Page 76 of Harvest Heat

Rhys frowned. “Maybe. But it wouldn’t hurt to do another round here on the apple latte too.”

“All right. Let’s try it.”

It didn’t take them long to switch out ingredients and decide what alterations they wanted to try. When the latte was ready, Rhys tasted first. His huge smile made Caleb feel warm all over.

“What did you do to the apple puree? This is so good. It’s going to be hard to choose between them.”

Caleb tried it for himself, then met Rhys’s gaze. “I measured everything precisely until I had the perfect combination.”

“Really? You did what I said?”

Caleb smiled. “Yes.”

Rhys took the cup from him, set it down, then startled the hell out of Caleb by jumping into his arms and kissing him. Rhys was more aggressive than he’d ever been. His hands slid into Caleb’s hair, pulling him down and making him gasp as Rhys attacked his mouth.

Caleb gripped his waist and pulled him close. Rhys hooked a leg around Caleb’s waist, and Caleb shifted his grip to Rhys’s ass, lifting him and grinding against him.

It was only when Rhys pulled back, likely as desperate for air as Caleb was, that Caleb realized they were right there behind the counter where anyone who looked in the windows could see them.

“Need to go in the back,” he said. “Not out here.”

He thought that might freak Rhys out, but instead, Rhys just pushed at his chest, and Caleb walked backward, nearly bumping into the wall as he reached behind him to catch himself.

As soon as they stepped into the back room, where they could no longer be seen, Rhys pulled him in for another kiss. Caleb slid his hands under Rhys’s shirt, needing to feel his skin. Needing to feel all of him. Kissing no longer seemed like enough. He reached for the waistband of Rhys’s pants, sliding his hand inside and wrapping it around Rhys’s cock.

Rhys groaned and thrust his hips, trying to rock into Caleb’s hand in the confined space.

Caleb fumbled with Rhys’s zipper, trying to get his pants fully open. Then someone yelled, “Oh my God. I’m so sorry.”

They both turned to see Tessa covering her eyes, whirling around, and racing out of the shop.

Caleb tried to readjust Rhys’s clothes while Rhys stood frozen, horror on his face.

“Rhys?” Caleb was starting to worry about him. All the color had drained from his face.

“I didn’t lock the door. I totally forgot where we were. I can’t think around you.” He shook his head. “This was a mistake. It was all a mistake.”

“We were celebrating. It’s okay. You know Tessa already suspected we were more than friends.” He wasn’t sure Rhys had heard anything he said.

Rhys turned away, bracing against a cabinet. “She saw us. She walked right in. I didn’t even hear her. I always know what’s going on. I don’t forget things.” He turned back to face Caleb. “I’m not myself with you.”

Caleb stumbled backward. Rhys’s words had hit him like a slap. He never wanted Rhys to change for him. He wanted him to feel comfortable. “I don’t want to change you.”

Rhys shook his head. “No, I don’t mean that. You aren’t trying to change me, but I can’t think when you’re around. I feel too much. I can’t do this. You should just use one of the drinks we developed tonight.”

“What do you mean?”

“You enter the festival. I’m out.”

This couldn’t be happening. “Rhys, you’re the one who pulls the shots. Your skill makes the drinks work. I can’t make it myself.”

“I’m sorry. I can’t do this. You enter whatever drink you want.”

“Rhys, please.”

He shook his head. “I have to get out of here.” He opened the back door and ran before Caleb could say anything else.

CHAPTER 28