When It Rains

Chapter 4

Valerie’s P.O.V.

I still can’t believe that I’ve been left here alone again for this stupid delivery; maybe it’d be worth my while to hire a new minion – God knows what Paul and Billi will say about it but I’m the boss and I seem to be the only one working; they know how I hate to walk home in the dark and since they both drive they don’t have to worry.

I jogged from the back of the store to the front desk and started lifting papers and opening drawers looking for a pen to sign for the shipment that’s on my doorstep when the bell over the door rang. I looked up out of habit and froze mid smile in surprise. There with my yellow umbrella stood an equally surprised Wyatt.

I forgot how nervous he makes me, he’s so gorgeous and then there’s that whole kiss thing that I’d been banging my head against the wall for, it’s not that I regret it on a personal level or anything it’s just that I don’t know him and he could very easily be in a relationship or be gay – God I hope not.

I stood up a little straighter and felt my wrist lift and wave at him – I’m such an idiot. Wyatt smiled and walked over to me – I’m happy to see in a jacket this time.

“Hey” he seems a little nervous too; well this was kind of a shock meeting.

“How’d you know that I work here? Are you stalking me”? I joked.

“No you’re safe I promise” he laughed. “It was coincidence, although if I’m being truthful I was planning on bumping into you today - it’s raining you see”. Wyatt pointed over his shoulder and so I stared out at the windows and sighed remembering the weather. “Don’t worry I got your umbrella”. He added seeing my expression.

I looked at him with a real smile; it feels like I lost my sunshine all this time it was gone but I’m glad I could share it with Wyatt, and he does look happier than he did the last time we spoke.

“Thanks”.

“Not a problem, so what are you doing after your shift”?

I shrugged “I don’t know, why”?

“Maybe we could get some coffee or something”? He offered a little awkwardly making me smile.

“Sure sounds great but I’m going to be a while – everybody else left hours ago and I just got a shipper full of Paul’s nasty tech guy equipment”.

“I could help if you want, I haven’t really got anything else to do”.

I nodded vigorously “That would actually be amazing”. Wyatt smiled, leant my umbrella against the counter and took his jacket off before pushing up the sleeves on his shirt.

“Where do I start”?

With Wyatt here it literally took half the time to catalogue all of my new stock and replenish the shelves from what had been bought today day. I was just finishing up my spreadsheet for the week on the computer when Wyatt came through from the back carrying two cups of coffee since I said we as well stay here and listen to some good music which he instantly agreed to.

He put them down on the counter top and pulled and leant against it, smiling down at me as I took a sip of my coffee until my lips pursed.

“Not enough sugar”?

“Too much but it’s cool” I laughed when he looked worried. “Seriously it’s fine, at least you don’t put in mustard like Paul”.

“Why would he do that”? He asked shocked.

“He thinks he’s funny” I shrugged.

“So how long have you worked here”?

“Off the record... since I was ten, on the pay roll since I was fifteen”.