Chapter 19
Rhys glared at Jonah.
“What’s that for?”
“You didn’t have to go talking about how hot he was.”
Jonah rolled his eyes. “I said Agnes found him hot, not that you did.”
“You said he was hot. You stated a fact.”
“I mean. It is a fact, right?” Jonah was looking at him like he was being ridiculous. He probably was, but he couldn’t help it.
“Yes, but… I can’t be normal around him.”
“I noticed.”
Rhys groaned. “I should go.”
“Without your book?”
“Oh, right, my book.” The one Caleb may have seen, Roping the Cowboy.
Jonah handed him the bag. “Enjoy.”
“You could have waited until Caleb left to go get it.”
“I don’t think he saw the cover. I was careful not to flash it around.”
“I know, but he might have seen it.” Heat filled his face at that thought.
“I really don’t think he did.” Rhys had a feeling Jonah was pacifying him. If Caleb had seen, if he teased Rhys tonight, he wasn’t sure he could stand it.
“Whether he saw or not, I can tell you he’s got it bad for you. Poor Agnes doesn’t stand a chance.”
Rhys’s mouth dropped open.
“You really hadn’t noticed, had you? Maybe because you were too busy mooning over him.”
“What? I’m not… I haven’t… And he’s…”
“He likes you.”
Rhys shook his head. “No way.”
“Trust me on this. We’ve all seen how he looks at you when you aren’t watching him, which, admittedly, isn’t all that often.”
“Jonah!” Rhys looked around to make sure no one in the store was looking at them. “I’ve already told you dating Caleb is not an option.”
Jonah sighed. “You know we’d all protect you from the worst of the gossips.”
“I know you’d try, but think about it. Agnes will be devastated.”
Jonah laughed. “You know she’s just thrilled to be around him. She isn’t actually wanting to date him or something.”
“Of course not, but there’s no way she won’t start an all-out campaign for us to be together if she thinks there’s a chance. She loves being a matchmaker.”
“True. She might ask if she can watch.”
Rhys shook his head in horror. “Oh my God. I’m leaving.”
Jonah laughed. “Have a fun afternoon.”
Rhys had intended to have a quiet afternoon, but now his head was spinning.
How many people had noticed his interest in Caleb?
Was it only his close friends? Had Caleb seen what he was reading?
Would he ask him about it? And worse than any of those problems was the flash of hurt he’d seen in Caleb’s eyes when he’d jerked his hand away.
Caleb seemed to understand why he didn’t want to tell anyone about them, but he was clearly having a hard time with it.
Honestly, Rhys was too. Hiding and keeping the truth from his friends sucked.
Maybe he could at least figure out a way to make it up to Caleb the next time they got together.
Between Caleb’s hockey game and book club, Rhys had gone a few days without being alone with Caleb.
He’d promised to bring dinner for their work session tonight, and he’d decided to bring something special instead of ordering pizza or sandwiches from the pub.
That was the best way he’d thought of to apologize for hurting Caleb when they saw each other at the bookstore.
When business tapered off for the afternoon, Rhys took a break and crossed the street to the bakery. Tessa was thrilled to see him. “Caleb was just in here.”
“What did he need?” Rhys tried to act only mildly interested, but he wanted to know what she’d said to Caleb.
“He just wanted to discuss some additions to his standing order.”
That was a lie. He knew Tessa well enough to know her tells, but if he called her on it, he’d betray his own interest in Caleb.
“He looked good today,” she said. “He had on a green shirt. That’s such a good color on him.”
Rhys glanced around to make sure no one was listening. “He looks good every day.”
Tess grinned. “That’s true enough. You look nice today too. What’s the occasion?”
“No occasion.” Rhys shifted from one foot to another. He didn’t want Tessa picking up on anything that might give her more clues about what was going on with him and Caleb. This was exactly why he didn’t want her to know they were working together.
She studied him for far too long before saying, “It looked like you and Caleb had a nice chat at the orchard.”
Rhys shrugged, hoping Tessa couldn’t tell he was panicking inside. “He liked feeding the rabbits too.”
“I think he liked talking to you more,” Finn said as he walked in from the back.
“You’re matchmaking too now?”
Finn just laughed.
“You have to know I’m not going to date someone who’s running a business down the street from me.” Once again, Rhys glanced around, making sure no one was approaching the counter. “That’s a disaster waiting to happen.”
“He’s a nice guy, and it’s a small town. You can’t be too picky.”
“I can want a tiny bit of privacy.”
“Sorry,” Tessa said. He could tell she was worried she was pushing too hard.
“I know you mean well.”
“I do. I want the best for you.”
It was time to get out of there. “Could I get a baguette?”
“Are you sure there’s not an occasion?”
“Not other than wanting baguette with my dinner.” He did usually buy their white farmstead bread, but a baguette shouldn’t seem too strange.
“You’re changing your routine. What are you making?”
He narrowed his eyes. “Do you ask all your customers what they’re using the products for?”
Tessa smiled. “No, I reserve that treatment for my best friends.”
“Maybe your best friend just wants some bread, and it’s no big deal.”
She tilted her head and looked at him.
“Plenty of people like to switch up what they eat.”
“Yes, but not you, and you’re being mysterious lately.”
What did that mean? “No, I’m not.”
Finally, she grabbed a baguette from the basket where they kept them, slid it into a long paper bag, and handed it to him. “Enjoy your bread.”
Rhys frowned. “Aren’t you going to ring me up?”
“No, consider it payment for letting me annoy you.”
“Tessa, I don’t—”
“Watch out, or I’ll add some cookies to your order.”
“Fine. I’m going now.”
“What are you up to tonight other than eating a baguette?”
He shrugged. “Nothing special. It’s just a normal Monday night.”
“Right, because you’re acting so normal.”
“Leave him alone,” Finn said.
Rhys inclined his head toward Finn. “Thanks.”
Tessa huffed. “All right. Go home. Be boring. Do whatever is normal.”
“Did you decide on your festival drink?” Finn asked.
Rhys realized he should’ve said he was working on his drink that night. Then, if they saw his car back at the shop, they wouldn’t question it.
“No, I guess I should work on that tonight.” Tessa glanced at Finn, and Rhys knew he wasn’t getting out of there yet.
“And you forgot about that a minute ago?” Tessa asked.
“No. Yes. It’s not part of my normal routine to go back to the shop.”
“Wow, something really is going on with you,” Tessa said.
Rhys wondered if he should just tell her. She was going to figure it out eventually. “I’m going now. I’ll see you later.”
“Bye,” Tessa and Finn said together as he practically ran for the door.
After Rhys closed up Frost + Foam for the day, he drove over to the next town to shop at a gourmet market.
He wasn’t as likely to run into anyone there, and they would have everything he needed for the dinner he’d planned.
What he hadn’t told Tessa was that he needed the baguette to go with a charcuterie board he was making for him and Caleb.
He wasn’t skilled at cooking, and he doubted Caleb wanted scrambled eggs or ramen, but at least he could put together something that looked fancy.
As he selected meats and cheeses, he second-guessed himself. Was this a ridiculous idea? He didn’t even know what kind of cheese Caleb liked. At least he did know Caleb wouldn’t be disappointed when he didn’t include blue cheese.
Maybe he should get them takeout like usual, but he wanted to do something nice. He knew Caleb was frustrated with their situation, and he didn’t want to fuck things up. He liked kissing Caleb way too much.
Rhys still couldn’t believe he’d been the one to initiate things between them.
He’d practically jumped Caleb. What was wrong with him?
He had no self-control around Caleb. He’d never been like that around other men.
He’d enjoyed hookups, but not like he did with Caleb.
He’d never needed a man so much he thought he might die if he couldn’t have them.
And it wasn’t just the kissing. Rhys’s face heated at the thought of the other things they’d done, but it wasn’t just sex either.
It was Caleb, as a person. Rhys really liked him.
What was he going to do if they kept seeing each other?
And they would, at least until the festival, but what then? Could they just become friends?
For years, Rhys had only hooked up with guys from out of town so he didn’t have to see them again afterward. He wasn’t any good at being friends with somebody he’d fucked, and that was when there weren’t deeper feelings involved. With Caleb, he was already feeling way too much.
Rhys pushed those thoughts away while he finished his shopping. As he approached the checkout, he realized he might have gotten too much food, but he didn’t know how hungry Caleb would be, and he wanted to make sure he had enough.
“Having a party?” the guy at the counter asked.
“Oh, yes.” It was easier to lie than to say he was panicking about how much he needed to feed himself and one other guy.
“This is my favorite cheese,” the guy said as he scanned the wedge of Port Salut.
“It is?”
“Yes. I’m sure your guests will love it.” Rhys nodded his agreement.
As soon as he was in the car, he hurried home. He wanted to have plenty of time to put things together before he needed to be at Cloud Nine.
A few hours later, Rhys pulled into a parking space a block down from Cloud Nine.
He knew they couldn’t keep working together in secret much longer, even if he wanted to, so he decided not to worry about someone seeing him entering Cloud Nine after hours.
He was far more worried that he’d made the wrong choice about dinner, but it was too late now.
He didn’t have time to get something else or run home.
If Caleb didn’t like the charcuterie, Rhys could walk to the pub and get them something else.
He was about to get out of the car when he saw Caleb through the windows. He was wearing dark jeans and a dark green button-up with the sleeves rolled back. He looked incredible. No wonder Tessa had commented on his outfit. Rhys would’ve been happy to get on his knees and lick Caleb’s forearms.
Maybe he would before the night was over, but first, he had to actually go knock on the door.