Page 112 of Daily Grind
The sex was okay, but didn’t have the passion it once had. That was his fault—too exhausted and drained for anything but getting off—andthatwas unfair to Rob.
Here he wasresentingthe thought of Rob’s presence. Brian took a deep breath and finished up. Yeah, jagoff was the right word.
The shop door rang and another flow of customers—ones that hadn’t seen his unprofessional outburst—walked in.
He did need the night off. Needed to see Rob. He pasted on a smile and served the group of women the best coffee he could, even if he were slowly coming to hate every damn roasted bean in his own damn shop.
They settled into a table near the window.
Good.
He slipped into the back room to get his laptop. Best get as much of the administrative stuff taken care of before Rob walked in. Scheduling was the easiest—though his own number of shifts were hellish and left him with very little free time. No issues with payroll. He started in on the ordering.
Good God. He barely knew what to get anymore. Everything had increased in price and some of his—and his customer’s—favorite items were no longer available. Didn’t help that the past several orders had been all kinds of screwed up, which had forced him over budget on stupid shit like paper cups in sizes he barely used.
In between customers, he did a quick double-check of his inventory. He knew what he needed—figuring out what to order was a different matter.
Plus he still had to call the bakery and bitch about the lack of brownies.
The bell on the door rang—and Rob walked in.
Brian hid his cringe and checked his watch. It was nearly twelve thirty, which meant an hour and a half of entertaining Rob while he tried to figure out the ordering.
Rob’s smile vanished and he took a seat. “Now’s not a good time, I take it?” Apprehension in his voice and concern etched into his face.
“It’s been a rough day. And I still have the ordering.” He waved at the laptop and all his notes.
“I can take a trot around the neighborhood. Come back closer to two.” Such sincerity. The need to help. That had always been there.
Brian rolled his shoulders to loosen them. “I don’t want to throw you out…” He looked up at the board. “Want anything?”
A frown, but that smoothed out. “Whatever is the easiest for you.”
“Drip coffee,” Brian said. “But you deserve better than that.”
Rob chuckled. “Do I? I want to make your life easier and yet—” He waved at the counter.
In reality, Rob wasn’t helping. “I don’t mind.” A lie, but heshouldn’tmind.
Rob—his boyfriend—was here to see him. Spend time with him.
He turned and started working on a cappuccino. Easy enough, but not so plain that he felt like he was stiffing Rob. Even if he never asked Rob to pay.
Once the drink was finished, he slid it over and sank onto the stool next to his laptop. “Let me try to get this hellish stuff done.”
Rob took a sip of his coffee and closed his eyes. “So much better than office coffee.”
He had to laugh at that. “I sure hope so.”
Rob’s grin was wide and warmed Brian’s soul. “What’s the problem with the orders anyway? Don’t you have a set inventory?”
Like a shock of ice water thrown on him. “Of course I do. I’m not an idiot.” He gritted his teeth and turned away. “Problem is, they keep changing what’s available.”
“Mmm.” Rob sounded noncommittal. When Brian looked back, Rob’s expression was neutral. Businesslike. As if he knewanythingabout this shop or what went on behind the counter.
Brian slapped his hands down on the paperwork and slid it over. “Want to do it for me, Mr. CEO?” Because he was done with the little hints that he didn’t know how to run his business.
Rob blinked a few times and set down his mug. “Bri…”
