Page 33 of Harvest Heat

Caleb wondered if Rhys was once again nervous about clouding his judgment with alcohol when he was supposed to be working on his festival entry, but he didn’t think one beer was going to make any difference. He’d actually love to see Rhys loosen up a little bit.

When Caleb returned and handed Rhys a bottle of beer, Rhys said, “I don’t drink much usually, but it has been a long week. I mean, I’m sure more so for you since you just opened. Congratulations!” He held his bottle out to clink against Caleb’s, and once again, Caleb felt tingles. Rhys being nice to him, looking happy, basically existing excited him. He was in trouble.

Rhys had waited for him to start eating, but now they opened their takeout boxes, and for a few moments, they ate in silence.

“I didn’t realize how hungry I was,” Rhys said.

“You only had an apple and a few doughnuts while you were at the farm, and we did a lot of walking.”

“That’s true. I guess I didn’t really think about it.”

Caleb smiled. “If you need something else⁠—”

Rhys shook his head. “No, this is good. I’ll send you the money for dinner.”

“No, it’s on me.”

“I don’t⁠—”

“It’s just dinner, Rhys. You can pay another time.”

“All right.”

Caleb could tell Rhys didn’t like that, but he was glad he didn’t argue more. “So any more thoughts about what we should make for the festival?”

Rhys shook his head.

“All right, here’s what we’re going to do. Do you want to take notes, or do you want me to?”

“I’ll do it.” Caleb had suspected that was how it would go, but he didn’t mind. As long as he had some say-so in the flavors they used, he didn’t mind if Rhys needed to take control. But if he finally did get a chance to kiss Rhys, then he intended to be in the driver’s seat.

“Let’s not censor any of our ideas. We’re going to write down everything we think of for now since we’re just brainstorming.”

Rhys cringed visibly. “I’m not sure I can do that.”

“Could you try?” Caleb deliberately made his eyes big as he smiled at Rhys.

Rhys’s lips parted, and he stared for a second before seeming to shake it off. “I’ll try.”

Neither of them said anything for a few moments, and then Caleb suggested, “Cinnamon.”

Rhys typed into a note on his phone, then circled his hand, indicating he wanted Caleb to say more.

“Pumpkin.”

“A cinnamon, pumpkin what? Latte?”

“I’m just naming flavors for now.”

“But we need whole drinks.”

“Yes, but right now, we’re just throwing out everything that comes to mind.”

Rhys looked uneasy. “I have to think of the whole combination.”

“Then you can suggest combinations, and I’ll just name things as they come to me.”

Rhys seemed to get more and more tense as their list grew. Finally, he said, “Is that enough?”