A small laugh huffs from my lips, and I don’t miss how delighted Diamond is about that. I’m not ready to dissect all the feelings his statement just invoked, so I let my gaze flick to the giant flower arrangement on the counter. Roses and other flowers I don’t know, all white, sit in a pretty blue vase, and I step over to smell them. Not quite the same as the scent of Diamond, but still nice.
“These are pretty.”
“You like them?”
“Sure. As much as one can like flowers, I guess. They suit you.”
I don’t know what I’m trying to say or what I even mean, but I’m hyper aware of Diamond’s gaze on me.
“I’ll take that as a compliment and assume it means you think I’m pretty.”
He is. Very much so, but I can’t just flirt with him the way he does with me. He makes it all so effortless, and I don’t even know if this is a game he plays with everyone or not. What if I tried to flirt back for real, and it was just a joke to him? No, I’ll keep that to myself for now.
Clearing my throat, I change the subject to something with fewer questions. “I need whatever Hunter usually drinks, and I guess I’ll try something you recommend.”
His blue eyes widen, and he smiles so fucking bright you’d think I just told him he won the lottery. “You trust me, handsome? For real this time?”
Despite myself, I chuckle. “Yeah. Make me something that’s your favourite. Oh, and what smells so good in here?”
Diamond grabs two take-out cups from a stack nearby and speaks over his shoulder while he makes my drink order. “I think it always smells good in here. Sugar, cinnamon, spices, chocolate…it’s always something, and I love it.” He deftly uses the coffee machine, tapping containers, dumping grounds and steaming things. I’d probably need a degree to do whatever he’s doing. “But today it’s something new and yummy.”
He sets the two cups in front of me and marks an H on one cup. “Taste yours now, please. Tell me if I found something you like.”
Bringing the cup to my lips, I meet Diamond’s gaze as I take the first taste. The coffee is smooth and not bitter. He’s added something foamy, and there’s a flavour that shouldn’t be in coffee, but I like it.
“Banana?”
His eyes light up. “Do you like it?”
With another sip, I nod. “Yeah. I think I do. It’s like drinking banana bread, which should be gross, but…” Diamond hangs on every word. “I really like it.”
I have no words to describe the glow Diamond beams at my admission. It’s like a fuzzy, warm sweater and the thrill of a secret first kiss.
“Let me get you and Hunter a sample of the new cookie to take. It’s strawberry, white-chocolate shortbread.”
He slides two cookies into a cellophane bag and slides them across the counter.
“Thank you.”
When I remove my wallet to pay, he immediately places his hand over mine.
“This one is on me.” When I shake my head, he insists. “Please. We both made horrible starts, and I want to apologize. It’s the least I can do.”
“You have nothing to apologize for, but if that makes you keep smiling…okay. Thank you.”
Diamond smiles and nods. “Smiling is my default. You caught me on a bad day last time. Besides, the best way to keep you coming back is to give you a taste for free, right?” He winks again, and a thrill runs up my spine. “Better get that to Hunter before it’s cold. He’s an absolute monster when his coffee is cold.”
“Thanks for the tip.”
Diamond opens his mouth, like he wants to add something, but instead he nods and squeezes my arm as he excuses himself to serve a group that just entered and sat at a table right away. I watch for a moment as he effortlessly makes them welcome. Yes, there’s touching and that teasing grin of his I might be obsessing over, but his gaze lifts to meet mine a final time before I turn and leave.
Until now, I didn’t know it was bothering me so much to be snubbed by him. Not having his acknowledgement by either a touch or a glance was a weight I carried. Which I know I deserved the first time here. But it feels like maybe I’ve patched the potholes and we can have a smoother ride now.
I don’t know what kind of ride, but at least I don’t feel like a huge asshole anymore.
After parking at the training facility, I exit the truck with both cups and the cookies and let myself in through the side door to the office. It’s more like a suite than an office, but if I’m spending a lot of time here, I’m not complaining.
Hunter sits behind the computer, his hair a mess, and when he sits back and runs his fingers through it again, I know why.
