Page 78 of Harvest Heat

“Only if you want it to be.”

“But he said⁠—”

“Trust me,” Marianne said. “Now, do you want vodka?”

Caleb sighed. “I’ll hate myself tomorrow.”

“Are you working the opening shift?”

He nodded.

“Call someone to take your place.”

“I can’t call out when my shop is so new, not because…”

“You’re hurting and feeling like things are falling apart?”

“That’s not…”

Marianne raised her brows.

“Okay. Maybe I do feel like that, but it’s late to call someone. I’ll be fine. If I need to leave early, I’ll find someone then. I’ll be better off having something to do in the morning.”

“All right. So no vodka?”

“Maybe a little.”

Rhys didn’t know how long he’d been lying on the floor when Tessa showed up. He ignored her the first time she knocked and called his name, but he knew she wouldn’t go away. She texted him several times. Finally, he texted back: I don’t want to talk.

She knocked again, then texted that she would let herself in if he didn’t answer the door.

He pulled himself to his feet, wiped his tearstained face, and called for her to hang on. He needed a moment to steady himself. He had a headache building behind his eyes, and his head pulsed with each beat of his heart.

She scowled at him when he opened the door. “What the hell are you doing?”

“I think you saw.”

“I saw you making out with Caleb. All that tells me is that you were working together, and it led to making out. I want to know why you ran off and what you intend to do with him.”

Rhys snorted. “Are you worried I’m going to ruin his innocence?”

“No, that man very clearly knows what he’s doing.” Rhys glared at her. “Don’t be jealous. I know he’s gay.”

“I’m not jealous. I’m… I don’t know what the fuck we’re doing. I couldn’t answer him when he asked me either.”

“Sit down. I’m going to get you some water.”

He scowled at her. “I don’t want water.”

“I don’t care what you want right now. I’m here to take care of you, and you need to drink some water, eat some chocolate, and talk to me.”

“Chocolate does sound good.”

Tessa nodded and headed toward his kitchen. Rhys knew he wasn’t getting rid of her, so he sat on the sofa, pulled his feet up, and covered himself with the blanket that was draped over the back.

Tessa returned with a water bottle and a box of Thin Mints she must have extracted from his freezer. He’d forgotten he still had a box hidden there from last winter’s cookie haul. He opened a sleeve and started eating. When he’d had several cookies and some water, Tessa stole a cookie for herself and said, “Are you in love with him?”

Cookie crumbs shot from Rhys’s mouth as he sputtered. “What?”