Page 40 of Christmas Coffee

“I wish to God that I could say it was my concoction, but it’s not. A friend of mine is a chef and let me use his recipe.” He lingers close, his dark lashes lowered as he thinks. When he lifts his gaze to meet mine, the pit of my stomach dips. “Well, what do you think, Hot Girl? Can you put up with me through a second shift, or should I find us some new hires?”

I nearly blush when he calls me HOT GIRL. I tug his jacket up around my neck and snuggle against the soft wool. I think this is cashmere. If it is, this coat is worth more than my car. Okay, bad comparison because everything is worth more than my car, but still. Something doesn’t add up. The McLaren, the coat, and the hut don’t fit together. For a second, I wonder if it matters. I don’t want to get caught in the middle of whatever’s going on with him and it’s clear something lit a fire under him to make this venture hit the ground running. I love a challenge, and his offer has Nova written all over it.

I smile at him, but it falls swiftly. “I was going to quit. As soon as you walked through that door, I was ready to tell you that I wasn’t coming back.”

He’s quiet for a moment and then asks, “And now?”

I repress a smile, but it breaks through. “Now you’re going to have trouble getting rid of me.” I move to slip off the counter and he’s there, close.

His hands slip around my waist, “Let me help you down.”

A sharp jagged breath fills my lungs as his hands slip around my sides, over the coat. The memory of those hands on bare skin flashes behind my eyes and I wonder if the movement makes him remember it too. If he does, Celyn doesn’t let on. He lifts me gently and sets me on the floor. I stand there a beat too long, looking up at him.

Celyn’s beautiful face brightens when he finally turns away. “Hey, Hot Girl. Promise me something?”

“What’s that?”

“If you ever see me doing something stupid, remind me that I took advice from Shannon. That’ll sober me up fast.”

I snort. “Sure thing. And,” I move past him without touching, but our bodies glide within inches of one another. I can feel the heat from him there, and think about pressing him forward into the counter and trailing kisses down the slick skin on his hot back. The thought jars me so badly, that I forget what I’m saying.

Celyn turns and leans back against the counter. “And?”

I completely forgot what I was going to say. It was witty and impressive. The only thing left is the image of Celyn naked, with his back toward me. My heart hammers faster, and I mutter, “Never mind.”

Celyn laughs and steps toward me as I try to move toward the sink to finish washing the rest of the dishes. “You can’t leave me hanging like that. Come on, I spilled my guts, tell me what you were thinking about?”

Oh shit. I don’t want to lie to him, but I can’t say what I was thinking. My eyes go wide and I start stuttering, “I, I, I was, uh, I was…” I can’t hide the tremor in my voice. I lower my face and look at the floor in horror as I try to figure out what to say.

Celyn is there. He tucks a finger under my chin and lifts my face. When my eyes meet his, he offers, “You don’t have to tell me anything you don’t want to reveal. Although from how red your face is right now, I’d love to know one day.”

“I’m not red!”

“You’re crimson, Hot Girl. But it’s all good. It’s a good look for you.” Celyn laughs once and turns away as I sneak a peek at my reflection in the carafe.

My face looks like a red balloon. I detest being so easily read. I might as well stamp, ‘I think you’re yummy,’ on my forehead. I laugh it off with a swat of the hand. “I’m just warm. It’s this coat.” I am warm, but I doubt the coat has much to do with it. I shuck the cashmere and hand it to Celyn, who takes the long coat and hangs it on a hook.

When he’s done, he turns back toward me with a wicked grin on his face.

“What?” I ask, intrigued by that playful, sexy smile.

“Nothing,” he says, waving me away.

“No, tell me.”

Celyn turns to me, and whispers in my ear, “I will,” I feel his grin brush my check, as he adds, “as soon as you tell me what you were thinking.”

I pout and pull back. Celyn laughs and shoves me away from the dishes. “Man the window, Hot Girl.”

I walk over to the window, acting like I’m offended, and I can’t help it. I smile when I look out at the evening sky and its promise of snow.