Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 77941 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77941 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Caleb nodded. Working together was the perfect idea for the festival and maybe for them if they could somehow navigate the town and their connection and the pressure. He was probably fooling himself. A relationship with Rhys was definitely not a good idea. “We wouldn’t want rumors going around about us.”
“Right. You have no idea how bad the people in this town can get.”
“Are they not as nice as they seem?”
“No, it’s almost that they’re too nice. They want to help everyone by getting in their business. They mean well, but…”
Caleb truly didn’t want to be fodder for the gossips, but he also wanted Rhys. “We won’t say anything. We can get together tomorrow night after we’ve gotten back and see what we can come up with for our entry.”
“I should give you back your sweatshirt.”
“Keep it. You look good in it.”
Rhys frowned. “I’ll wash it, then bring it back.”
“Okay.” Caleb walked Rhys to the door. He unlocked it, then turned back. Rhys was so close. Only a few inches separated them. He watched Rhys’s chest moving up and down rapidly, and then their gazes caught. Rhys had been staring at him again. His eyes darted away, but Caleb waited him out. When he looked at Caleb again, Caleb said, “I’m looking forward to working with you.”
Rhys nodded. “Yeah. Me too.” He swayed closer as he spoke. Had he meant to, or did he just feel the same pull that Caleb did?
Caleb wanted to kiss him. It would be so easy to cup his face and bring their lips together. Not now. As much as he wanted to know what Rhys tasted like, this wasn’t the right time.
He took a step back, and Rhys pushed the door open.
“I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Yes. Tomorrow.”
Caleb stood watching him until he’d stepped inside Frost + Foam.
CHAPTER 11
The morning rush at Frost + Foam had slowed, and Rhys left Sam to handle customers so he could take care of some bookkeeping. He tried to focus on his cost analysis spreadsheets, but he kept replaying the night before at Cloud Nine in his head.
What had come over him? Had he fallen and hit his head but didn’t remember it? Had he really run there in the rain, hardly even noticing how wet he was, and then told Caleb he couldn’t concentrate with Caleb shirtless? His face grew so hot at the memory that he had to fan himself.
No way had he just straight up admitted that he was horny for Caleb.
He was surprised Caleb didn’t kick him out after that.
He was watching you too. You know he was.
Maybe, but Caleb also might have been trying to make sure Rhys wasn’t going to make some unhinged move on him.
He was flirting with you.
Was he? Rhys had no way to be sure. Flirting was a mystery to him. Possibly, Caleb just thought he was crazy.
And now he was supposed to go apple picking today. He couldn’t see Caleb in front of other people. Not when all he’d be thinking of was Caleb shirtless and the moment when he leaned closer, when Rhys had thought Caleb was going to kiss him. Rhys wanted him to so badly, but then he’d backed off, and Rhys had to pretend he was a reasonable person who could say goodbye and not run away like he had so many times before.
He wasn’t even sure how he would be able to work with Caleb that evening, but no way could he be with him when Tessa was watching. She’d pick up on what was happening immediately.
He called Tessa. “I can’t come today.”
“What? Why not?”
He forgot everything he’d planned to say. “I’m… I need to work.”
“Did Sam call out?”
He glanced toward the counter, where Sam was making a cappuccino. “No, they’re here, but I’m not at all ready for the festival.”
“You are not skipping our annual apple picking trip to work on your festival entry. Agnes needs to calm down. This isn’t a do-or-die situation. Frostwick Harbor is doing great, and even if we weren’t, it’s not your responsibility to change that single-handedly.”
He wouldn’t be single-handed now that he was working with Caleb, but he didn’t say that. Tessa did not need to know about the insanity of last night. “I still don’t have any good ideas, so I should stay and experiment some more.”
“No, you’re coming to Briarwood Orchard. I know you don’t want to miss the doughnuts or the bunnies.”
Briarwood had a rabbit hutch filled with rabbits from a rescue. Most of them loved people. They would hop up to the fence, hoping for pieces of grass or other treats that could be bought at the farm stand. Rhys usually spent a long time sitting in the grass by their fence, feeding them and enjoying watching them chew on lettuce leaves or grass stems. He didn’t want to miss that.