Chapter Seven
Autumn
At half two, I freshened up in the bathroom, put on a clean jumper, changed back into my boots, and walked the few minutes to Wild Bull Roast. I’d never been there before but fell in love with the premises at first sight.
I entered through a rundown looking gate and found myself in a shady courtyard with plants in pots and a few cafe tables scattered around. Across the gate, enormous windows revealed the roasting company.
Ross spotted me through the glass and raised a hand in greeting. His face was still grumpy, but it was a start.
“Hi! Wow, this is where you work? It’s awesome,” I blurted out as soon as I’d entered the building.
“Yeh, glad you like it. Uh, did yeh have a good day?”
Well done, Horns.
“I did, thank you, Ross.” I beamed up at him and took a few steps closer. “How was your day?”
“It was okay. I’ll tell ye in a bit. I just need to take this batch out so it keeps its flavours. Apricot and chocolate,” he added over his shoulder as he walked to the gleaming machine. It was almost as tall as him.
He released the beans from the machine into a cooling sieve, and inspected their colour. I loved watching him at work. When he was in deep focus his whole body relaxed.
“Happy?” I asked.
“Oh, yes,” he shot back. “Roasting always makes me happy. Help yourself to a cup if you want. The machine is over there.” He pointed to the wall across from me. “This is going to take a few minutes.”
“Don’t worry, I don’t need to be entertained twenty-four seven.” With a little wink, I walked over to his kitchen nook equipped with a fridge, small stove top, and fancy coffee maker. “Want one?”
“Yes, please,” he muttered as he kept a close watch on his beans. It was adorable how focused he was, like a dad observing their child take the first step.
He joined me by the coffee machine once he was done with his batch and had double and triple checked that it was okay.
Next, he’ll tuck it in.
“So, Ross. Let’s go over the problem one more time.” I leaned across the counter. “Spread it out for me, okay?”
Something hot flashed in his eyes and goosebumps prickled down my spine.
You can also spread me out if you want.
His fur-covered palm curled around my wrist, his fingers fully encircling it. Ross kept his grip light, as if I was breakable.
“Wild Bull Roast needs to work, Autumn,” he said intently.
“And I’m getting a little nervous because I can’t get new customers.
” He snorted, sounding more bullish than ever before, and tossed his head, sending locks of long red hair that had escaped his messy bun flying. “It’s not a problem of quality—”
“No, it’s not,” I cut in and covered his hand with mine, smoothing out the fur over his knuckles.
It wasn’t quite as soft as I’d expected, coarse and textured, and so warm.
“Your coffee is amazing, Ross.” I squeezed his hand gently and his shoulders dropped away from his ears.
“We get so much positive feedback from our customers. They love it.”
His warm brown eyes filled with tears.
Okay, I think I have a crush on you.
“Thank you, Autumn,” he muttered.
“It’s the truth,” I told him with a reassuring smile. “Why does it have to work, though?“ I asked. “I mean other than that it’s your company and you’re invested?”
Ross sighed and let go of my wrist. My skin tingled where his fur had rubbed.
Yup, definitely a crush.
“Wanna sit in the courtyard?” Ross asked. “I could do with some sunshine and some biscuits. How about it?”
“Yeah, sounds great.” He grabbed a packet from a shelf, I brought the cups of coffee with me and followed him outside.
Ross pointed to a metal table and chairs under the canopy of a sprawling moss pear tree. Sunlight streamed through the canopy of yellowing leaves and dappled my skin and his russet fur. We took seats next to each other.
The butterflies in my stomach soared when we simultaneously reached for a biscuit and our fingers brushed. He pulled his hand away with a small gasp.
“I used to work for a bank,” Ross explained after a moment of silence and the lightness I’d felt evaporated a bit. He’d mentioned that before, but I still couldn’t imagine him as a banker.
Ross was such a hands-on man, the one who shouldered heavy bags of coffee without blinking an eye, and who spent hours on his next blend.
“My job was to build financial models based on our customer’s data so we could understand and evaluate their financial health.”
“Wow that sounds…” horrible! I tried again to imagine Ross poring over screens and building complex algorithms. I mean, the idea of him in a white dress shirt was weirdly hot, and I bet he looked dashing in a suit, but other than that…
“Yeah, I loved the job.” He gave me a half smile. “I suffered a burnout almost two years ago and had to leave. I can’t go back,” he added in a pleading voice. “I just can’t, Autumn.”
Oh my God, you precious baby.
“I understand.” I rested my hand on his arm and squeezed. I’d always been a tactile person and wanted to touch Ross. “You won’t have to go back there. I promise.”
I flinched when something landed on my head. I tightened my hold on his arm.
“Hold on.” Ross raised a hand, a minuscule smile on his muzzle. “Here.” He plucked something out of my hair and held it up in front of me.
It was a beautiful red and orange leaf.
“Aw, thanks Ross. I thought a critter had landed on me.”
“No. Just a leaf. Autumn is my favourite season,” he added as an afterthought.
“Mine, too,” I said with a laugh and watched the enormous man get all flustered, something I hadn’t thought possible.
Ross got up abruptly, wringing his hands. “More coffee?”
“Yes, please. Coffee is my middle name.”
He gaped at me, his breathing agitated. I absolutely adored how it got all raspy when he was unsettled.
So sexy.
“Yes, thank you,” I clarified.
“So. The people skills,” I took up the point of our meeting when he’d returned with two fresh cups for us.
“I’m lacking them.”
“You said as much yesterday.”
“Came as a shock to you, did it?” Ross returned my smirk.
“Yeah, I would never have guessed, Mr Wild Bull.”
Ross shot me a glance but I could tell he wasn’t angry with me.
“I like it,” he huffed. “I’m just not great with people, that’s all.”
“I’d never have noticed,” I added in mock surprise.
“I was never good at masking.”
“Neither should you. I’m unfazed.” I shrugged. “I like a challenge.”
He snorted, sounding one hundred percent on brand.
“Now that I have noticed, Autumn.”
I shuffled around in my chair so I could look at him. “What can I say? I’m sure you have a charming smile, Ross. Sue me for being curious to see it.”
He pressed his lips together as if determined not to smile.
“See? That wasn’t too hard.” I nudged him with my elbow. “Okay, so we need to practice, what? Interactions with customers? Reading social cues? Small talk? Selling?”
“All of the above,” Ross said.
“Alright. Come with me.”
“Now?” he asked but followed me back into his workshop.
“Of course we’re starting now. That’s why I’m here.” I stepped behind his work bench and pushed a packet of coffee closer to him. “Just pretend I’m a cafe owner, you found my place on KrakenMaps, and now you’ve come by and you want to sell me your coffee.”
Ross stared at me for a long pregnant pause.
“You can do this,” I told him with an encouraging wink.
Ross grabbed the coffee bag like a life buoy I’d tossed him after he’d gone overboard. Then he struggled through his sales pitch. He was adorably awkward and over-explained his roasting process.
“You’re doing great, Ross. Tell me where you get your beans from, perhaps?”
“Oh. Oh, yes.” He went off explaining how he’d researched and written very in-depth software to find the perfect coffee bean farmer. He told me how they lived and had exclusive contracts and how much trial and error it had taken him to find the perfect time to roast the beans.
Please don’t suggest I sit by and watch the roasting process before I buy a bag.
“Okay, Mr Graham, that sounds absolutely perfect. Maybe you could offer me a cup of coffee?” I pushed the cup into his hand, and our fingers brushed and he took them into his hand.
He sank into my eyes and didn’t let go of me.
On the contrary, he brushed his thumb over my knuckles, sending rather violent goosebumps down my neck and back.
I took a shuddering breath as the air between us thickened.
Somehow his intent stare made my own breath come short. “Okay, I’ll take a bag,” I gasped, and Ross, realising that he was holding onto my hand, let go as if he’d burned himself.
Holy shit, what are you doing to me, Mr Graham?
“Right,” he stammered and hastily retreated out of my personal space.
“I think I’ll have to go now.” I cleared my throat. “Let’s maybe repeat this on the weekend?”
“Yes, okay. What are your plans?”
Sunday arrived warmer than I expected and I only took a cardigan with me as I left the house. I biked to Crumb it’s a bloody smoulder.
“That should be illegal, Ross. Don’t look at me like that unless you mean it.”
“Maybe I do,” he deadpanned.
The laughter died in my throat when his eyes captured my gaze and we leaned in. Static crackled in the air between us.
“Your cheeks are red,” he noted.
I ignored him. “You’re definitely improving,” I muttered and raised a hand to stroke the side of his face. Gosh, his fur was silky beneath my fingers. “But I think you’ll need some more practice.”
In a rush of courage, I pressed my lips on his mouth. A deep rumble shook Ross’s chest and his enormous hand came up to cup the side of my neck.
He was so large, his thumb and forefinger almost touched together on the other side of my neck.
Holy shit, since when do I have a size kink?
Ross backed out of the kiss, or so I thought, until he pressed soft pecks on my lips, then his rough tongue licked open my mouth and found mine.
I gasped when heat shot through my core. It was a hot and breathless kiss that went on for way longer than I had planned. Not that I had planned any of this. It happened and Ross Graham went along with it. He tilted my head to the side and delved deeper into my mouth.
The pointed tip stroked the roof of my mouth, and I had never truly understood how many nerve endings there were there or that they had a direct connection with my clit.
The kiss was fierce and tender and a soft groan escaped me when the other hand found my hip.
He massaged my butt with so much care his touch bordered on the verge of tickling, but it was just firm enough to make me wet.
When Ross broke the kiss eventually, we both fought for breath.
“That was really very good,” I mumbled. I backed away as his hands released me.
Ross looked mortified, but also turned on. “Yeah, that was definitely a start.” I cleared my throat and straightened out my shirt. “Pastry?”