Our conversation was stilted, but it improved the longer we sat there. I found myself sneaking in people skills tips and modelling small talk for Ross. It was the best morning I’d had in a long, long time. Ross stopped me from getting out when he parked outside of Scales & Steam. “Autumn, there’s one more thing.”
“Oh…” My happiness deflated like a punctured balloon. “I understand that it’s too much of a detour for you. It’s no big deal, I’ll manage, it’s fine.” I gave him what I hoped was a convincing smile.
“What I intended to say,” Ross interrupted me with his hand on my arm, “...is: please wait in your house tomorrow. I can wait a few minutes for you to get outside to the van. It’s getting colder every day.”
I’d never noticed before how the tips of his horns gleamed, like he polished them.
Wait, does he polish his horns?
“Oh, oh yeah.” I came back to the present. I shook my head to clear it. “Okay.”
I wasn’t used to people taking care of me. “Do you want to come inside for a cup or do you have to leave straight away?”
“Yes, I can do that,” Ross said. He followed me to the door and entered the darkness of the cafe behind me. I flipped the two switches on the left side of the door and the lights doused the room in their warm glow.
“You know, I have, uh, a proposition, Autumn.” He wrung his enormous hands and the flex of his forearms momentarily distracted me from what he was saying.
“You’re good with people, aren’t you?”
I cocked an eyebrow at him.
“Is that a rhetorical question?”
“Yes.” Ross snorted and his shoulders dropped a few inches.
He’s so big.
“I suck at dealing with people, okay? I don’t evenlikemost people, but unfortunately I need them to buy my products.”
Oh my God, his unfiltered honesty was so disarming and charming that laughter burst out of me.
This big grump is so adorable.
Ross’ eyes narrowed on me for a moment and then he joined in. I’d never seen him this mischievous before and it did something to me.
“I need someone to help me become better at this ‘people thing’.” He waved a huge hand in the air. “And I was thinking that maybe you could…” His voice trailed off as if he couldn’t bring himself to actually say the words out loud.
“You are asking me to help you with your social skills?”
His thick pecs moved when he exhaled.
“Yes.” Ross sounded relieved that I had understood him. “I will pick you up every day even if you say no, okay? There aren’t any strings attached. I just…”
He took a step closer. “I can’t go back to my old job. This needs to work.”
Ross’ ears twitched and a soft rush of affection caught me by surprise.
“You’re great with people and I’m…not. I was just thinking you could help me suck a little less at dealing with customers.”
A stubborn part of me wanted to say no. I was an independent woman. I didn’t need anyone, but if I was being honest with myself? It was comforting to have someone like Ross to lean on.
He was so big and solid, and perhaps I didn’t need to carryeverythingall by myself.
“Yes, I’d love to help you. And I’m looking forward to seeing you every morning.”Oh no, what am I saying?Our eyes met and for a moment neither of us looked away. “I mean, it’s nice to hitch a ride with you.”
He swallowed hard and his throat bobbed under his red fur.
Is it hot in here?
