Authors note: I hope you enjoy, I'll try to publish once a week or so:)
The coffee shop door pushed open with a light ring of a bell, inviting the cold winter draft into the muggy atmosphere inside. Having spent the better part of an hour pushing through the shivering crowds on the sidewalk, Cas' fingertips and nose burned slightly as the heated air brushed against it. He took a deep, filling breath of the bitter aroma swirling around the cozy space and pulled his dark blue scarf off, tucking it in his long tan coat's pocket. The man in front of him snatched his coffee roughly from the barista's hands and rushed out of the establishment, knocking against Cas' shoulder in his attempt to leave quickly, almost knocking Cas' binder full of pages lined with scrawled stories to the floor. He stepped forward, rubbing his shoulder softly from the not so gentle impact of the hurried man. Smiling sympathetically at the employee working behind the counter, he placed his hands on the slick surface of the counter and looked up at the boards advertising the winter specials.
"Can I get a black coffee, two sugars?" Cas' voice layered on top of the almost too loud Elvis ballad floating down from the speakers in the ceiling. The barista nodded their head and set off making Cas' regular order, and Cas glanced at the abstract clock on the wall which read 8:55. His shift at the book store started in five minutes and it was four blocks away, which seemed more like eight with the enormous groups of people crowding the skinny concrete walk ways lining the road.
" Here you go, man," the employees lax accent spoke over the people chattering around the shop. "That'll be $4.25."
Cas handed the short man a five dollar bill accompanied with a hurried "keep the change" and weaved through the line snaking around the shop, careful not to bump into any one, and back out into the harsh winter air.
Ten minutes later had Cas shoving the double glass doors open with his unbruised shoulder, trying to balance his coffee and binder full of writing in one arm. He set his things down on the check out counter and slung off his coat, scarf still in the pocket, under the counter. Cas' black tee shirt and rolled jeans accompanied high top converse that were now, thanks to the snow outside, soaking wet. He sighed internally as he inspected the state of them, knowing his toes would be most likely completely numb by the time he got home.
Ellen, the uncharacteristic owner of the shop, walked out of the break room, her tattooed arms and neck peeking out of the black top that was part of the uniform and briskly towards the disheveled and frozen Cas, her thin, pale lips pursed.
"Ten minutes late, Cas. You've been late every day the past week." Ellen said disapprovingly, setting her colorful hands on her hips.
" I know, I'm sorry, it's just been a difficult week. I've gotten about two hours of sleep the past three days combined." Cas sighed. His writers' block was unfortunately getting the best of him; he hadn't completed a story, or even a description of a character, for almost two weeks and his nights were now wasted sitting at the tiny wooden desk in his unheated apartment, squinting at the paper in front of him, as if staring harder at it would somehow make the words appear.
"This isn't acceptable, Cas, I can't be behind the counter and supervising everything at the same time."
"Yes ma'am," Cas acknowledged and looked down guiltily.
Ellen sighed and conceded, " Just try harder to be on time okay?"
Cas nodded solemnly and set to work, flipping on the register and making sure everything was ready for when the shop opened in only a few minutes.
In the four hours Cas had been on the clock at the shop so far that day, only ten or some customers flitted in, giving Cas plenty of time to work on his newest story about a man with wings. Normally, he would have at least ten pages done, but his god damn writers block made it so he had what he called half a page, though he knew it was more of a fourth, of spidery writing. Cas crumpled the paper up angrily and threw it forcefully towards the bin in the corner right as the door clanged open, bringing in that ever so delightful breath of wintery gust into the poorly heated establishment.
"Well some one is in a lovely mood this morning," A deep, melodic voice rang through the otherwise silent store.
Cas looked up at the sound of the words and his heart skipped a beat. Standing in front of him was a tall man with light brown hair and the greenest eyes he'd ever seen. His face was dusted with freckles that almost mirrored constellations and his lips were the prettiest, most inviting shade of pink Cas had laid eyes on . His broad body was clad with a worn leather jacket that hugged the curves of his shoulders just right and weathered jeans, the bottoms of which had obviously seem better days, but it fit with his whole look. His whole messy, tousled, perfect look. His worn jeans hung low on his angular hips and underneath the jacket was a fitted grey v neck, the collar of which accentuated the mans collarbones and neck. Cas' eyes traveled up and down the man once more, stopping at his groin, inciting Cas to bite his lip involuntarily at the thoughts that crossed his mind about just exactly what he'd like to do with this beautiful person. Dean seemed to come into the shop almost every day, buying almost every book on mechanics they had and Cas had was quite enamored with the green-eyed beauty.The man that Cas had just been intensely studying cleared his throat, and Cas looked away, red blooming in his cheeks.
" I, uh, sorry, uh, welcome to On The Road Again used and secondhand books," Cas stammered, internally cursing himself.
The man stepped slightly closer to Cas and Cas' stomach erupted with butterflies. The slight movement brought that unforgettable smell to Cas' nose, one of musk, and wood, and leather.
" I was wondering if you have any books on car models made in the 60s?" Dean inquired, smiling slightly, keeping consistent with his never ending flow of purchasing books of that nature.
"Uh, um, yes, back here." Cas lead the gorgeous man to the back of the shop where they kept all of their mechanic and technical books.
"I gotta say, the view ain't bad from where I'm standing," Dean said smugly as Cas bent over to pick a discarded book off the floor and set it back on the shelf. Cas was glad he was facing away from Dean as his a furious red bloomed on his cheeks.
"Well, um, if you need anymore help, I'll be up front," Cas said nervously before hurrying back to the front of the store, shaking his head. God, he acted like such an idiot. To seem busy, he began to count the money in the register, as if he hadn't done that at least ten times today already, but he kept glancing up at the back of Dean, of whom he had a perfect view from the check out counter which seemed a very appropriate name for this current situation.
Two minutes later, a book fell softly in front of him onto the black countertop and Cas jumped, startled at the sudden noise.
"I'm sorry, didn't mean to scare you," Dean said solemnly, his green eyes sparkling, obviously trying not to laugh. "Though you did look quite adorable with those entrancing blue eyes so wide." Cas glared at him angrily for a few seconds and began scanning the book.
"Did you find everything alright." Cas deadpanned, slight pissed at Dean for laughing at him.
"Yes I did, including maybe a date tonight?" Dean's voice held a hint of suggestion and Cas furrowed his eyebrows slightly in confusion for a few seconds before realization dawned on him. His heart fluttered in what had to be a very dangerous pattern as the man he had been lusting after asked the question.
"Oh, uh, I'm not really, I don't..." Cas stuttered, surprised by the sudden offer.
"C'mon baby it'll be fun," Dean said, his voice deeper than it was before. Cas bit his lip as he felt the tone of his voice make a tent in his pants and send shivers up his spine.
"I'm not your baby," Cas interjected, shaking his head and Dean actually let out a laugh, the noise a deep and sultry sound that was like music to Cas' ears.
"Mm, but imagine all the things we would do if you were," Dean leaned forward across the counter and looked straight at Cas with those amazing green eyes and Cas' dick grew slightly harder at what Dean was implying and Cas thanked God he was behind the counter because his hard on was very noticeable at this point.
He finished ringing up the book without responding to Dean's thought provoking suggestion and told Dean his amount. Dean fished the correct bills out of his nicely fitted jeans, along with a little scrap of paper.
"Keep the change." Dean winked and walked out, carrying his newly purchased book.
After the rest of his very uneventful shift, Cas grabbed the scrap Dean had left. Unfolding the paper, Cas saw a number scribbled in messy handwriting along with the note call me ;). Cas pursed his lips, and thought about calling him. He knew better, though and stashed the paper in his back pocket, pulling on him coat and heading back out into the nighttime winter air.
