Page 69 of Red Hot Roaster

Lauren drew back and cupped my cheek across the counter, wiping away a last tear with her thumb. We stood there until the song finished.

Chapter 34

Rafe

It was late Sunday afternoon, and Rose was shutting me down.

Last night, Pete had read me the riot act. Pacing back and forth in the roastery, he sounded like my old sarge trying to drill some sense into the eighteen-year-old me. Trouble was, I was the forty-one-year-old me and still as stubborn as hell.

I could tell my friend was frustrated by what he saw as my inaction. Here it was, two days until I left for Boise, and I was still holding back on telling Rose my history. Telling her why I wasn’t right for her.

Although Pete saw it differently. Giving her a choice, he called it.

I’d had my reasons for waiting until after the long weekend. But now I wasn’t so sure. I wasn’t sureanytime was going to be a good time to say what I had to say.

And Rose was shutting me out. After the music had ended, I’d locked up the roastery and walked up front to take her home. She’d stayed behind the counter, arms wrapped around her middle, eyes red and wet. Lauren and Finn were out on the floor, cleaning up.

Rafe,she’d said, hardly looking at me,I need to go back and sleep in the house tonight.By “going back to the house,” she’d meant sleeping by herself.

I have to get up early to open the café because I’m giving Mateo the day off.She’d cleared her throat.Then I need to get home to eat a last breakfast with Finn and Lauren and pack their lunch for the road. I want to say my goodbyes before I—her words, not mine—start bawling. After that, I need to finish out the afternoon here.

I’d stood on the other side of the counter, nodding dumbly. Mumbling something about taking the dogs out for their last walk, I’d gotten out of there.

I would’ve been glad to hold her for the bawling part, but I got it. Not family, not a boyfriend, not a friend—not expected or entitled to be on the scene.

Well,maybea friend with benefits. But I’d never had that type offriendbefore, and besides, I hated the term. Too detached, too cold, too casual.

It didn’t describe who she was to me. Why my eyes found her in any room. Why my gut ached when we were apart too long. Why my heart beat all over the place when I heard her sudden laugh. Why I couldn’t wait to lay hands on her skin each day.

The fucked up part? Maybe what we had was all in my head. Worse, I had shit skills for figuring out what was in Rose’s head.

The zinger from Pete last night?Son, you should just ask her.

I was better at using my talents for something concrete—if you could call solving anything mechanical a “talent.” I had her POS jacked up in her driveway and was lying under her back axle. I was intent on replacing her brake pads this afternoon because I couldn’t leave town knowing the state they were in.

And no. I didn’t ask permission beforehand.

The dogs started snuffling and ruffing and whimpering.

“Princess! Pirate! Quiet the fuck down, you two!” I shouted.Bet they can’t hear me with all the racket they’re making.

“It’s not supper time yet. And, no, I’m not letting you out—you’ll squeeze under the car and lick my face again. I’ll take you for a walk in fifteen minutes.”

The gate rattled, and I turned my head.Are those fuzz butts trying to get out?

Guess not, unless they’re wearing hot pink sneakers and crazy dog socks.

“Rafe…” Giggles, gasps, snorts. Kinda delicate-like, but still…snorts.

She started again, “Rafe, are you trying to reason with…” Her rich laugh busted out. “Do you expect the dogs to tell time?”

I slid out from under the vehicle and scrambled to my feet. Rose stood on the other side of the car, grinning at me. Her honey hair was bunched up in its usual messy knot. Dark smudges ran rampant under her red-rimmed eyes. A food-stained Chocolate Lab apron, sporting a torn pocket, hung off her neck.

She was beautiful, and she was too far away.

I rounded the rear end in three strides. Grabbing her up, I proceeded to…hug the hell out of her. Wrapping her as close as I dared, I buried my face in her hair.

Rose let out a high squeak that set the dogs off again. Pressing her cheek against my chest, she slipped her arms around to hug me tight in return. We stayed that way until the barking got too loud and Pirate was throwing himself against the gate.

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