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)
Jonah laughed. “That’s because she’s got a crush on you.”
Heat filled Caleb’s face. “That’s ridiculous. She’s older than my mother.”
“She can’t help but notice you, though, and it’s a thrill to have a new, attractive man in town.”
Rhys’s cheeks were bright red, and Caleb fought the urge to smile.
Jonah frowned. “Rhys, are you okay? Is it too hot in here?”
Rhys sputtered, then covered it with a cough. “No. I… I’m fine.”
Jonah gave Rhys a look that let Caleb know he didn’t believe Rhys, but he didn’t ask any more questions. “Okay, let me run and get the book you ordered.”
When Jonah disappeared into the back of the store, Rhys shocked Caleb by reaching for his hand. “I couldn’t help it. He started talking about the hot new man in town, and I…” He kept his voice so low Caleb could barely hear him, but he knew Rhys didn’t want Jonah to catch a word of what he said.
Caleb leaned over and put his mouth close to Rhys’s ear. “I won’t apologize for making you want me, and you know you’re hot too.”
“Stop. You’re going to make it worse.”
Caleb grinned. “Is that so bad?”
The second Jonah stepped back into the room, Rhys dropped Caleb’s hand like it had burned him. Jonah looked from one of them to the other. Caleb was sure he’d clocked them, but thankfully, he didn’t say anything.
Would Rhys put a stop to everything now? Caleb hoped to hell not. “I should get back to Cloud Nine.”
“Thanks again for bringing my coffee over,” Jonah said. “Will we see you at book club tomorrow night?”
“Not this month, maybe eventually. Between the shop and the hockey season starting, I can’t add anything else right now.” Except fucking Rhys several nights a week, and since I’m doing that, I can’t be at book club with him. Caleb definitely couldn’t keep this up much longer. He hated lying to Jonah, even if he was really just being evasive.
Rhys glanced from Jonah to Caleb and back again. “You asked Caleb to join?”
“Of course, I try to get all my customers involved, especially ones who bring me pumpkin lattes.”
Caleb needed to get out of there. “See you later.” He waved to them both and hurried out the door.
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.