Page 9 of The Rescue

I break the trance she has me in. “The biggest coffee you’ve ever seen coming right up,” I blurt out, and rush over to the coffee machine.

God, I’m such a nerd. I shake my head and remind myself that she’s working for me, and that I need to be professional. I make her an extra strong black coffee, and I load one of my freshly baked scones with jam and cream onto a tray and carry it over to her. I place the coffee and scone down in front of her, and she shuts her laptop and beams a smile at me.

“Thank you, I needed this coffee,” she cups the hot mug with delight.

I turn to carry on with my morning jobs before the cafe opens, Nellie and David should be here soon.

“Please join me, surely you need a break before you open for the day.” She looks up at me from her long lashes.

I hesitate to join her, I really should try and keep my distance between us. But her moss green eyes suck me in, and she moves her bag from the chair across from her and motions for me to sit. Like a puppy, I sit without even thinking about it and find myself in close quarters with her dazzling cat shaped eyes. Even yesterday when she was showing me her vision boards I couldn’t stop stealing glances at her. Being that close to her, I could map out all the beautiful little freckles that dot her face, and her long black eyelashes that would flutter when she looked up at me from her laptop.

She cuts the scone in half and spreads jam and then cream on to it, I watch as she bites down and her eyes close in bliss, the softest moan escapes her lips, and I tense at the sweet sound, the sound of pleasure. My mind starts to wander, and I bite my lip to stop my dirty thoughts running wild.

“Wow, Rabbie these scones are delicious. I’ll need to start running longer in the mornings if your baking is this good.”

I’ve lost the capability to talk, again. God, she must think I’m an idiot. I blink and smile.

“Thank you.” I finally managed to speak.

“Sorry I turned up so early, I couldn’t sleep, so instead of tossing and turning I decided to start early. I hope I haven’t disturbed your morning shift,” she sips her coffee.

“Dinny fash, you’re not comfortable at Thistle Down?” The question slips out before I can stop myself and not get too involved.

“Oh no, I’m grateful for Cam and Dylan for letting me crash there. But–never mind, it’s not a huge issue,” she stops talking and waves her hand in the air.

“What is it?” I’m curious. I shouldn’t pry, the less I know the better.You’re trying to keep things professional, remember?

“It’s just–the walls are thin at the cottage, and I’m staying with a couple who are still in the honeymoon phase. So, you can imagine getting some sleep is difficult,” she laughs.

I try to hide the small smile on my lips as she chuckles while taking another bite of her scone.

Dylan and Cam are so in love they can’t keep their hands off each other, they are still in that exciting, new relationship phase, and the PDA is off the charts, so I can only imagine what they get up to behind closed doors. I have sympathy for Crystal as she chugs the rest of her coffee.

I also have envy for Dylan and Cam because I don’t think I will ever find love like theirs, I don’t think I will find love at all. Since my parents left me when I was a wee lad, my fear of abandonment has followed me into my adult life, and I’m terrified to fall in love. I’ve had one girlfriend, but I broke it off before it got too serious because I was terrified she would eventually leave me, so I pushed her away. Falling in love is meant to be magical and exciting, and all I felt was anxiety and paranoia. I never told my friends why, and they never asked.

“Rabbie?” I hear Crystal’s soft voice.

I blink, and she’s looking at me with her head cocked to the side.

Are you okay?”

“Aye, sorry, I was away with the fairies then,” I try to brush it off.

She smiles, and her eyes soften as she looks at me. I cough to break the weird tension between us, and stand up from the table.

“I better get back to work, the cafe opens soon. If you need anything I’ll be in the back. Food and drinks are on me,” I point over my shoulder towards the door leading to my kitchen. I don’t give Crystal time to say anything as I turn and rush away.

I try to keep myself busy in the kitchen, but all I can think about are Crystal’s soft green eyes and the light freckles on hernose. I’m so distracted by the cute cowgirl sitting in the cafe, that I forgot there was a tray of scones in the oven that are now burnt to a crisp. I grab my oven mitts off the stainless island and run over to open the oven. A waft of smoke hits me in the face, and I cough as the smoke fills my nose and lungs. Quickly removing the tray, I run out the back door of the cafe before the smoke alarm goes off because that would be embarrassing. I dump the burnt scones in the bin. Wiping the sweat from my forehead, I lean back against the wall and take a deep breath of the fresh Scottish air. I don’t know what’s happening to me, but I need to get a grip.

“Good morning, Rab.” Nellie says, startling me.

“Oh, I didn’t see you there. Morning, Nell. How are you feeling?”

“Aye, much better,” she smiles at me.

Nellie sniffs the air. “Did you burn something? You never burn your scones, what’s going on? Is everything okay?” Her eyes bounce between me and the tray in my hand.

Nellie is younger than me by at least seven years, but she acts like my mum. Well, not likemymum because she left me when I was ten, but Nellie likes to mother me and worries about me way too much. I know it’s because she cares, but she goes over the top sometimes.

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