Page 25 of Harvest Heat

As he looked out through the rain at Caleb’s shop, all the reasons he shouldn’t do this faded away. They had to work together. He could be brave. He could step out of his comfort zone. He needed Caleb. He’d fucked up, and he had to fix it.

Without grabbing a coat, he rushed out of his store and ran through the pouring rain all the way to Cloud Nine. He knocked and waited a few seconds. When Caleb didn’t respond, he knocked louder, using both fists. Caleb had to be there. Rhys needed him.

CHAPTER 10

Was that someone knocking on the door downstairs? What time was it? Caleb picked up his phone and looked at the screen. Midnight. Who the hell would be here now, and why hadn’t they called first? He didn’t see any missed calls or texts.

Swearing under his breath, he pulled on some sweatpants over his boxers and hurried downstairs. When he got to the door, he saw Rhys standing there, rain dripping down his face. His eyes were huge, and he was staring at Caleb’s bare chest.

Caleb couldn’t suppress a smile. He liked Rhys noticing him, but what was he doing here now? No way had he come to fulfill Caleb’s fantasies. Probably something was wrong. He turned the lock and pulled the door open. “Are you okay?”

“We should work together.”

Caleb sucked in his breath. That was not what he was expecting Rhys to say. He took a step back. “Come in. You’ve got to be freezing.”

“I’m okay.” He shivered, letting Caleb know he was lying, but Caleb stayed silent while Rhys looked him up and down. Suddenly, he seemed to realize how obvious he was being and turned away. “Were you… um… had you gone to bed?”

Caleb suppressed the urge to laugh. “Yes, but it’s okay.”

“I thought you were in the shop because the lights were on.”

Caleb nodded. “I guess I forgot to turn them off.”

“I’m sorry. I should go. I⁠—”

“No.” Caleb grabbed his arm as he stepped away. “Stay.”

Rhys’s mouth dropped open. “I… um…”

He looked ready to bolt, but Caleb was determined to keep him from running away. “You should stay and warm up, and we should talk. Do you like tea or only coffee?”

“I… um… I like tea.”

He would make Rhys tea, and then he would find out what had upset Rhys so much that he’d come through the rain to see Caleb at midnight. “Go sit down. I’ll make us some tea and then join you. I can also run upstairs and get you something dry to wear.”

Rhys took another step backward. “Really. I should go. I was having a hard time coming up with a drink for the festival, and I… This was crazy. Forgive me.”

“Rhys, there’s nothing to forgive. You’re having a bad night. I’m glad you came to see me. Sit down. Please. I want to talk to you.”

“I don’t think I’m going to be able to talk if you don’t put a shirt on.” Rhys clamped a hand over his mouth as soon as the words were out.

He hadn’t expected Rhys to say that either, but he liked it. “I’ll get myself a shirt while I’m upstairs if you promise to be here when I get back.”

Rhys’s eyes were filled with panic, and he was practically vibrating. “I shouldn’t have said that. I…”

“I like that you said it. I like honesty, and I don’t mind being appreciated.”

“Oh. Um… You don’t?”

“Why would I mind that a hot guy finds me distracting?”

Rhys’s mouth dropped open, and it was all Caleb could do not to cross the room and kiss him. “I’ll be right back. Don’t go anywhere.”

“O-okay.”

Caleb ran upstairs. He paused to take a few calming breaths before he pulled a flannel shirt from his closet. He needed a moment if he wasn’t going to come on too strong when he went back downstairs. He hadn’t been imagining it. Rhys was into him.

He glanced in the mirror, ran a hand over his hair, and then grabbed a sweatshirt and joggers for Rhys before hurrying back downstairs, buttoning his shirt as he went.