Page 4 of Animal Instincts
“The carrot cake, that’s my recommendation. Or I can do you a toasted tea cake. Or a scone, with jam and clotted cream.”
“Oh…”
Joss laughed, the sound rich and smooth, and deeper than his almost but not quite boyish features suggested. A tingle raced the length of Oliver’s spine, as a fresh surge of heat flooded his belly.
“I’ll tell you what, I’m going to make an executive decision.” Joss laughed again, and it took everything Oliver had not to groan out loud. “I’ll bring you over a piece of the carrot cake and a flat white, because you look like a flat white drinker. I’m right, aren’t I? You get to know the sorts of drinks people go for.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Oliver’s last coffee had been strong and black.
“Knew it. I won’t keep you.” Joss swung around and started on making the drink.
Back at the table, Oliver flopped into his seat and released a long breath as he ran his fingers through his hair.
Frustration, that was all his reaction had been. Nothing more than that. Just a basic and primitive physical reaction… But god, the sudden flare of heat low in his stomach… Even his long dormant dick had stirred and it had been months since any man had prompted more than a half-hearted twitch. Oliver shook his head hard, pulled out his phone and scrolled through who knew what, all the time glancing up at Joss as he moved around behind the counter.
With some distance between them, and a few deep breaths, Oliver was able to take Joss in properly.
Oliver had never seen Joss before, in his rare visits to the café, because he sure as hell would have remembered. The guy was young, no more than twenty-one or two, Oliver reckoned, making the barista a good fifteen years or so his junior.
Too young for me to be looking at…But it was difficult not to, not when Joss’ long, slim legs were cased in black jeans which hugged a round, pert arse. Joss reached up to a high shelf, over the counter, his outstretched arm pulling his polo shirt free of his waistband, and exposing, for just a moment, a tantalising glimpse of pale skin wrapped over firm, tight abs.
There was no harm in looking, but that was as far as it would get. But at least hewaslooking.
And about bloody time too, his friend James would no doubt say.
Declan came back to the counter and leaned into Joss to whisper something into his ear. The two of them laughed, and Declan ruffled his fingers through Joss’ hair before he disappeared through theStaff Onlydoor.
Oliver dragged his gaze away. Maybe the two were more than workmates. If they were, it was nothing to do with him. The heat that had flooded though him turned cold. He no longer wanted the drink or the cake, but it was too late as Joss, carrying a tray, made his smiling way towards him.
“Here you go. One flat white.” He put the coffee down on the small table. “And—”
Barks and snarls, sudden and loud, and frantic raised voices, made them both jump and swing their heads around. A cockerpoo and a beagle snapped at each other, straining at their leashes as their owners pulled them back.
“Don’t know what’s got into those two, they’re normally so placid — the dogs, I mean, not the owners.” Joss laughed. “If you could just move the brochure, I can put the plate down—”
“It’ll be easier just to pass it to me.”
“It’s okay—”
“No, really.”
Joss held the plate aloft, swinging around at another explosion of barks, and the shouts of the owners attempting to quieten their dogs.
The plate tipped, beginning its slip from Joss’ grip.
“Oh no…”
Fumbling to catch the plate, Oliver almost succeeded, but he was too late by a fraction of a second. The plate flipped and the gooey cake tumbled over the edge — and landed with a slap in his lap.
Oliver stared down at the broken-up cake, splattered across his crotch. A lump slid to the floor, leaving behind it a large dollop of frosting out of which a little carrot shaped chocolate poked out.
“I—I’m really sorry. God, I’m so clumsy. The plate, it—I’ll get a cloth.”
Oliver picked up the soft, sticky cake and dumped it on the tray as Joss darted over to the counter.
Declan poked his head around theStaff Onlydoor.
