Page 7 of The Rescue

“Do you mind if I join you?” He motions to the seat across from me.

This is his cafe, and he’s asking if he can join me. Who raised his man? I don’t think I’ve ever met a man as gentle and polite as Rabbie.

“No, please. I would like to show you some things I’ve been working on anyway,” I motion to the seat.

He takes a seat across from me, his long legs bump against mine under the table, he flashes me an apologetic smile, like he often bumps into people with his tall stature. I try to keep my composure being this close to him. In our meeting yesterday we sat further apart on the little sofa in the corner, but this tiny table has us in close proximity. It gives me a better vantage to take him in. His hair thick and golden with lighter strands running through it that catch in the light from the window. It’s messy and unruly, but in an intentional styled way. His skin is smooth and fair, and his green eyes have little flecks of golden brown on the inside part of the iris. His scent wafts around us and I’m finally able to pinpoint the one I couldn’t before. It’s woodsy and rich, like cloves or star anise. It’s intoxicating, is what it is.

Usually I’m on my game when it comes to men, and never really take the time to study them as closely as I have with Rabbie. His calm and down-to-earth nature is what is knocking me off, usually I don’t go for the sweet guy. They tend to want something more than casual sex. Fuck boys are my forte.

He stares at me intently waiting for me to show him my work. I blink myself out of my stupor and take another sip of my coffee, and turn my laptop side on so he can see what I’m showing him.

I sit and explain through all the different fonts, colour palettes and layouts of his website, he doesn’t once interrupt me, he nods along, glancing up at me from time to time. He’s leaned in even closer to me now. I feel a sweat breaking out on my back, and I have to remind myself multiple times to take a breath.Get a grip Crystal, this is a business meeting.

After I’ve finished showing him, he sits back and ponders for what feels like a lifetime and I start to doubt that he likes any ofmy ideas. A flurry of panic sets in and I stress he’s going to sack me before I’ve even started.

“I like the minimalist look, with the soft hues of browns,” he points to my favourite one.

I let out a shaky breath that I realised I’d been holding in. I didn’t exactly make a first good impression yesterday by turning up to our meeting late, and then I was snippy with him for talking about my accent, and trying to poke his nose in.

“Good choice, perfect. Now I know what you prefer, I can start working on the website properly.” I close the lid of my laptop.

He leans back in his chair, and it creaks under his large frame. “Thank you again for doing this. Website designers are hard to come by in small towns, you’re doing me a solid,” he smiles as he takes a bite of his shortbread biscuit.

I try not to let my eyes linger on his mouth for too long, I distract myself by taking a large sip of my coffee.

“It’s not a problem. Although I’d be lying if I told you I wasn’t nervous. You’re my first big client,” I admit.

He brushes some crumbs off the table onto the floor. “I trust you,” he says, still looking down at the table.

I’m taken aback by his comment. He’s so refreshing, so laid back and chill that it takes me a minute to gather my thoughts.

“Thanks.” Is all I can muster.

I look around the cafe, and there are a few more prying eyes on me and Rabbie. I look at him and catch him watching me. It makes me feel uncomfortable and paranoid like I have something on my face. Why is he making me feel like this? Like some dork who has a silly crush on her boss. I’m usually in control of the situation. I’m usually the charming one, but Rabbie makes me feel like he’s the cool guy and I’m the nerd.

“I’m sorry I haven’t had a chance to introduce you to Nellie or David yet. Nellie is off sick today, and David does all thedeliveries. So he’s hardly here in the cafe. I’ve been on my own today, rushed off my feet.” He runs his large hand through his messy blonde hair, his bicep flexes and I can’t help but wonder how flexed and strained they’d look whilst I’m underneath him. I cross my legs to ease some of the tension between my thighs.

“You should’ve said something, I could’ve helped.” I offer him a sympathetic smile.

“Dinny worry, the locals understand how busy I get and are never annoyed to wait a little longer for a coffee or food.”

He takes a sip of his coffee and I can’t take my eyes off him. He’s so magnetic in an unintended way. He doesn’t even know it, a group of young girls sit across the cafe and they haven’t stopped staring at him as they giggle behind their milkshakes. Rabbie is so oblivious to the attention he attracts.

“So, what is there to do for fun around here?” I lean in and try to make idle conversation.

“Well, there’s The Drunken Duck. The beach when it’s warm, and the hills for hiking.”

The mundane nothingness of small town life wraps around me and reminds me of the town I’m from. I try to paint an interesting smile on my face because I’m trying to get to know him a little better. To me, small town life is boring, it’s the same shit day in day out. Go to the same watering hole, with the same people and talk about the same shit.

“We’ll have to go to The Drunken Duck for a drink sometime,” I suggest in a flirtatious tone.

I’m waiting for him to pick up what I’m putting down but it goes right over his head. Surely he can’t be this oblivious to my charm.

“Aye, everyone in the group loves The Drunken Duck as much as I do, they’re dying to meet you. But I canny go tonight, maybe another time.” He shoots me down.

I don’t think I’ve ever been shot down before, especially in a small hick town like Crossmackie. God, help me if I’m stuck here for a while, hot guys are few and far between, and I need to sink my nails into someone. And that idle someone would be Rabbie, but he’s not getting the picture. Do I have to spell it out for him, because I will if I get that desperate.

“No stress, I think Dylan and I are having a movie night tonight.” I try to brush it off as nonchalantly as I can.

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