Page 11

CHAPTER 11

Henry

The cafe itself was bustling at this hour, since it was the preferred lunch stop for most of the nine to fivers due to the fact that they had phenomenal sandwiches, as well as their delicious bottomless coffee. Not to mention they were fast.

I noticed him first, leaning languidly against the windowpane. I paused for a moment, taking in the sight of him. He couldn’t see me from where he was standing inside, my small Toyota hidden by the oversized SUV in front of me, which gave me the guiltiest feeling. Like I was being a total creeper, but I couldn’t help it.

With the light pouring in, lighting up his dark hair and features, in his business casual slacks and button down...

He looked positively dreamy.

Snap out of it, Henry!

I sighed as I headed toward the cafe, my stomach growling with a hunger that went far beyond food.

The bell jingled as I opened the door, and was assaulted with the incredible scent of fresh, percolating coffee and garlic bread. I sucked in a deep breath of the wonderful aromas and headed over to Grayson with quickening strides.

“Hey,” I said nervously, causing him to look up from his phone. His dark gaze settled on me, the corners of his lips turning up in a polished, genuine smile.

“Hey,” he said, flashing me with a smile.

Sweat had already started to bead on my skin and my stomach decided to protest its indignities at that moment, turning his precious smile into a frown.

“You, uh... want to get something to eat?” he asked awkwardly.

“I mean, I’m sure you have a busy schedule, so we should probably just—”

“Tell you what, you give me my wallet and I’ll buy you lunch. It’s the least I can do after acting like a fucking asshole last night.”

His words settled on me, and I wasn’t sure how to feel about his offer. In my experience, people usually weren’t just... nice out of the kindness of their hearts. At least not to me, anyway.

But I never let that stop me from being who I was. From helping people or giving parts of myself away.

Though what I had to offer a man like Grayson was beyond me, I still couldn’t begrudge him for trying to make amends, even if it was just because he felt guilty.

What kind of man would I be if I denied him the chance to placate his well-groomed conscience?

I slid my hand in my back pocket, if only to make sure I still had his wallet, the whole reason for the meeting, after all, which I did.

“I mean, that’s not really necessary...” I said as I handed him his wallet.

Grayson took it from me, his fingers brushing the backs of mine. The smooth, warm feel of his skin against mine sent a jolt through me, fueling my goblin brain once more as I wondered involuntarily what his body would feel like against my own.

Naked.

Before I could even stop myself, my cock sprang to life, and I pulled away.

“I insist,” he said as he waved me toward the line of people at the register.

Caught between a rock and a literal hard place, I didn’t want to be rude.

But I was also acutely aware of my current situation, and didn’t want to upset the already delicate balance between Grayson and I.

And I really was hungry.

Damn it.

“Fine,” I said, as I all but raced him to the line, keeping my sights trained on the menu if only to try and focus on unsexy thoughts.

Grayson came up behind me, and I could feel his warmth. My overactive imagination immediately wanted to dive off the deep end into more highly inappropriate thoughts, and it truly was a struggle to remain vigilant.

Fuck me sideways...

Just as the line moved, I did too, deciding I’d keep my order simple. Just a coffee and a smoked gouda and ham panini. It was my usual order.

“That’s it?” Grayson raised an eyebrow at me.

I shrugged, not wanting to appear as judged as I felt.

What’s wrong with a coffee and a panini?

“I like to keep it simple,” I said, feeling on the spot.

Grayson nibbled his lips, his gaze darting from me to the cashier. “I’ll have a prosciutto caprese melt with a bowl of tomato bisque and one oversized cinnamon roll.”

Judging from Grayson’s stature and shape, I truly wondered where the hell he was going to put all that food. I wasn’t the most in shape man in the world, but I would have bet my bingo winnings he was one of those health-food nuts who spent a lot of time at the gym

“Something simple, and sweet. To say thanks,” he said, flashing me with a smirk that only made my insides rush with warmth, and my cock spring back to life.

Save me now!

It would appear that my prayers would be answered, as that was the moment my sister texted me, the loud and obnoxious ringtone going off like a siren in the otherwise cozy and quaint cafe. Grayson chuckled as I snuck away to the counter to retrieve my simple order, while he paid.

I hurriedly silenced the text, noticing some of the looks from other patrons who must’ve been utterly disturbed by the loud screeching Stewie from Family Guy sound that played every time she messaged me.

Once I’d settled myself down in a seat and set my tray down, I pulled out my phone, hiding my own embarrassment behind the lights of my bright display.

Did you get your schedule yet?

I stare at my sister’s text, debating if I should answer. Technically, I wouldn’t get the schedule until I went into work, but she didn’t know that.

I could very easily just tell her I wasn’t available for the weekend trip she’d been begging to come on with Giselle and the rest of the party.

As if he could read my mind, Grayson sat down with his tray of food, his smooth voice penetrating my thoughts.

“You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” Grayson said, and he took a sip of his coffee, crossing his long legs.

I looked up from my phone at the fine specimen in front of me, and for some strange reason, I divulged the truth.

I seemed to do that a lot around Grayson. Drunk or not.

“It’s my sister, she’s... been up my ass about this damn Wine Fest trip coming up.”

“Giselle’s trip?” he asked, looking slightly confused.

I nodded in response.

“I wasn’t aware you were invited to that,” he said, and I couldn’t deny the words bit. I knew he wasn’t trying to be rude, but his shock at the admission only cemented my suspicion that I just wouldn’t fit in.

“Well, it’s not like I’m going or anything,” I said defensively. “Lord knows, I wouldn’t fit in with all of you yuppies anyway.” The words fell out of my mouth before I could stop them.

Grayson’s eyebrows furrowed, and he had the audacity to look hurt.

Like I was the asshole.

Maybe I was. Maybe that was my curse in life—to be a grumpy, lonely old asshole struggling to find his happy ever after because everyone and everything was too good for him.

“I see,” was all he said, as he picked up his tray. “I just remembered, I have a meeting in about fifteen minutes. Guess I’m getting this to go,” he said, and my heart splintered.

I would have bet my last dollar there was no meeting, and I’d just single-handedly detonated the one chance I might have had.

Stupid, Henry!

Fuck!

I watched as he gracefully approached the counter, as the employees packaged his sandwich, and as he walked out the door without so much as looking at me or waving goodbye.

And suddenly I wasn’t so hungry anymore.