Page 83 of Harvest Heat

He did know about Caleb’s horrible ex, and they had talked to each other when they’d had dinner, but they were often strategizing or talking about their shops or how much they wanted each other. Even there, alone in his bed, heat filled Rhys’s face as he thought about how easily Caleb turned him on.

Somehow, even without knowing all those little details about Caleb, Rhys knew that he’d fallen in love with him.

As it got dark outside, Rhys realized he hadn’t done anything all day. He’d barely eaten, and he’d only had a little water and a single cup of coffee to drink. There was no way in hell he was going to get out of bed in the morning, go open the shop, and talk to people. Rumors had to be all over town now that he’d hidden for a day. How was he ever going to leave his house again?

Once again, he got Sam to cover for him and found them some more help. After two days of hiding, barely leaving the bed, barely eating, sleeping fitfully because of stress dreams, where he was always too late to help someone or incapable of making a simple phone call or opening a door, he felt just as exhausted as he had when he’d run from Caleb.

The thought of seeing people, and especially of talking to people, made him feel sick. Tessa had texted him regularly, and he’d responded often enough to keep her from coming over. How much longer could that last?

He got an answer to his question a few minutes later when he heard a knock at his door. He ignored it until Tessa texted him. Let me in. I need to see proof of life.

He had no doubt he looked like hell and probably smelled terrible too, but she’d let herself in if he didn’t answer the door. So he pulled on joggers and a T-shirt, ran a hand through his hair, and went to the door. When he swung it open, he didn’t just see Tessa. Jonah and Marianne were also there.

“Wow,” Marianne said. “You look terrible.”

Jonah laid a hand on her shoulder. “Don’t say that. We want him to let us in.”

Rhys sighed. “She’s right, not that I’ve actually looked.”

“You don’t smell good either,” Tessa said. “Go take a shower. We’ll wait.”

“I was taking a nap. I don’t want to talk to anybody.”

Tessa shook her head. “You’ve been hiding out here for long enough. From the looks of you, you haven’t had a shower in days. You’re certainly not feeling any better, so resting isn’t helping. Are you eating?”

“Enough.”

“That means no. Go take a shower, put on some fresh clothes, and come back out here. We’re going to fix this.”

“You can’t fix me. I’m just the way I am.”

She scowled at him. “I didn’t say anything about you needing to be fixed. This problem with Caleb needs to be fixed. There’s nothing wrong with you.”

“I don’t know how to do this.”

“Nobody knows how to fall in love.”

“But I’m not…”

“Shower.” Tessa pointed toward the bathroom, and Rhys decided that was his best option. It was easier than talking, but he knew they’d all sit there and talk about him until he returned.

When he got out of the shower, his friends had cleaned up the kitchen, and they were sitting in the living room, watching a hockey game. He was sure Marianne had turned it on. The rest of them could take or leave hockey, but Marianne always managed to pull them in with her enthusiasm.

They turned the TV off when he entered the room, and Tessa gestured for him to sit beside her. He flopped down on the couch, knowing if he stood for too long, he’d start to feel dizzy, especially after the heat of the shower.

Finn arrived with a takeout box as he was getting settled. He could tell before he opened it that it was his standard order from the pub.

“Thank you.” Rhys sat the box down on the coffee table.

“Eat now,” Tessa said.

He didn’t feel hungry, but she was right that he needed to eat. He took a bite and then another and another and suddenly realized he was absolutely starving. He had to force himself not to go too fast. Everyone else talked around him as he ate, but they didn’t address any questions directly at him. They must’ve wanted him fueled up before their interrogation started.

When he set the empty box down, Tessa wrapped an arm around his shoulders, and Jonah scooted over and laid a hand on his leg.

“We all love you,” Jonah said. “We know you’re hurting, and we want to help.”

“I let you wallow for a few days,” Tessa said. “But that time is up. You’ve hardly ever missed a day at your shop, and now you’ve missed two in a row.”