AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Not waiting for me to respond, he grabs a large jug of freshly squeezed oranges.
I grumble. “So not an alternative to coffee, but I guess it’ll have to do for now.”
He reaches for a glass, pours the juice and pushes it across the counter to me. “What about tea?”
“Nope, it’s got to be coffee. No cream or sugar.”
He simply grunts and continues staring at his ‘work’.
Okay. I can’t fault the guy— it’s four in the morning. Stimulating conversation is a bit much to expect at this hour. “Anyway there’s one brand a client gave to me. I don’t think I’ve tasted coffee so good. Such an exotic flavor. It almost tastes like… wine.”
“Which brand was it?” He pours himself another cup of juice and returns to his blueprints, making notes.
“It’s um something… ‘gold’.” I wrack my brain trying to remember the actual name. “Gold Label? No Medal I think it was. Yep, that’s the one. Gold Medal. Lucinda- my assistant says I have to order it from the website. Which reminds me...” I grab my phone. "I might as well look it up now.”
I notice Ryan go still just before he looks up sharply. “Why do you like that brand?”
I shrug, “It’s something about the taste. Why, do you know it?”
He inclines his head. “Most people I know hate that particular one. It’s a medium roast blend from Ethiopia.”
“Really! I thought you didn’t drink coffee? How do you know so much about it?”
Is it me or has the air suddenly gone chilly around here? He straightens to his full height and says. “I know the person that owns that company.”
“And did he beat you at a poker game?”
“What? No.” His brows furrow in confusion.
“A business rival then.”
He takes a deep breath and releases it slowly, almost like he’s striving for patience. Then returns to the darned blueprint.
“You sound really pissed about something Ryan. Is it the really coffee you hate or the man?”
“I don’t hate coffee.”
“It’s the man then, I get it. Makes zero sense of course since I don’t know the context, but I get it. Sometimes I can’t stand people for no reason.”
He sighs, “Can we talk about something else? Or better still not talk at all?” He adds wryly. “It’s usually very quiet here at this time of the day.”
“Sorry to disturb your peace. No one warned me coffee was such a sore topic around here. I mean it’s just coffee—”
“Stella!” He barks.
I raise both my hands in surrender. “Okay! Fine. Jesus.” I mime zipping my lips.
Grabbing the empty jug and his glass he moves to the sink. I glare at his infuriatingly gorgeous back, wishing my eyes were daggers. And that’s when I see the rest of the faded words in front— the back of his PJ top. I squint my eyes to read,
“‘If found, return to Ivy League.’” I roll my eyes. “Geez, could you be any more pretentious? You know, University of Washington, your alma mater, isn’t even an Ivy League college—”
He suddenly reaches back, grabs a fistful of his shirt, pulls it over his head in one smooth motion, then drops it to the floor.
“Whoa! Blind me, why don’t you?”
He wipes his hand on a dish towel and returns to the counter. “It’s old. I need a new one.”
I can’t even pretend not to look. “I agree. It had nine lives but is currently on its twelfth one. But you deciding that right this minute is the time to get rid of it? That’s just you wanting to show off your torso.”
