A bewildered smile lit up his face. “Hey, I didn’t hear you come in.”
Aw, was he listening for me?
“No bells on this outfit. But Ihadto try your famous cinnamon twists.” I batted my eyelashes and clasped my hands, only half faking my enthusiasm.
Zack practically knocked me aside to point at the waiting cups. “Is this our order?”
A wrinkle knit between Harvey’s brows. “Are you the coworker?”
Zack gave him a bewildered look. I doubted anyone had ever suggested he was an elf too.
I rolled my eyes and gestured vaguely. “This is my cousin, Zack. We’re Christmas shopping for the fam.”
Weirdly enough, Harvey offered his hand. “Hey, man.”
Zack hesitated, eyeing the faded black sharpie on Harvey’s fingernails. “Hey.”
After a second, they shook hands. I had to strangle a little cry of indignation. Harvey and I had barely touched by accident, and now my cousin got to hold his hand? Totally unfair.
“Let me mark which one is the tea and you two will be good to go.” Harvey flicked a marker across the cup, then wiped his sweaty brow on the back of his arm, accidentally knocking his crown askew.So cute. Tugging his cap down much like a cowboy tipping his hat, Harvey set the drink on the counter. “Good luck, today.”
“Thanks. You too.” I smiled and grabbed our stuff.
Zack pushed his way through the pickup crowd to get back to the mall, the door dinging on our way out. He gulped down his coffee. “This is pretty good.”
My tea was too hot to sip, but I smiled at the smudged, speckled plum under my thumb. Zack would probably say it was a peach or a reference to a butt. But I didn’t think Harvey would flirt like that. Especially at work. Then again, maybe there were special circumstances, and with the right person…
“It’s the best.” I reached into the paper bag and tore off a piece of soft, fresh bread to ease my rumbling tummy. Cinnamon dissolved on my tongue, warming me from the inside out with possibility.
10
Cookie Crumbles
A few shifts later, I clutched my lunch bag while waiting in line for a beverage at The Bern. “For here,” I told the cashier.
Man-Bun Guy, Mario, per prior receipts, raised his eyebrows and tapped a few keys.
As soon as I rounded to the pickup area, Harvey smirked at me. “For here. Must be a special occasion.”
“I wanted to try something different.” I twisted my lunch bag and rubbed my legs together under his appraising look. “Location-wise, not my drink. At least in here, no one’s shouting at the TV.”
Harvey hummed and flipped a mug over. “No, but we do have hipster holiday covers playing on loop. Not sure that’s much better.”
“It is. If only because of the company." I grinned.
“You flatter me.” He smirked and resumed making drinks.
I flexed my sweaty palms, waiting for a sign he agreed that we were both in good company. I didn’t want to assume anything. Harvey and I didn’t really know each other in 'reality.' This couldbe nothing more than a kind of play to shake up the monotony of the workday. Not like he’d be interested in hanging with me after-hours.
I hugged my lunch bag and leaned into the counter as he rolled his long-sleeved shirt up to his elbows. A dark cloud tattoo wound across his left arm with the grace of tinsel around a sturdy tree. The detailed curves teased my curiosity.
Harvey tilted his head. “What are you looking at?”
“Oh, nothing.” Honesty was generally the best policy. A little scary, though. I rocked on my heels. “That design is pretty.”
“On the drinks?” he asked.
“On your body.” Heat stormed up my neck as Harvey’s eyebrows shot up, his lip ticking incredulously. “I mean the tattoo. Did you draw that?”
