Chapter 6 #2
Did that mean Brad didn’t? “I could do dinner.” Luca really hoped he didn’t regret this decision.
“Yeah?” Brad’s bright blue eyes lit up. “Does seven work for you? I thought we could have dinner over at the Cantina then take a walk on the beach.”
That sounded all romantic and shit. “Sure. Seven works for me.”
Brad bounced up the stairs, placing a gentle kiss on Luca’s cheek before hurrying back. He was halfway down the staircase before he turned around. “I’ll see you tonight. Have a good day.”
“Uh yeah.” Luca pressed his fingers to the spot that Brad had kissed. Was this the same man that Luca had been snarking at for the past month? Well, no, it obviously wasn’t. It might be the man that had sat with him on the nursery floor, allowing Luca to climb all over him.
Shaking his head, Luca continued down the stairs.
When he entered the coffee shop, Luca was glad that the morning rush hadn’t hit quite yet. Dawson was moving around behind the counter, trying to get everything prepped.
Scott was there, taking the chairs stacked on the tables and putting them in place.
“Hey, man,” Luca greeted Scott. “Thanks for helping Dawson open.”
“No problem. I’ve helped James enough.”
“Well, your coffee is on me today,” Luca offered.
Scott grinned. “Thanks.”
Wait! Luca looked at Scott. The young man spent as much time in the coffee shop as the employees. Usually he had his head buried in a book at the back table, but he was around a lot. Part of the scenery. Part of the crew.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” Scott asked with suspicion.
“Hey, Scott,” Luca said with a wide grin.
“Hey?”
“What are your plans for the summer?” Luca asked.
Scott shrugged. “I’ll be working on some research for next semester but not much more than that.”
“Are you interested in a part-time job?” Luca questioned.
“Me?” Scott pointed at himself. “Really?”
“If you want,” Luca said. “I’m not going to have James much longer since he’s almost done with his probationary period soon.
Plus, summer is our busiest time. I’ve been putting off hiring someone since I hate to mess up the vibe we have going on.
You already fit in with us. I’d totally work around whatever you needed to do for school. And no pressure.”
“No!” Scott shouted. “I mean yes! I want a job. I’ve been wanting a job.”
“You have?” Luca frowned. “I didn’t know that. Why hasn’t James said anything?”
Scott rolled his eyes. “Because neither of my brothers want me to work. They think I should spend all my time studying and nothing else.”
Luca moved closer. “I thought you liked school.” He really liked Scott. Had he been a shitty friend?
“I love school,” Scott drawled. “But that isn’t the only thing in my life. I’m the same age as James, seriously only a few minutes younger, yet everyone thinks of me as the baby.”
“Nothing wrong with being a baby,” Luca teased.
“Not that kind of baby,” Scott said with a smile. “Just…I am more than capable of holding down a part-time job and school. Hell, I could date if I want to.”
Date? Oh, this had way more to do with just Scott wanting a part-time job. “If you do want to date, this place gets plenty of customers. Some customers are even regulars.”
An evil look flashed over Scott’s features. “You don’t say.”
Luca cackled. This was going to be fun.
“Luca,” Dawson barked. “Stop your evil planning and come help me.”
“We’ll plan later,” Luca whispered to Scott. “I’m an expert at evil planning.”
Scott smiled. “I like the way you think.”
Dawson groaned. “Why am I surrounded by brats?”
That reminded Luca of something else. He whirled on his friend. “You.” Luca pointed at Dawson.
Dawson paused in stocking the small fridges under the counter from the big refrigerators in the back. “Me?”
“You are in an awfully good mood this morning,” Luca accused.
Dawson scowled. “Am not.”
“You kind of are,” Scott said. “You even smiled at me this morning.”
“Did not.” Dawson crossed his arms over his chest.
“Oh my god!” Luca danced all the way to the counter. “You had a good time last night!”
Dawson narrowed his eyes.
“With Josh! You had a good time with Josh!” Oh, this was so good. And Dawson wasn’t even arguing with him.
“Work,” Dawson reminded him sharply.
“You are work,” Luca nodded his head sadly. “The right man won’t care. The right man will—”
Dawson threw a towel at Luca’s head before huffing and going into the back.
Luca turned and winked at Scott, who giggled back. He walked around the counter to finish the task that Dawson had abandoned. He could hear Dawson in the back, pulling out the racks of sealed bakery goods.
This little coffee shop was important to him.
Maybe it didn’t make sense that Luca was content to manage this place for a woman that was never around.
The owner had moved to Florida once her first grandchild had started to be born.
The income that Luca brought in allowed Sarah to spoil her precious grandchildren, so it was important to Luca that the coffee shop was well run.
And it was the people. The staff and the customers that made this place what it was. A second home for Luca and those who walked through that door.
Luca didn’t need the money from the endorsement deals. He was perfectly happy with a morning surf, running a coffee shop, attending a few classes, having friends that were as close as his family, and maybe a man that would one day let Luca call him Daddy.