Page 130 of Daily Grind
“I’ve never even thought about it, to be honest.” Brian finished his mug and felt a hell of a lot better. “Money’s never been the important part of you.”
Rob set his mug down on the table and faced Brian. “What is?”
“You.” Brian clutched his mug like a talisman. “Being with you. This, now. The bike rides. Hiking. Photography. The way you smile. Your hands. Your freckles. Your voice. You.Allof you.”
Oh, that had broken some barrier of calm in Rob. He swallowed hard, eyes rimmed in red. “Me?”
Brian nodded. “If I can’t figure out how to get Grounds N’at back on trackandhave a life outside of it, I’ll close it. I’d rather lose the shop than lose you.” Brian swallowed, then whispered. “I loveyou.”
There was that look again, the one that hinted of cracks and worry and tears, then Rob wrapped a hand around the back of Brian’s neck, pulled him close, and their mouths met.
Oh God, he’d needed that. More than coffee. More than air. Brian gripped Rob’s shirt and erased the distance between them. The kiss wasn’t forceful, or demanding, but it melted Brian all the same, the way Rob’s lips moved over his, the teasing of his tongue. Brian whispered between Rob’s nibbles. “Coffee and cream.”
He felt Rob’s smile, then lost his breath when Rob deepened the kiss to wanton.
Couldn’t help the moan, and Rob chuckled. “Slightly overroasted American.”
Yeah, exactly that. He pressed his face against Rob’s shoulder. “Please tell me I won’t lose you.”
Fingers in his hair, smoothing, settling. “I don’t need to be the entirety of your life, Brian. The sole focus. But I want to be an important part, not an afterthought for when you have nothing better.”
“I know. And youare.” He lifted his head. “I know I need to prove that to you.”
A soft smile. “But you have.” He claimed Brian’s mouth again, a deep but quick kiss that left Brian breathless, hard, and desperately wanting more.
Rob cupped Brian’s face. “You haven’t lost me. I adore you, except when you’re being a fucking git.” Thumbs skimmed over Brian’s cheeks and Rob stared at him. “Please don’teverspeak to me like that again.”
He swallowed. “I—sometimes say things before I think.”
“Mmm. I’ve noticed.” Rob let him go, but they were close now and the heat of Rob’s body warmed him even more than the June air. “Honestly, so do I sometimes.” He chuckled. “What we need is a phrase or word or something we can shout when we’re getting stuck in one of those stupid arguments again.”
“You mean like a safe word for conversations?”
Rob nodded. “Like ‘Rutabaga’ or some such thing.”
A way to step back instead of blazing forward to burn the world down. “That’s… not a bad idea.” He stole a kiss of his own, then picked up his mug. “More coffee?”
“Please.” Rob handed him the other mug.
This time, Brian rose and headed into the kitchen to fill the cups, adding a bit of milk to Rob’s. He handed the mug back and reclaimed his spot on the lounge. “Too bad we can’t solve the issues at the shop with a safe word.”
Rob chuckled, but there was a hollowness to it. “I’m sorry you’re having such a rough go with it.”
“It’s not the first time.” Hadn’t exactly been the same situation, but he’d been short-staffed—and short-tempered due to taking on too many shifts before. “Though this is worse. I didn’t have the pricing problems. Or customers not coming back.”
Rob sipped his coffee. “Not as simple as hiring Justin, then.”
“No.” That had been serendipity. He’d not quite believed the résumé the punk-rock wannabe had handed him, but once Justin opened his mouth, he’d seen the intelligence and work ethic there. “Even if I could hire Justin again, I don’t think he could solve this.”
Rob froze and had the strangest look on his face.
“What?”
Those hazel eyes focused on him and Rob looked as if he’d been hit by a brick. Or inspiration. One of the two. “You absolutely should hire Justin White.”
“I—” He stared at Rob. “Ican’t.” God, he’d love to, but he’d moved on to better things. “Justin works forSam. He’s not a barista anymore.”
Rob’s grin was amazing. “Not as abarista, as a consultant.”
