Page 17 of Finding Romance
“Right,” he grumbles as he holds open the café door.
“Good morning,” Cam says as she finishes ringing up a customer.
“Hey, can I get three black coffees with caramel syrup and three blueberry muffins?” I ask.
“Sure.” Cam looks at Hutch.
“The usual,” he says.
“OK,” she says as she gets busy with the order.
“How’s Cornelia doing?” Cam asks while bagging up the muffins.
“Good. Later this week, she’ll be getting the cast off and then she can shower,” I answer as I take the bag of muffins and tap my credit card on her machine.
“That’s great news. Hopefully, she’s back to normal soon. And, Hutch, here’s your small dirty chai tea latte with regular milk and two shots of espresso.”
He tosses some cash down on the counter.
“Thanks, Cam,” he says as he walks toward the door and holds it for me. I grab the tray of lattes and follow him out.
“See ya, Cam,” I call out and she waves back as she helps another customer.
We walk in silence until I get to the elevator. “It was nice talking,” I say because it was nice. It’s been great talking to everyone here. They are all so kind. I’ve never really felt part of a community, but only a week into being here and I feel like everyone has accepted me into their inner circle.
“It was. Keep painting. You got something special there,” he says as he takes the stairs, leaving me to take the elevator alone. My mind goes back to what he said about Kasen being a good person. I don’t disagree. I just wish I could get him to open up a bit more.
“Mr. Al!” I call out as I step out onto the rooftop. It’s been an hour, and when I texted Al, he said he was already up here.
“In here, Piper,” he answers from the greenhouse.
I walk over and stop in my tracks when I see Kasen. It’s not just Kasen being here that has me freezing. Nope. It would be the fact that Kasen’s not wearing a shirt. He’s hard at work trying to secure something to a bolt in the greenhouse ceiling. And holy hell! I knew he was in good shape from seeing him at the gym, but…do humans actually look like that? He’s got a full abdomen of muscles and his chest is…wow, just wow.
I realize I’m gawking and I quickly close my mouth.
“Oh, hey there,” I say to Kasen as I watch him work. Stepping inside the greenhouse, I now understand why he’s shirtless. It’s really hot in here, and surprisingly large. From the outside, it doesn’t look huge but it’s big enough for a large potting table, two large shelves, and several plant stands. There is a large metal bin-like tub at the far end that’s acting as some kind of planter. And I watch as Kasen hangs some chain from the bolt and clips on a hanging planter.
“There,” he says as he steps down from a small ladder.
“These are the pots,” Al says as he points to three large terra-cotta pots on the table.
“Oh, OK. Can I take them outside to paint?” I ask.
“I suppose, but any chance you can paint them here.” He motions to the table. “Just in case you get paint anywhere,” he adds and then looks to Kasen. “Kasen is helping me add some hanging planters in here. It’ll double the amount of plants I can grow over the winter.
“That’s nice,” I say warmly as I lift the first pot, which is surprisingly heavy.
“Here, let me,” Kasen says as he steps behind me and easily lifts the pot. I point to the far side of the table and he sets it down. But I’m no longer paying attention to the pot because right now, I’m encased by Kasen. His scent fills my nostrils. His warmth permeates through my top. His hot breath tickles my ear. A part of me that I have continually suppressed suddenly activates as if every single light in a car’s dashboard has come on at once. And a very startling thought enters my brain.
I want Kasen. I want Kasen to touch me and not in a friend way. Oh shit! I’m so fucked.
CHAPTER NINE
Kasen
I pound my fist on my desk. Damn, this hacker is good. I’ve been trying to plug holes in the firewall for this company for hours and somehow the hacker we hired to break through my firewall keeps finding a weakness in my code. The question is: Where’s my mistake?
I push back from the desk and decide I need a break. I walk into my living room and stop in my tracks.
