without saying anything?

I sniffed my wrist again for good measure before dropping my arm and turning around. This kid was going to give me whiplash. I looked over my shoulder at him, but he was looking over his shoulder at me. Our eyes connected. There was a strange stillness in the air as we stared at each other.

I looked away first in confusion as I walked towards the back room.

Hey girl, what are you doing?

What was that?

You don't know so just stop. You already know what you want. Staring at guys 15 years younger than you is not it.

No ma'am.