10. Cammi
Chapter Ten
CAMMI
Elias’s dark eyes searched mine as he shook his head slowly. “To the contrary, I love your coffee truck. And we should christen it, just not the first time.”
The implication that there would be more sent butterflies spinning madly in my belly. Although Elias had just given me a rather spectacular orgasm and I should’ve been sated, he was so hot that I already wanted more.
I was in a daze as he helped me off the counter and smoothed my skirt down over my hips. This version of Elias was nothing like I expected.
He’d been coming to get coffee from me for years. He was always polite and tipped on the extravagant side, but he wasn’t a man of many words, and he held himself back with an edge of grumpy. I’d actually assumed he didn’t like me. I was still marveling at him saying he’d wanted me since he met me.
Tonight, he was solicitous, if still quiet. He waited while I made sure everything was put away, taking his coffee with a warm smile. He drove me home and insisted on walking me to my door, which I thought was kind of ridiculous.
I walked in moments later after he had laid another devouring kiss on me. I leaned against the door after I closed it, pressing two fingers over my mouth as if I could hold his kiss there. It felt as if tiny fireworks were exploding in my body.
I listened to the sound of his tires on the gravel as he drove away and wondered when I might see him again. He’d insisted on putting my number in his phone, telling me he’d call me soon.
My night had been weird, to say the least. Dinner with my friends had been nice, but it had all been ruined when I ran into Brad, excuse me, Joel, and his wife. And my tire! Someone slashed my tire. I couldn’t help but wonder if it had something to do with Joel and Fran, but that seemed crazy. I needed to get over the fact that I couldn’t do anything about what his wife thought of me. Whether or not she believed that I’d knowingly had an affair with her husband was something I couldn’t do anything about. Bitterness twisted in my chest. I forcefully shoved those thoughts away and went to take a shower, almost reluctant to do so because I hated to wash away the feel of Elias’s touch. That man sure knew how to use his hands.
* * *
The following morning, I hitched a ride in to my coffee truck with a neighbor who delivered newspapers in the early hours. I opened at five in the morning during the summer, so my days started before dawn. I was grateful to be a morning person because I made bank from the fisherman and tourists who were heading out to the harbor to fish all day. They wanted coffee, and they wanted it early. I was the girl to make it happen. I’d always loved being out and about in these hours. The world felt quiet, as if you were in on a secret that nobody else knew, or at least not many people. I loved the sunrise and the feeling of watching the world wake up.
A few hours later, it was going on eight o’clock and I was finally getting a breather from the madness of the morning rush. My line was gone, and I expected a more stately run of customers now until things slowed down around noon.
My back was to the opening of my serving counter while I quickly stacked fresh cups and got out the muffins I’d bought from the ski lodge. I idly stared at them as I lined them up in the small serving case. I hadn’t wanted to compete with Misty Mountain Café all these years. Considering that they had a full-service kitchen, the only thing I competed with them on was coffee. I had to admit, I was good at coffee, and I usually beat them on that front.
I made a mental note to talk to Tess and Susie about their ideas for planning the concept of even buying the coffee shop. I heard the sound of tires on gravel and turned a moment later, anticipating my next customer. My eyes landed on Elias climbing out of his truck. I swallowed as my pulse took off like a rocket and my belly executed a flip.
Sweet hell. That man was hot, need-a-fan hot. Susie’s comment was stuck in my head, perhaps because it was so apt. He wore faded jeans, so soft the fabric molded over his muscled thighs. He paired that with leather boots and a faded light blue T-shirt that did nothing to hide his muscled chest and shoulders. I noticed that subtle hitch to his gait again, and my heart squeezed slightly.
He was off his crutches, but I knew that ankle break and the complications hadn’t been an easy recovery for him. I hoped he wasn’t in pain anymore.
The moment he stopped in front of my window, I felt as if fire flashed over my skin. I shivered in the aftermath of the blast of heat. I instantly recalled that I’d come all over his fingers on this very counter where I now held a coffee cup with my hand resting on the cool steel surface.
“Hi,” I squeaked.
Elias dipped his head. “Morning. Think you can escape at some point today?”
“Escape?”
He nodded again. “From here. Tire’s all taken care of. I wanted to bring your SUV to you, but it seems I can’t drive two vehicles at once,” he offered with a wry grin.
“You took care of my tire? Already? How’d you do that?”
He laid a ten-dollar bill down on the counter, and my eyes dropped to his hand. Oh man, now I knew what his hands could do. My cheeks were hot as I lifted my eyes again. If he noticed I was having a bit of a moment, he let it slide.
“I took care of your tire already because I’m an early riser. Can I get a coffee?”
I was flustered, so I focused on starting to make his coffee. “I’ll take my usual,” he added.
My eyes flew to his, and I said. “Oh! I didn’t ask. Although, you’ve never wanted anything other than your usual once I figured out what it was.”
His lips kicked up in a grin, and it felt special, like a little gift I wanted to reach for and hold in my hand. “True.”
As I got his coffee ready, I commented, “You didn’t have to fix my tire. Obviously, I appreciate it. I doubt you’ll ever need me to fix a tire for you, but if there’s anything else I can do, just say so.” I handed him his coffee. “You don’t need to pay me.”
“Yes, I do,” he said flatly. We had a little stare off, and then he stuffed the ten-dollar bill in my tip jar and took a swallow of his coffee. “Amazing.” He lowered his cup. “Daphne sent me off with a to-go cup from the resort this morning, but her coffee’s not as good as yours.”
“Coffee is kind of my expertise.”
“It is.”
We were quiet for a few minutes as he sipped his coffee and blessedly no one else had showed up yet. That wasn’t too unusual. The harbor work schedule was definitely early. After the first morning rush, there was a lull, and then it picked up again for the stragglers.
“Actually, I do have a favor you could return,” he said.
“Anything,” I replied quickly.
He cocked his head to the side, one brow rising as he eyed me. “Anything? Be careful what you promise.”
I rolled my eyes. “What is it?”
Elias’s lips twisted to the side, and he looked a little sheepish. “Daphne’s doing a fundraiser in a few weeks. She’s working with Tess on it, and it’s turned into this big deal.”
“What’s it for?”
“She’s raising money for a national program for children with rare diseases. If you didn’t know, her son died from a rare brain cancer.”
I nodded, a shaft of sadness striking me. “I’d heard that. It’s so sad.”
He nodded. “It is, but she doesn’t like to dwell, so this fundraiser is a passion project for her. Long story short, she wants us all there. I was wondering if you’d come with me.”
I was so shocked, my mouth fell open.
He almost looked worried. “Is that asking too much?”
I scrambled myself together. I was only shocked because he asked. “Absolutely not. Of course, I’ll go. Where is it?”
“At some place up in Kenai. I should know, but I’m just following directions.”
“I’ll go.”
Elias took another swallow of his coffee. “Awesome.” He glanced at his watch. “I gotta get out to the airport. I’m tagging along with Diego for a flight. First time I get to fly in months.” A slight smile curled his lips.
“Oh, that’s awesome!” I clapped my hands lightly and saw the old Elias pop out. He rolled his eyes. “It’s not that exciting. It’s just my regular job.”
“Yeah, but you were in a plane crash, you could’ve died, and your ankle got all messed up. It’s exciting to be able to return to your regular job. I don’t care if you’re not excited, I am.”
Turning, I reached for a cranberry orange muffin, which I knew was one of his favorites. Handing it over, I added, “For good luck. So, will you text me the details for the fundraiser?”
“I need to take you up to get your SUV,” he reminded me. “I’ll be back from this trip around one. Will you have anybody here then? I can take you right up.”
For a moment, I was going to say I could find someone else, but that was just because I was feeling overwhelmed with all of this. Elias had been beyond nice about helping with my tire, and it seemed rude to dismiss his help.
“That’ll work. I’ll make sure I’ve got help this afternoon. I think I already have it lined up, but sometimes I lose track.”
He held my gaze, just long enough that my pulse raced and my breath got shallow all over again. “I’ll see you then.”
I might’ve stared at his mighty fine ass as he walked away, only managing to tear my eyes free when two cars pulled into the parking lot.