“Who?” I frowned and poked my head through the door. My stomach filled with a pleasant tingling. Rick was focused on his laptop but his gaze lifted to sweep the room before returning to it. My silly heart hoped he was looking for me but I shook myself out of it and marched to take the orders.
The morning rush was so heavy that I barely managed to squeeze in a sentence with Rick before I had to run off again.
“Did you make any progress with your sound?” I asked when I handed him the card reader.
He paid for his breakfast and added a generous tip, like every time he’d come in, according to Santiago.
“No, I’m still stuck, but I’ve had other ideas.” He returned the reader and looked up at me. “When do you get off?”
I grinned at him as his eyes blew wide.
“Get off work,” he added hastily. “Can we meet after your shift? If you want to. If you don’t have plans. For dinner. Or just coffee.” He said it all so fast and with such clarity, he could have been a rapper. A serious but incredibly adorable one. The slight blush against his tanned skin melted me all the way to my lower tentacles.
“Yeah, sure.” I chewed on my bottom lip as I scribbled my number on the notepad and ripped the sheet to hand it to him. “I’ll be out at two. Text me where you’re at.”
“Great.” He packed his laptop and stood up, his plump lips at my eye level.
It was not the time or place, but dear Gods, how I wanted to lick them. His muscular arms flexed when he slung the backpack over his shoulder. I had a feeling I could find many more lickable places on him.
“See you then.” I backed away and waved, willing my lower tentacles to behave as they pulsed around my legs.
The rest of the shift was extremely busy, but the thought of Rick, his big body and adorable blush, stayed with me throughout it.
When I was done, I changed back into my Ramones tank top and stretched my arms and tentacles above my head. With the way my body adjusted to the temperature outside, I didn’t need a jacket even in the winter chill. I was stalling. What if I checked my phone and found no message from Rick? Or worse, some lame excuse as to why he couldn’t meet me.
Taking a deep breath, I unlocked it and opened the text from an unknown number.
I’ll be waiting outside. Rick.
I burst through the back door and bumped into Rick’s solid chest.
“Hi,” I choked out, pushing myself away with my hand on his pec. Maybe I kept it there a bit longer than necessary, but so what?
“Is it too late for coffee?” Rick stepped aside, brushing my tentacles with his arm.
The suckers contracted then stretched at the contact, and I had to wrap them around my forearms to keep myself from reaching for Rick again.
“Never.” I shoved my hands in my pockets and bumped his shoulder with mine as we walked along the street.
Rick swept his hair back from his face but the locks bounced back when he released them. “How was your day?
I told him about Bianca’s happy news and promised to send his well wishes to her. Even when I blabbed on about the boring parts of my job, Rick listened as if I was weaving the most fascinating tale.
Upon reaching 6th Street, we stopped at a little Cuban restaurant. The cozy place with a yellowing banner brimmed with locals and lively music. We drank our coffees in tiny cups on the spot and continued the stroll with the food we’d bought. I got empanadas and Rick clutched a box of small quesitos like a lifeline.
“Will you share?” I eyed the cream cheese pasties.
“You can take one.” Rick glared at me playfully. “Only because I like you.”
“Sweet tooth much?”
“I grew up on my grandma’s rice pudding and mantecaditos before we moved to Miami, so desserts are my weak spot.”
“I’ll remember that when I want something from you,” I teased, biting my empanada, and paused when Rick’s eyes flared with heat for a fleeting second.
“Can we sit on the beach? I have my laptop with me.” Rick patted his backpack.
“Sounds great.”
