Page 141 of Daily Grind
“Eh, Eli needs a challenge.” Sam looked downright gleeful.
“Please don’t make Eli cranky with me. His is usually the easiest damn drink in the world.”
“Oh,” Justin said, “leave Eli to me.”
Sam chuckled, but focused on Brian. “I’ll have more formal paperwork drawn up, but do we have a deal?”
“Yes.” He held out his hand, and they shook over Sam’s desk. Brian turned to Justin. “It’ll be good working with you again.”
“You say that now.” Justin leaned back in his chair. “I should warn you that I’ve become a pain in the ass.”
He’d take that if it meant Grounds N’at surviving. “Apparently that’s what I need.”
Sam rose, and they all followed suit. “I’ll stop by in a few days with the paperwork.”
Justin saw him to the front door. When they passed into the reception area, he spoke. “This isn’t going to be a cakewalk, you know.”
“It hasn’t been so far.” He faced Justin. “And I’m not exactly looking forward to you picking apart everything I do. But, it’s necessary. I’m too close.”
The grin was gone, replaced with thoughtfulness. “Good.” A pause. “Um. You and Rob? Things are better?”
He exhaled. “Yeah. I mean, I still have a lot of work to do there, too. But yeah.”
“Good.” He clapped Brian on the shoulder. “We’ll make this work.”
Words Brian believed. He gave Justin a grin, then headed back down to the coffee shop.
As soon as he walked through the door, he stopped in his tracks. Miranda was laughing with a customer sitting at the counter, one in a business suit and sporting a very familiar head of ginger hair.
Not even five yet. Warmth from his head to his toes. Miranda met his gaze. “And here’s your man now.”
Rob turned and his smile was summer and light. Oh yeah—he was Rob’s entirely. Somehow, he crossed the distance on feet made of air and sat down next to Rob. “You’re off early.”
“The boss likes me.”
Damn those eyes and dimples and… “Myboss is an ass.”
Rob slid a hand up Brian’s thigh. “Only sometimes.”
God. He really didn’t need a raging hard-on in his own store. Brian laced his fingers between Rob’s and drew Rob’s hand back down to his knee. “Family establishment,” he murmured.
There was Rob’s pretty blush. “Sorry.” He cleared his throat. “So, how’d it go?”
“Good. Really good.” But he didn’t want to talk about plans to save Grounds N’at while sittinginthe shop. “How about I tell you over dinner?”
“How about I cook you dinner and you tell me?”
Miranda laughed. “You two are adorable. Get out of here.”
They didn’t have to be told twice. Once outside, Brian pulled Rob close and kissed him. “I’m glad your boss likes you.”
Rob laughed against Brian’s lips. “Thing is, he’s got a horrible crush on you and wants to make sure you’re fed, de-stressed, and really well fucked.”
Brian shivered. “You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
“Same.” Rob stole another kiss. “My brilliant Americano.”
He didn’t quite believethat—but Rob had been right about everything else, so he let it go.
