“Come sit. Let’s talk. Did you bring coffee?” I wondered.
“Yes.” She pulled her large bag open and produced a Tupperware of coffee beans.
“I just need to get a plug. Normally I would do this a different way, but I’ll just grind these with the grinder really quick and do it the quick and dirty way. That way you can taste the possibilities.”
I showed her to the plug at the back of the room.
“This is where I think I’ll be putting a counter for the register and stuff. Behind us will be another stainless-steel counter for a workspace. And beside the register, I’ll put the display cases for the cakes and stuff. Back in the back, I’ll have my baking area. You can use whatever portion of the space for what you need. I’m totally open to what you want to do here. And if you have any suggestions, please feel free to offer them. I’ve never done this before. I’ve never worked in retail either. So, it’s really weird to be offering suggestions when I don’t know the best way to work on this stuff.”
Candy grinned. “I think we can make it work. I have a few suggestions, but what you’ve laid out so far will work just fine, I think.”
“Have you…” Before I could finish my sentence, the door to the almost bakery/coffee shop opened and Callum strolled in.
His eyes were rapt as they landed on me, and the grin that spread across his dusty face was nothing short of spectacular.
“Baby,” he said as he made his way toward me. “Good day?”
Before I could answer, his mouth was on mine.
I kissed him back, because who in their right mind wouldn’t kiss Callum Valentine back?
It wasn’t a short time later that he finally pulled away.
“Yes,” I breathed against his mouth. “It was a good day. You just made it better, though.”
Winking at me, he wrapped his arm around my shoulder, then pulled me into his chest as he turned to look at Candy.
“Candy.” Callum nodded cordially. “How ya’ doin’?”
Candy looked stricken for a few seconds, but then she composed herself and said, “I’m well, Callum. Thank you.”
I felt something twinge in my chest at seeing the hurt that’d flashed there for a few seconds before she’d masked it.
Callum must’ve seen it too because he gave me a squeeze. “You got anything tasty back in the back?”
I rolled my eyes, trying to give Candy a few moments to compose herself.
“Yes,” I answered. “I brought some cakes. And Candy’s taking over the coffee. We’ll have to make do with this table, though. I don’t have any chairs, unfortunately.”
“I saw a concept at a rodeo not long ago…” Candy said. “They had bar-height tables all over and no chairs. That way it invites them to eat, drink their coffee, eat their pastries, but they don’t actually want to stay too long. You know?”
“That’s actually a damn good idea,” Callum agreed. “I know that a lot of people go to coffee places and stay for fuckin’ hours. It’s not too bad if they’re actually buying something over the course of that time, but I’m sure they’re going to be a one and done type thing.”
“Yes,” I nodded. “I think your idea would be great. Pair the two of y’all’s ideas together and that should be perfect. But, just sayin’, that part won’t affect me at all. In case of emergencies, I’ll definitely help when needed, but for the most part, I’ll be in here to bake, stock the shelves, and do my cake business on the side. That’s it. I don’t want to run the business at all. Which is where you’ll come in.”
She nodded once.
“I also propose that I pay rent. You keep your proceeds. I keep mine. We’ll split utilities,” Candy said matter-of-factly.
Callum nodded as if he agreed with that assessment.
“Okay.” She clapped. “Let me get started on this coff—”
That was when Banks walked in the door and everything went deathly still.
Candy stiffened.
I blinked and took a step back at the sudden tension that I could almost palpate permeating the air, and Callum dropped his mouth to my ear and whispered into it.
“There ain’t no way that’s happening.”
I squeezed his thigh and turned my head up as I said, “Oh, baby. It so is.”
***
“Your brother and Candy Cane—I’m sorry, Candy—have big ol’ crushes on each other,” I said to the man who was washing the dust out of his hair.
Before I stepped fully into the shower, I made sure to grab two towels for the both of us.
“I don’t know,” he admitted as he washed the shampoo from his eyes. “But I do know if they involve me in their petty disputes, or you for that matter, I’m going to be pissed.”
When he opened his eyes, he found me standing straight in front of him. He grinned and pulled me closer, his hard cock pressing against my belly the moment I was close enough.