Chapter 9
“So what’s up with the lighthouse?”
Caleb’s question startled Rhys out of an anxiety spiral about what they could talk about. This was a safe enough topic. “The lighthouse?”
“I was walking around by it the other day, and a tall scruffy man stepped out and told me it was private property. I tried to ask him a question, but he darted back inside.”
“That’s Derrick. He took over as lighthouse keeper after the previous keeper needed to go to a care home. He’s sort of a hermit. He rarely leaves except to get groceries and other supplies.”
“Hmm. Now I’m intrigued.”
“If you can bring him out of his shell, Tessa will be thrilled. She’s tried with no success.”
“I can imagined,” Caleb said. “So are you going to spill any of your secrets?”
Rhys sucked in his breath. Abby arrived with their drinks, which gave him a moment to compose himself before he glanced back at Caleb. He felt the heat in his cheeks. They had to be bright red.
“My secrets?”
“About the drinks you’re working on.”
“Oh, right. The drinks. For the festival.” What else could he have meant? He didn’t know about…
“What did you think I was asking about?”
“I… um…” Imagining you sucking me off the other night.
“I wasn’t sure. It’s hard to hear in here.
” Rhys knew how ridiculous he sounded. He’d repeated Caleb’s words back to him, so obviously, he’d heard him.
But all he could think about now was what he had imagined Caleb doing to him.
It had been so fucking hot, and now he was getting hot thinking about it.
The last thing he needed was to have a full-on meltdown or pass out right there at the bar.
“Are you all right?” Caleb asked.
“Yes. I’m just hot, and I don’t do well in crowds. That’s why I don’t usually come in here on Fridays.”
“It is warm in here. And crowded. And loud.”
“Yes!” Why the hell had he shouted that?
“Why don’t you take a sip of your drink. That’ll help cool you off.”
His drink. Yes. That was a good idea. He hadn’t thought of the cold drink sitting right in front of him. He picked it up, wishing he could press it against his cheek, but how much more of a weirdo was he willing to be?
He took a few sips and then a slow, deep breath.
He only dared to look at Caleb again after he set the drink back on the bar.
“I tried making a maple latte, but it just wasn’t right.
I couldn’t get the sweetness level I wanted.
Next, I tried going with a basic latte with a little nutmeg and clove on top.
It wasn’t special enough. So then I went darker, and it was too bitter.
I know that’s not what the judges will go for.
I don’t know what to do next. What about you? ”
Caleb smiled at him. “Kind of the same as you, but with different flavors except for maple. Nothing’s working. I mean, all the drinks were good, but they weren’t prize-winning good.”
Was it bad that Caleb’s struggles made Rhys feel better? He’d really been wondering if he should just give up. What if he’d made the wrong choice and they could make the perfect drink together?
He looked up and once again met Caleb’s gaze. His pulse sped up, and he started to get warm again.
No. Working together was not the answer. He didn’t need to spend time alone with Caleb, especially after letting himself fantasize about him. In fact, Rhys really hoped Abby got back with their orders very soon, or he might just have to leave without his food.
If Caleb had any idea what Rhys’d imagined last night or the way he thought about him every time they were together, he wouldn’t want to work with him anymore.
There was no way he was feeling those things too.
Sure, Tessa claimed he’d been flirting with Rhys, but Rhys didn’t see it.
Of course, he never did notice when men were into him.
But Caleb was like that with everyone. He’d just been flirting with Abby, hadn’t he? He was fun and relaxed, and he knew how to get along with people naturally. He and Rhys were too different.
Fortunately, Abby brought their sandwiches over a few minutes later. She offered Rhys a cup of soda to go, and he accepted it. Caleb drained the last of his beer and stood up. “I guess I’ll see you later.”
“I’m sure we’ll run into each other soon,” Had that sounded stupid? Rhys had no idea. They took their to-go bags and headed out of the bar.
“Good night, Rhys.” Caleb’s smile made him weak-kneed. Damn, the man was hot.
“Good night, Caleb.” He hurried across the street so he wouldn’t have to walk down the block side by side with Caleb.
He was too full of nervous energy and too likely to say something insane.
Or follow him all the way to the bakery like a lost puppy.
When he reached the door, Rhys hurried into Frost + Foam and sat down at his desk to eat and plan out some more drink ideas.
All he managed to do while eating was think about how nice it had been sitting next to Caleb.
Once he’d gotten over his initial nerves at seeing him, he’d felt more comfortable than he expected.
He couldn’t believe he’d talked to Caleb as much as he had.
He rarely gave more information than the bare minimum when people asked questions.
He didn’t usually talk about himself unless he was explaining his love of coffee and the way he’d developed Frost + Foam.
He could have just said he met Tessa in elementary school, but for once, he didn’t want to stop there.
He was starting to feel more comfortable around Caleb. Didn’t that mean he was the perfect crush material?
A knock on the door startled Rhys. He glanced cautiously out of this office as if he expected to see a polite burglar attempting to get in. There was basically no crime in Frostwick Harbor, but his pulse was racing anyway.
He exhaled when he saw Tessa standing outside. Though he did consider ducking back into the office and hoping she hadn’t seen him. She had a key, and she’d come in to turn the lights off if she thought he’d left them on.
Still, he dreaded opening the door. She was going to interrogate him about Caleb, and he did not need that. He needed to work on his Harvest Festival drink.
As soon as she stepped in, she said, “So how did it go with Caleb?”
He shrugged, trying to keep his face neutral. “We talked for a few minutes while we were waiting on our food.”
“So you didn’t want to stay?”
“No, I needed to come back here and get some work done, and he had work to do too. He hadn’t planned to eat there.”
She frowned. “Damn, I was hoping it would work.”
“Hoping what would work?”
“Leaving the two of you alone.”
So that’s why she’d been acting weird. “You were trying to set us up. You didn’t really have to leave, did you?”
“Of course not. Did you actually believe my ridiculous excuse?”
Heat rushed to his face. “Maybe. A little. I thought you’d forgotten to take cookies to Marianne for some library event or something like that.”
“I would have been a lot more worried if I’d screwed up like that.”
“I guess. I didn’t think a baking emergency could be all that serious, though.” A horrible thought made his food turn to a rock in his stomach. “Did Caleb know what you were up to?”
Tessa smiled. “Probably, but it’s not like he’d mind.”
“How could you embarrass me like that?”
She waved her hand dismissively. “It’s fine. He likes you. I already told you that. Now, tell me what you talked about.”
“He doesn’t like me. Not like you mean. He asked how we met. So I told him I moved here in second grade. We talked about moving and about how hard it is to come up with a drink for this damn festival.”
“Uh-huh.” She looked like she was expecting more.
“That’s it. Really.”
“Were you comfortable, or did you freak out?”
“I didn’t run away or anything. I was more comfortable than I thought I would be. He’s nice and…”
“You like him.”
There was no point in trying to argue with her. She’d been able to see through him since they were seven. “Yes, I do, but it’s not going to go anywhere. We can’t start a relationship when we’re both trying to run coffee shops here. The whole town would be in our business.”
“The whole town would be in your business, no matter who you dated. And Caleb is the new guy, so they’d be in his business too, but don’t give up an opportunity just because this town is ridiculous.”
“There’s no opportunity. He’s a nice guy. He’s friendly, and I managed to make small talk with him without completely humiliating myself this time, but now I need to work on my drink, so…”
“So I should leave?”
“I mean… Yes.”
She rolled her eyes. “And you’re going to stay here and work.”
Rhys nodded.
“What time did you get up this morning?”
What difference did that make? “Four thirty.”
“And you have to be back here tomorrow at…?”
“Five thirty like usual.”
She narrowed her eyes. “You need to go home and get some sleep.”
“You keep the same kind of hours I do.”
“I’m not opening tomorrow, and I’m also not stressing over a cute guy I didn’t have dinner with or an entry for the festival.”
Rhys huffed. “Right, because you figured out your entry weeks ago.”
“Finn figured it out, and the only reason you don’t have yours planned is because you’ve been busy stressing about Cloud Nine opening, so you haven’t had the energy for creative development.”
Rhys wanted to protest that he’d hadn’t been that worried, but he had, and Tessa knew it. Worse, she knew how bad his crush on Caleb was. He might be acting like it wasn’t a big deal, but he rarely ever fixated on a man like this.
“Come on. You need some sleep, and you can give me a ride home.”
“You don’t have your car?”
“No, I walked back to town after work.”
Rhys didn’t like that. “And you were going to walk home now?”
“It’s Frostwick Harbor. What’s going to happen? Agnes’s dog might jump out at me and demand pets. Or I might be accosted by the mayor and interrogated about the festival.”
What if she fell or something and no one was there? “Still.”