“Hey you!” Shiloh called out from behind the counter, his eyes lighting up when he saw me. “I thought you were working late today. Here, let me get you something to drink.”
Before I could protest, he handed me a small plate with a freshly baked golden brown blueberry scone drizzled with a lemon glaze. My mouth watered just looking at it. Funny how he’d completely changed my mind about something I swore was so dry I couldn’t see why anyone liked them to the point I looked forward to the flavor of the day when I stopped by. He then pulled a fresh cup of coffee, adding two sugars and a splash of creamer.
“Thank you,” I murmured, as I remembered him fussing at me the first time he realized I didn’t actually drink my coffee black and I was just trying to not be a pain. I was used to taking care of myself, and it felt odd to be on the receiving end of his kindness.
“Of course,” Shiloh said warmly, then gestured toward a steaming cup of coffee. “I figured you might want something to warm you up after working outside in this all day.”
“Can’t say no to that,” I replied, gratefully accepting the cup. I took a sip, the rich, bold flavor warming me from the inside out. Mrs. Jenkins had hired me to build her some raised garden areas, and I wanted to get them finished in time for planting. That meant staying out until the rain got too heavy to continue. “Why does your coffee taste so much better than when I make it at home?”
“Years of practice,” he said with a wink. “I can’t sit for too long but there’s still about thirty minutes on the pies in the oven.”
We settled into a corner table, and I tried to ignore the way my heart raced whenever our knees brushed beneath it. We talked about the usual things—work, the weather, the happenings around town—just like I used to do with Patrick every night.
I hated that my ex popped into my head so frequently in comparison to Shiloh but I figured it was probably normal since he was the only other person I’d been with.
“Teddy,” he said, his voice quiet and quivering. When I looked up, I saw fear in his eyes. My stomach lurched, worried he was about to step on the brakes again. “I have to know... Is anyone giving you a hard time about us?”
I snorted, unable to suppress a wry smile. “Why? Is there something going on I should know about?”
When I’d stopped by city hall today to pick up some permits, Michael let me know there had been some issues over at Harmony House recently with residents suddenly taking issue with what Billy and his brothers were doing for at-risk youth. If their bullshit was spreading throughout town, heads needed to be knocked together.
While Harmony Grove had a reputation for being open and accepting, there were still times when the minority felt the need to make their voices heard. And they tended to do so in the most passive-aggressive ways, like talking just a bit louder than they typically would when they were within earshot of whoever’s live they didn’t approve of. But now, it seemed as if they were growing bolder.
“No, it’s nothing, really,” Shiloh hedged. He didn’t make eye contact. I sucked in a sharp breath and pressed my lips together to keep from warning him against lying to me. There was no doubt in my mind he thought he was doing the right thing. “You know how it is. Someone always has something to say. And places like this are prime gossip mills.”
“Here’s the thing,” I said, my voice gentle yet firm. “I don’t care what they say. We’re consenting, grown men who can do whatever in the hell we want as long as we’re not hurting anyone.”
He looked down, his fingers nervously tapping on the table. “I know. It’s just... sometimes, it’s hard not to let it get to me. I’ve always been one to care too much about what people think, and I hate that it’s clouding my head.”
I reached out and placed my hand on top of his, giving it a reassuring squeeze. “We can’t control what people say, but we can control how we react to it. Let them talk. It doesn’t change how I feel about you, and I hope it doesn’t change how you feel about me.”
Shiloh looked up, his eyes searching mine for a moment before he smiled, his features softening. “It doesn’t. If anything, it just makes me want to be with you even more. Prove them wrong with their bullshit about you having a midlife crisis and dating someone half your age.”
Midlife crisis my ass. Fuck the entire lot of them.
The intensity of his words sent a shiver down my spine, and I felt my desire for him deepen. Our eyes remained locked, and I couldn’t help but lean in, my lips brushing against his in a soft, tender kiss. His easy affection soothed the sting of hearing exactly what they’d said around him.
“You know you’re not my midlife crisis, right?” I needed his reassurance that he trusted my attraction was for real. Hell, I’d tried ignoring my feelings and failed miserably. It wasn’t like I’d thrown myself at him.
“Yeah, I do.” He wasn’t as convincing as I’d have like but I reminded myself this was all new for him, too. We sat there, our fingers entwined as the rain pattered against the windows and the scent of baked fruit filled the air. It felt like we were in our own little world, safe from the judgment and gossip that swirled around us.
When the timer went off, Shiloh reluctantly stood up, his fingers lingering on mine for a moment before he let go. “I should get those out of the oven before they burn.”
As he moved to attend to his baking, I couldn’t help but watch him, my desire growing stronger. It was hard to believe that someone like Shiloh had come into my life, and I was determined to cherish every moment we had together.
* * *
As Shiloh steppedinside my house later that night, I couldn’t help but feel a little self-conscious, hoping my efforts would impress him. My place wasn’t much to look at but it was perfectly passable. After leaving him to finish his baking for the day, I’d come home and tidied up a bit so he wouldn’t think I was a total slob. I’d been embarrassed as hell the other night when he’d come over with my piles of crap all over the place.
He looked around, taking in the warm wooden floors and walls adorned with my handcrafted picture frames and shelves. The scent of lemon oil hung in the air. A warm smile spread across his face. “You have a lovely home, Teddy.”
“Thank you,” I replied, my cheeks flushing with pride. “I figured we could use a night in.”
The only place we’d been together was the Tap, so that was obviously where the gossip had started. But if I knew one thing about Harmony Grove, it was that once that mill started turning it wouldn’t stop. It wasn’t hiding so much as giving the busybodies time to become obsessed with someone else’s life.
“That sounds perfect,” Shiloh said, his eyes twinkling with happiness. When the corner of his mouth tipped up, his gaze filled with a mischievous glint. He sucked his lower lip between his teeth, and I was dying to know what he was thinking. But not yet, because if he was thinking the way I was, we’d never eat.
In the kitchen, I seasoned the steaks while Shiloh washed the vegetables for the salad. The aroma of garlic and herbs filled the air as I rubbed the mixture onto the meat. “I’m not much of a cook but I do enjoy grilling.”
