“Funny,” he says with a wicked grin. “I’ll have you know I only went to college on a football scholarship. I majored in English.”
Looking out over the pool and at the desert, I sigh. “So, do you do this every morning?” I ask, turning my head to Greyston. “Swim, I mean.”
He nods. “I do. Well, I try to, right up until it gets too cold, anyway. Do you swim?”
“When I can,” I answer. “Do you have plans for today?”
“Actually, I’ve got a few things to do for work before Callie gets here.”
The small smile I’ve been sporting all morning falls, and I stare down into my almost-empty mug. “Oh, she’s coming over today?” I’m both upset by this and mildly curious. “I can’t wait to meet her.”
Greyston stands up off his chair and grabs his towel. “I think you’ll really like her. The two of you will get along great.”
I won’t lie; there’s a part of me that doubts the “liking her” part, mainly because I’m completely and irrationally jealous.
“I’m going to go and have a shower so I can get a start on my day. If I don’t see you before you leave, have a good day at work. I’ll see you for dinner?” The way he’s smiling at me used to make me think there was something flirtatious behind it, but now I know I’m just desperate for male attention.
“Sounds good,” I tell him. “You have a good day, too.”
Greyston heads inside, leaving me on the patio to stare out into the open desert. It’s quiet here. Peaceful. Back at the dorms, there were always people milling about in the halls, parties across the halls, or random men coming in and out of my room. At my parents’ house…well, there was just the one problem.
Before I get too lost in my disturbing thoughts, I decide to go inside to get ready for work, also.
Just over an hour later, I arrive at the café. Katie’s busy serving a short lineup of customers when I slip behind the counter and tie my apron around my waist so I can help prepare the drinks in the queue. Once the line has cleared, Katie and I start cleaning.
“How’s it been this morning?” I ask, wiping the spilled milk droplets off the counter.
Katie’s busy checking the levels of all the flavored syrups. “Not too bad. How was your night? You’re moved into your new place now, right?”
“I am. I just finished moving in last night. Spent my first night there and everything.” I laugh lightly. “I actually forgot where I was when I first woke up. It’s hard to believe I even live there.” My smile turns wistful, knowing that it’s not just the house that had enticed me to move in. “And the owner…"
“Yeah?” Katie inquires, moving closer to me and resting her hip against the counter, her back turned on the till.
“He’s just so…” Suddenly, the door to the café opens, and I see a very familiar face. “Greyston.”
Katie giggles. “What is that? Some kind of code?” She bats her eyes. “He’s just so…Greyston.”
Using my towel, I swat her arm and move around her to the till to greet our newest customer. “Greyston, what are you doing here?”
That crooked smile appears, and my stomach does a little flip-flop before I tell it to calm the hell down. “Well, I was headed to my first appointment and decided to stop and pick up coffee for the guy I’m meeting.” I stare blankly into his beautiful blue eyes. “And I heard you sell coffee here.”
“Coffee,” I repeat, finally hearing him and snapping out of my daze. “Yeah, we sell coffee.”
As I’m waiting for Greyston to order, I feel Katie’s presence before her arm brushes against mine. “Hi,” she says, sweetness lacing her already soft voice. “I’m Katie. You must be Juliette’s new landlord. She didn’t tell me you were so—” Trying to keep my upper body still, I kick the side of her leg. “Tall. You’re very tall.”
“So, what can I get for you?” I ask, hoping that he didn’t hear me implying that he was gorgeous only moments ago.
Looking at the menu above our heads, he hems and haws for a few seconds. “Two double espressos, please, and maybe a couple of blueberry muffins, too.”
I ring in his order and put the cash in the till before making his coffee. While I prepare his drinks, I can overhear Katie striking up a conversation with him.
“So, Juliette says you’re some kind of big-shot in the sports industry,” she begins.
“Did she, now? Well, I suppose she’s right; I scout up-and-coming talent to represent,” he explains.