“About the music? Yeah. I haven’t really given entertainment and that sort of thing much thought. Plus it would mean extending the hours into the evening. I’m sure there are licensing requirements but it might be worth looking into. Anything to help capture and grow the clientele.”
“And when that happens, she’s your girl.”
“She’s one of the ones you were suggesting for a job?”
“Yep. Her and Jude. They’re both pretty outgoing, and friendly. I have a feeling they’d be good workers. Emma would probably be a good worker too, but I think dealing with customers would probably freak her out, at least until she grows in confidence, and she’d probably have to take it slow with anything involving reading. But I have no doubt she’ll get there one day. In the meantime, I do think Cass would be a great asset.”
Tom looked at the road where the three of them had disappeared into the darkness. “Definitely something to think about. Anyway, I’d better leave you to it, and I’d better rescue tomorrow’s quiche from the oven. Plus it’s goddamn freezing out here.”
Bailey finally noticed Tom’s thin clothing and the slight trembling of his hands.
“Well, if you dressed properly for the weather—”
“Yes, Mum.” Tom laughed. “But seriously, it is freezing. Are you nearly finished? I hate the thought of you out here in the cold.”
Bailey smiled. “Now who’s being the mum? I won’t be long. When I’m finished can I come inside so you can warm me up?”
“I’m counting on it.” Tom winked. He passed over the muffin box. “For the rest of your customers.”
Bailey watched him walk the few metres back to the side of the building before Tom turned around and gave Bailey another of those megawatt smiles.
Bailey was sure the warmth of that smile and the heat in his belly would keep him cosy until morning, but regardless, he looked at his watch and willed the next thirty minutes to be over.
* * *
Offering for Bailey to park the van outside the cafe had been the best idea Tom had had in a while, especially when he’d seen the state of Bailey’s beaten-up old Hyundai van. He bet it had a few hundred thousand kilometres on the clock. He’d wanted Bailey to be safe, but the new location had the most awesome perk—Bailey dropped in to see him on the evenings he was operating the library, and when he added those nights together with their “date nights,” it meant Tom got to see a hell of a lot of Bailey. And that made himveryhappy.
Maybe they were moving quickly, but damn it, he’d fallen hard and fast, and what did relationship rules mean anyway.Are they even a thing?He knew he’d cop flak from the boys, but it’d be friendly teasing and he was sure they’d be happy for him. More than happy, if their prompting for him to get out and have more fun was any indication. And boy was he having fun. The couple of months since he’d met Bailey had been the best he could remember in a very long time.
Tom smiled as he lay on his side, elbow propping his head as he looked down at Bailey’s sleeping form. For a moment he felt slightly stalkerish, but he brushed the thought aside. He wanted to admire Bailey, to trace his profile, to revel in the very idea that Bailey was in his bed.
He reached out and touched the pad of his finger to Bailey’s cheek, the skin warm under his touch. Bailey’s eyelids fluttered and his lips parted slightly, a small sigh escaping. Tom tensed but Bailey didn’t wake. Regardless, Tom withdrew his hand—he didn’t want to wake Bailey, not after the week he’d had. Bailey was one of the most hardworking and dedicated guys Tom knew, devoting hours and hours of his own time, time most people would spend socialising or relaxing, to the mobile library and those kids. As much as he’d like to lean down and kiss Bailey awake, Bailey needed his sleep.
Reluctantly Tom made a move to start his day.
It was Sunday, and he wished he could luxuriate in bed longer, but he had to maximise the day the cafe was closed to get some things done that he couldn’t do when there were customers on the premises. He slid from the bed slowly, making sure not to disturb Bailey. After smoothing back the doona and making sure Bailey was covered against the chill of the morning, he picked up his discarded trackies, worn T-shirt, and a hoodie from the floor where he’d tossed them the previous night. He grabbed clean underwear and a pair of sneakers and tiptoed from the room, hitting the switch for the heating on his way past.
The bathroom was freezing, even colder than the bedroom, as he hurriedly drew the clothing over his goosebump-covered body and shoved the shoes on his feet. He stopped to take a leak, slap on some deodorant, and brush his teeth, running a quick hand through his hair before heading downstairs.
The cafe was icy so he moved briskly, flipping on the lights, the heating, and the coffee machine. The essentials covered, he went to the back room and gathered his supplies. Today’s task consisted of continuing to remove the plaster from one of the walls. A large portion was already exposed brick, that area of the wall having a rustic, warm texture, but he still had a way to go. Tom paused for coffee, switched on some music, keeping it low, and got to work. It didn’t take long to get lost in the rhythm of tapping the hammer on the end of the chisel to chip away at the plaster. The work was actually therapeutic in its repetitive nature.Tap, tap, clunk. Tap, tap, clunk.
Tom had no idea how much time had passed before he heard Bailey call from the doorway. He straightened, wincing at the twinge in his back, realising he must have been at it for a couple of hours, and turned to smile at Bailey.
“Hey.”
“Hey, there.” Bailey crossed the floor and handed him a bottle of water. “I thought you could do with something to drink. You’ve been up for a while, obviously,” Bailey said, glancing at the wall.
Tom took a large swig from the bottle and nodded. “I find it hard to sleep in. I’m so used to getting up at sparrow’s fart, plus I wanted to get as much of this done today as possible. I have to complete what I can then clean up before opening tomorrow. It gets super dusty. If I’m lucky I’ll get this wall finished.”
They both looked at the large pile of plaster remnants on the floor.
“You’re making good progress.”
“Yep,” Tom acknowledged as he contemplated how much he’d managed to achieve.
“We can get the rest of this knocked over in no time. Where do you keep the tools?”
“You don’t need to help. You should be enjoying your day off, not chipping away down here.”
