Luca Chessman has been longing for love his entire life. The only problem is-he can't seem to find a guy that likes him the same way.
With his family cafe, Chessman's, struggling to keep afloat and no help from the bank, he's slowly accepting the d...
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I visit Chessman's on Tuesday afternoon to collect the sales profits for last week. The cafe has been getting a lot more attention recently but I've noticed that it's still not making the money I'd like for Hazel and Luca.
In a town like this, you're not going to always see new customers. It's nothing like London, it's a tiny communal town where every customer is valued because they're what keep businesses like this going.
Luca clears up the counter as I scribble down some numbers onto my notepad. My eyes follow my writing as the ink slowly begins to run out. I curse quietly and press down on the ballpoint but nothing comes out.
"You got a spare pen?" I glance up at Luca as he rings out the cloth in the sink.
He hums and offers me a sweet smile. "In my apron over there," he points to where his dark work apron is hanging up.
I nod and stand from the chair. As I reach the hooks, I dip my hand in the pocket of his apron until my fingers brush a plastic pen and then a little piece of paper. I pull them out at the same time but I focus on the folded paper.
My thumb flicks it open and my eyes run across the letters and the numbers. I'm instantly scowling at what I find. Who the fuck is Aris and why has he given Luca his number?
Something rotten shoots through me and I can't shake the spark of heat that floods my body in a bad way. I can't stop staring at the letters, at his handwriting. I take down a breath and clutch the pen tighter in my vacant hand.
I glance over at Luca but his back is facing me, he's restocking the cups next to the coffee machine. My throat clears gently and his head rotates to face me but when he sees my expression, his eyes widen. "What's the matter?"
My jaw tenses as I flash him the piece of paper. "What's this?" I ask calmly.
Luca's blue eyes drop to what's in my hand and his eyes light up. Not the reaction I was expecting. He presses a hand to his forehead and walks towards me. "I completely forgot about that," he hisses. "Shit."
He takes the paper from me and I study his lashes as they move subtly, his eyes scanning the words again. I feel my shoulders tense when he doesn't explain and he finally meets my gaze. "This guy I know from school, he was in the year above me. He asked about the part time job in the window and I said I'd get back to him with a trial shift. I completely forgot but thanks for reminding me."
Oh.
My heart calms down a few beats but Luca's mouth presses together and he notices the way my shoulders are still rigid. "What is it?" He asks softly, his expression falling quickly.
I lower my head and shake it at the same time. I can't remember the last time I was even remotely jealous but that feeling ran through me like an ice cold bath. All for a fucking name and a number.
