Chapter 1
I pushed open the doors of Williams and Wilcox Industries. I’d been in Portsmouth for almost two weeks and while it wasn’t New York, it was a lot than closer than I’d been at home, and this would give me time to actually write something worth publishing.
Sure, the title of the new job I’d accepted today was ‘Data Entry Specialist’, but ya know what, it was a job. And after living out of my car for two weeks, trying to find anything, it was a start.
As a little treat to myself, I decided I would stop at the coffee shop I saw on my way to the Port and get myself a little something. I had seen something about lavender on their drinks board out front and had gotten so excited about it.
I hadn’t been able to explore, being so focused on getting a job. But I had a few bucks in my pocket, and I was gonna get a coffee if it was the last one I could get until I got a real paycheck.
Parking in front of the shop gave me a clear view of the sign. A honey lavender oatmilk latte. That sounded divine.
Back in Missouri, coffee was just coffee. Unless you ended up at a Starbucks or a fancy coffee place in a bigger city.
But I smiled, despite the ball of nerves that scrunched up in my stomach. I was trying something new, going to a new place. This was exciting. I had to be excited; otherwise I’d let the fear swallow me whole.
Pulling open the door had me smiling… for all of two seconds, until my feet fell out from under me and I crashed forwards into the concrete floor. I hissed, jamming my shoulder in the fall and wondering what kinda God sat in heaven ruining people’s days like this.
“Jesus, Joey! I told you to move the rug!” I heard from a very deep, masculine voice as feet rushed towards me. “I’m so sorry. God, are you okay? That was one hell of a tumble.”
But opening my eyes was a lot like realizing you were in a dream. Because surely the man in front of me wasn’t real; he couldn’t be.
The first thing I noticed about him was that he had the most gorgeous, thick light brown beard that connected to a full mustache on the top of his lip. It was full, but well groomed and I wondered if he’d let me run my fingers through it.
“Uh… yeah. I don’t… know what happened.” I murmured, trying to sit up and wincing at my elbow.
“It’s totally our fault. Joey was cleaning the floor and it’s a slow time of the day, so he stacked the runner in front of the door.” He said, cringing at the words as we both glanced over to see the rug at an unusual angle.
“I definitely should’ve been paying attention. I’ve never had my feet fall out from under me like that.” I said, giving him a nervous chuckle as his eyes turned back to me and I got lost in a sea of gorgeous caramel brown. God, he was a looker.
“No, it wasn’t you at all. Here, let me help you up. Did you hit your head or anything?” He asked, still looking concerned as he held his hand out and I took it, moving to get back on my feet.
In the act of pulling me to my feet, I got to see the countless tattoos covering all the skin I could see, except for his face. Beautiful black and gray lines filled in his skin, with everything from demons, to what looked like saints and matrons.
“Uh, no. Sorry. No. I didn’t hit my head. Just my elbow.” I said, winching again as I bent it and straightened it out.
But he was right; as I glanced around the coffee shop, there was nobody inside. And the decor was so interesting. It made me think a little of a hipster brewery that only served beer that tasted like hops. It was very industrial, dark wood and black metal. At the same time, it was a good look.
“Can I uh… buy you a coffee to apologize for the fall you took?” He asked with a little bit of a smile, still holding up his hand like he was going to catch me when I suddenly fell over.
“Oh, yeah. I mean, yes to the coffee, no you can’t buy it for me. Because like you’re at your job and I can’t just take something you work for.” I said, biting the inside of my cheek to keep myself from rambling any more.
He smiled at me and I couldn’t help noticing that it reached his amber eyes. “Well, that is true. But on the other hand, my lovely assistant tried to kill you. So I think we could call that a wash.” He said, as a man ran out of the back and hurriedly mopped the floor before putting the rug back in its usual position.
I tried to squash the blush I felt creeping out over my skin. “Yeah, I mean, that’d be great.” I told him as he moved back behind the counter.
“Anything sound good?” He asked, glancing at the computer screen before looking back at me.
“I really like the sound of the Lavender one outside on the board. I haven’t had a lavender drink in a long time.” I smiled back at him, wishing the nervous knot in my stomach would dissolve.
“Absolutely. And oatmilk okay?” He asked.
“Please. I’m low-key lactose, so oatmilk is perfect.” I nodded as he grabbed a cup and starting working on the drink.
“Are you just in town visiting somebody?” He asked with a smile and I tried to ignore the little glances he kept sending my way.
He was hot, he was tall, he was muscular and tattooed; there was a 98% chance he had a girlfriend or wife at home, so I decided I needed to shove whatever attraction I felt towards him in a box in the back of my head. I should’ve been happy with the fact I was having a nice conversation with another human that didn’t involve job searching.
“No, I just moved out here. I was heading for New York, but got this far and funds started getting lower than I was comfortable with, so I decided to stay for a while.” I shrugged.
“Ah. The Great New York Adventure.” He said with a smirk as he poured the espresso into the cup and started steaming the milk. “On the job hunt then?”
“That’s actually why I stopped in; I’m celebrating. I accepted an offer today.” I smiled.
“Fantastic! An even better reason for this one to be on the house. New jobs are always good.” He said, putting a top on the coffee for me and handing it across the window. “Tell me if you like it.”
I took the first sip and felt my eye close as the floral from the lavender and the sweetness from the honey wrapped me up. When I opened my eyes, I saw him watching me and something stirred at the base of my stomach. “It’s really delicious.”
“I didn’t catch your name.” He said with a half smile.
“Calla. Like the Lily.” I told him with a smile, although I’m sure he didn’t need to know my middle name was actually Lily. That made me sound like my parents were more hippie than the homesteaders they were. I guess granola and hippie went hand in hand.
“Calla. That’s a pretty name. It’s nice to meet you.” He said, holding his hand across the counter. “Jasper.”
“A very strong name. My momma always said names held a lot of meaning, they tell you a lot about a person.” I said, feeling some of the granola slip out of me. Hopefully, it wasn’t too much. I didn’t want the first person I’d had a real conversation with to think i was super weird.
Something in his eyes shifted and his posture relaxed a little bit. “That’s funny; my grandma used to say the same thing.”
I nodded, wondering if I should run with the conversation, or move to a table to enjoy my coffee and leave him alone.
“I know we just met, but could I sit with you while you drink your coffee? I don’t have much else to do in the way of work.” He smiled.
I nodded. “I’d like that.” I told him, moving to sit at one of the two person tables near the window.
“Where did you say home was?” He asked as he sat across from me and I hated how much I loved the way his tattoos kind of shined in the light.
“Missouri. Basically half way across the state. Draw a line and stick a pin in it.” I said, taking another sip of my coffee to hold off the rambling.
He smiled back at me. “I’ve never been. What’s it like?”
“Have you ever been cold and sweating at the same time?” I said, biting my cheek to force down the smile.
Jasper cracked a laugh that sounded a little like he was choking. “Ya know what, I think I have. That sounds… interesting.”
“It’s never boring, that is for sure.” I said, sipping on my coffee. “How about you? You’re from here?”
He wobbled. “I grew up in Boston, so not far from here. It sure wasn’t a culture shock to leave.”
“Oh, yeah no. This is… a hell of a change of pace for me. I haven’t seen a tractor in a month and I’m so confused about it.” I smiled, trying to relay that I was mostly joking.
Jasper grinned. “I’m sure we could find one around here for you. Make you feel more at home.”
God, I was gonna fall for him.
