3. Crystal
3
Crystal
I wake early after an uncomfortable night on the blow up air mattress. I miss my king sized bed, I miss my home comforts, and I definitely miss my peace and quiet.
It took forever for me to fall asleep last night after listening to Dylan and Cam’s late night shenanigans. I’m a little bit on the cranky side this morning probably due to the poor sleeping situation and partly because Dylan is getting laid and I’m not. Dylan is more on the conservative side when it comes to sex, but hearing her last night has got me thinking that Cam is bringing her out of her shell which is a good thing.
Good for her.
She would shy away from openly talking about anything sex related or even when a hot guy would walk in a bar. She always rolls her eyes at me when I openly talk about my casual hookups and the men I find attractive. I know she isn’t judging me, well not wholly anyways. I’m comfortable with my sexuality, I’m not ashamed of the life I choose to lead. I come from a very conservative traditional family in the south. My mama would always tell me to act like a proper southern woman, and that meant no casually hooking up with men or talking about sex. Southern women have a certain standard to live up to.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen my mama without makeup on. She’s always made up, not a single hair out of place. She’s the typical southern woman always catering to the men in her life, which are my dad and her three wonderful sons, who can do no wrong in her eyes. I can just hear her now, “boys will be boys,” whenever my three older brothers do something stupid. To me, she’s squeaky clean, perfect, robotic, and cold.
I’m her only daughter and what a disappointment I turned out to be. She’s always lecturing me about something or other. I refuse to let my life turn out like hers, there’s not a single housewife bone in my body. I want my life to have more purpose than that. I like to think my life does have more purpose than that.
My mama’s life revolves around taking care of her boys and socialising with her friends in her “book club” which we all know is a front for them to get together and spread salacious rumours about people. I remember one time she went over to Mrs. Johnson’s house for sweet tea, and wasn’t served any food whilst she was there. Well that was the talk of the town for months about how poor Mrs. Johnson isn’t that good of a host that she’d talked herself up to be. I couldn’t wait to put as much distance between me, my mama and the small town as possible by picking the furthest college I could get into. I only ever go back to the ranch for the holidays, which I dread the closer it gets.
I stretch the stiffness out of my neck, and decide I need to run off the frustration of not getting a piece of the action like Dylan is. I quietly get dressed, making sure not to disturb the lovebirds and tiptoe out into the brisk morning air.
I make my way through the farmyard and down the track towards the beach. Cam showed me the ins and out’s of the property the first day I arrived. It’s early enough that I can just about see where I’m going in the early dawn light. I love this time of morning, when hardly anyone is awake and it feels like you’re the only person around. I find my way to the beach through the brush, and it opens up in a wide landscape of rugged Scottish coastline. If I didn’t loathe small towns so much I’d almost think this place is breathtaking. The sun is slowly rising above the water creating this soft golden glow making the water shimmer. Dylan told me this place is magical in summer but I love this time of year. It’s not too cold but cold enough to get that cosy feeling of autumn. The smell of rain in the air is my favourite smell. It’s so crisp and fresh. I take the only peaceful moment to myself since I got her a couple of days ago. Closing my eyes towards the rising sun, and slowly inhaling and quickly exhaling.
I take an extra few minutes to walk and do a couple of stretches before breaking out into a light jog along the sand. It’s soft and bouncy underneath my feet making me stumble a few times but I soon find my footing and pick up speed. It feels nice to move my body and feel the cold Scottish air on my face. I pick up the pace, the frustration melts away as my lungs burn the faster I push myself. I make my way towards the village along the beach. There’s hardly any people around still and that’s the way I like it. Small towns rarely come alive this early, why would they need to? The pace is a lot slower here.
The sand ends and the tarmac begins towards the main street, I pass The Drunken Duck, and Bits and Bobs - the little grocery shop. I finally slow to stop outside Sweet Treats. I peer through the window and can see a soft glow of light coming from the kitchen in the back. Looks like I’m not the only one who gets up early. I picture Rabbie working away in his kitchen kneading out dough with his perfectly strong hands. Oh what I’d give to have those hands map out my body. What is wrong with me? Clearly my run didn’t get rid of all the frustration. Dylan’s warning rings loud like an alarm bell in my head. But Rabbie is too fucking gorgeous to pass up on. Plus I’ve never had sex with a Scottish man and I bet they’re a different breed.
I glance down at my watch, I need to get back to the cottage and shower before I start my first day on the job. I back up from the window before I get caught for being a peeping Tom and make my way back to Thistle Down Farm. Rabbie consuming my every thought. How am I ever going to get any work done when I have my hot boss on my mind?
* * *
When I make my way through the door of Sweet Treats an hour later the whole place is packed except for my little table tucked away in the corner. A little blackboard with my name scribbled in chalk let’s everyone know this is my table. I peer over the heads of chattering locals, I can’t see Rabbie anywhere. I mean he’s pretty hard to miss. He must be in the back in the kitchen. I make my way over to the table and take out my laptop and notepad. I scan the cafe to find most eyes are on me, fucking small towns. This is why I hate them, prying eyes everywhere. I’m the new outsider. I try not to let the wandering eyes distract me from the task at hand. I need to get this website done, and a little slice of Rabbie then I can be on my merry way.
I look around and I see Rabbie popping in and out of the kitchen serving customers and making drinks. He looks rushed off his feet, but he looks like he’s enjoying it. Not one sign of stress across his handsome face.
He hasn’t noticed me in the corner, I guess he just wants me to get one with my job. He looks far too busy to come over and talk to me, which is a bitter pill for me to swallow. Usually I can’t get men to leave me alone, but Rabbie hasn’t looked over in my direction once.
I engulf myself with scribbling down ideas. Rabbie hasn’t exactly told me what he would like on his website like colour palettes, logos and all the other design aspects. I will have to sit down with him and go over that. I work away for a while creating vision boards for him to look at, I find myself yawning at my screen. From the lack of sleep, and my morning run I find myself in a mid-morning slump.
I know just the thing that will help me overcome this lull. I peer up from my screen just in time to see Rabbie emerge from his kitchen. His eyes lock on mine and a warm smile spreads across his face. A panty melting smile that has me shifting in my seat. Fuck, he’s drop dead gorgeous and he doesn’t even know it. He doesn’t have the ego of someone who loves themselves. His high cheekbones and chiselled jaw are so defined it hurts my eyes to look at him. And don’t get me started on his eyes– fuck, those eyes. They’re a shade of green I’ve never seen in anyone’s eyes before, a shade of deep green they look like jade. I like how they light up when he speaks to people. I’ve noticed it every time he speaks to one of his customers. I’ve overheard him calling every single one by their first names, and taking the time to ask about their days or a particular thing that’s going on in their lives. He’s really popular. No one seems to be in a hurry, and are more than happy to wait.
I try to make myself look busy as he makes his way over to me, he stops and speaks to a few people first which gives me time to compose myself. I’m concentrating on my screen when I feel his presence standing over my table.
“Good morning,” his voice is soft and smooth.
I look up from my screen and take him in, he smells like bread and cinnamon. There’s also another depth to the way he smells, but I can’t quite put my finger on it. I try not to close my eyes and take in a whiff of his delicious scent. Cause that would be fucking creepy.
“Good morning,” I managed to get out before breaking into a big yawn. How embarrassing, just swallow me up and kill me now.
A low rumble comes from Rabbie’s chest and a soft smirk plays on his lips.
“I was just about to ask you how you were getting on but I see now.” He raises an eyebrow at me.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t get a great night’s sleep. And I didn’t want to bother you for a coffee.”
“Och, I’m sorry. I’ve been a wee bit busy this morning baking orders and looking after the customers. Where are my manners? I’ll go make you a coffee now. How do you take it?” He smiles down at me, small wrinkles form around his eyes.
How do I take it? I know exactly how I’d take it. Why did he make that sound so erotic and sexy to me? I put it down from the lack of sex, and his thick Scottish accent. It has to be my favourite accent, it’s very primal and gravelly. I need to get my head out of the gutter, he’s simply asking how I take my coffee, and I’m thinking about sex. What is wrong with me?
“Oh I don’t want to bother you,” I protest.
“Dinny be daft. I was just coming out here for a break anyway. How do you like your coffee?” He quirks one eyebrow at me.
“Black, please. The biggest cup you have.”
A small smirk twitches on his lips. “That bad of a night’s sleep, ey?”
“Something like that.”
He turns and makes his way over to the coffee machine behind the counter. I try my hardest not to watch his perfect ass in his Carhartt pants as he walks away but I can’t resist a couple of sneaky glances. Even his walk is attractive, it’s commanding but not in an egotistical way. It’s prideful more than anything. His apron tied tight accentuates his board back, his back muscles flex as he walks away. The image of running my nails down his back comes to mind, and I have to fight the urge to rub my legs together in public. My morning run clearly hasn’t relieved any built up tension, or maybe Rabbie just too goddamn sexy.
I finish off the last touches of my vision board to show him whilst he makes our coffees. I don’t know why but I’m nervous to show him what I’ve come up with. I take pride in my work, my mama never wanted me to go to college, so I make sure I work hard to prove her wrong. I want to create the perfect website for him, I really like the ideas I’ve come up with, and I hope he likes them too. I’m busy chewing the side of my thumb to realise he’s made his way back over when he places the biggest cup of coffee I’ve ever seen in front of me.
“A bathtub of coffee for you,” he teases.
A small smirk lifts on his lips, and I can’t help but laugh at his remark.
I take a small sip of the dark liquid and close my eyes in bliss. “Wow, thanks. I needed this.”
“Here, we can’t have a cup of coffee without biscuits.” He places a small plate of Scottish shortbread on the table.
“Do you mind if I join you?” He motions to the seat across from me.
This is his cafe, and he’s asking if he can join me. Who raised his man? I don’t think I’ve ever met a man as gentle and polite as Rabbie.
“No, please. I would like to show you some things I’ve been working on anyway,” I motion to the seat.
He takes a seat across from me, his long legs bump against mine under the table, he flashes me an apologetic smile, like he often bumps into people with his tall stature. I try to keep my composure being this close to him. In our meeting yesterday we sat further apart on the little sofa in the corner, but this tiny table has us in close proximity. It gives me a better vantage to take him in. His hair thick and golden with lighter strands running through it that catch in the light from the window. It’s messy and unruly, but in an intentional styled way. His skin is smooth and fair, and his green eyes have little flecks of golden brown on the inside part of the iris. His scent wafts around us and I’m finally able to pinpoint the one I couldn’t before. It’s woodsy and rich, like cloves or star anise. It’s intoxicating, is what it is.
Usually I’m on my game when it comes to men, and never really take the time to study them as closely as I have with Rabbie. His calm and down-to-earth nature is what is knocking me off, usually I don’t go for the sweet guy. They tend to want something more than casual sex. Fuck boys are my forte.
He stares at me intently waiting for me to show him my work. I blink myself out of my stupor and take another sip of my coffee, and turn my laptop side on so he can see what I’m showing him.
I sit and explain through all the different fonts, colour palettes and layouts of his website, he doesn’t once interrupt me, he nods along, glancing up at me from time to time. He’s leaned in even closer to me now. I feel a sweat breaking out on my back, and I have to remind myself multiple times to take a breath. Get a grip Crystal, this is a business meeting.
After I’ve finished showing him, he sits back and ponders for what feels like a lifetime and I start to doubt that he likes any of my ideas. A flurry of panic sets in and I stress he’s going to sack me before I’ve even started.
“I like the minimalist look, with the soft hues of browns,” he points to my favourite one.
I let out a shaky breath that I realised I’d been holding in. I didn’t exactly make a first good impression yesterday by turning up to our meeting late, and then I was snippy with him for talking about my accent, and trying to poke his nose in.
“Good choice, perfect. Now I know what you prefer, I can start working on the website properly.” I close the lid of my laptop.
He leans back in his chair, and it creaks under his large frame. “Thank you again for doing this. Website designers are hard to come by in small towns, you’re doing me a solid,” he smiles as he takes a bite of his shortbread biscuit.
I try not to let my eyes linger on his mouth for too long, I distract myself by taking a large sip of my coffee.
“It’s not a problem. Although I’d be lying if I told you I wasn’t nervous. You’re my first big client,” I admit.
He brushes some crumbs off the table onto the floor. “I trust you,” he says, still looking down at the table.
I’m taken aback by his comment. He’s so refreshing, so laid back and chill that it takes me a minute to gather my thoughts.
“Thanks.” Is all I can muster.
I look around the cafe, and there are a few more prying eyes on me and Rabbie. I look at him and catch him watching me. It makes me feel uncomfortable and paranoid like I have something on my face. Why is he making me feel like this? Like some dork who has a silly crush on her boss. I’m usually in control of the situation. I’m usually the charming one, but Rabbie makes me feel like he’s the cool guy and I’m the nerd.
“I’m sorry I haven’t had a chance to introduce you to Nellie or David yet. Nellie is off sick today, and David does all the deliveries. So he’s hardly here in the cafe. I’ve been on my own today, rushed off my feet.” He runs his large hand through his messy blonde hair, his bicep flexes and I can’t help but wonder how flexed and strained they’d look whilst I’m underneath him. I cross my legs to ease some of the tension between my thighs.
“You should’ve said something, I could’ve helped.” I offer him a sympathetic smile.
“Dinny worry, the locals understand how busy I get and are never annoyed to wait a little longer for a coffee or food.”
He takes a sip of his coffee and I can’t take my eyes off him. He’s so magnetic in an unintended way. He doesn’t even know it, a group of young girls sit across the cafe and they haven’t stopped staring at him as they giggle behind their milkshakes. Rabbie is so oblivious to the attention he attracts.
“So, what is there to do for fun around here?” I lean in and try to make idle conversation.
“Well, there’s The Drunken Duck. The beach when it’s warm, and the hills for hiking.”
The mundane nothingness of small town life wraps around me and reminds me of the town I’m from. I try to paint an interesting smile on my face because I’m trying to get to know him a little better. To me, small town life is boring, it’s the same shit day in day out. Go to the same watering hole, with the same people and talk about the same shit.
“We’ll have to go to The Drunken Duck for a drink sometime,” I suggest in a flirtatious tone.
I’m waiting for him to pick up what I’m putting down but it goes right over his head. Surely he can’t be this oblivious to my charm.
“Aye, everyone in the group loves The Drunken Duck as much as I do, they’re dying to meet you. But I canny go tonight, maybe another time.” He shoots me down.
I don’t think I’ve ever been shot down before, especially in a small hick town like Crossmackie. God, help me if I’m stuck here for a while, hot guys are few and far between, and I need to sink my nails into someone. And that idle someone would be Rabbie, but he’s not getting the picture. Do I have to spell it out for him, because I will if I get that desperate.
“No stress, I think Dylan and I are having a movie night tonight.” I try to brush it off as nonchalantly as I can.
I want to know why he’s so busy that he can’t come to The Drunken Duck. Does he have a secret girlfriend that Dylan doesn’t know about? Wait a second, who am I? I never think like this over a guy. I don’t care about that type of shit.
He finishes his coffee and stands, he brushes the crumbs off his pants. I try not to stare directly at his crotch as he does this but it’s at perfect eye level.
“I need to get back to work and close the cafe. You can finish whenever you want, you don’t have to ask me.”
“Thanks.” I smile up at him from under my lashes.
Still, nothing. My confidence is deflating like a balloon, and I’m starting to wonder if he even finds me attractive. I watch him as he disappears into his kitchen, and I decide to call it a day. I’m beyond tired and I’d like to get an early night. I’m hoping Dylan and Cam have got it out of their systems and I don’t have to listen to them fool around.
I gather my things and stand, I scan the cafe for Rabbie to say goodbye. He’s at the counter talking to a woman, she’s got his undivided attention and I feel a tinge of jealous prick away at me. I give him a quick wave as I make my way to the door. He lifts his hand and smiles back. My first day didn’t go terribly but not how I expected. Maybe Rabbie isn’t attracted to me, but I refuse to give up just yet.