Cup of Joe (Bold Brew 1)

“This is nice.” Oblivious to my fidget-spinner of a brain, Levi gave a silly wiggle to the raucous music as we left the booth. “They do this every year?”

“Pretty much.” I kept my voice neutral, so I wouldn’t dim his glow. “It’s fun. I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself.”

“Yeah, next year, the booth needs a bigger, more colorful sign. And options for the brochures like large print and Spanish. I can help with that.” The way he said that so easily, as if he’d be here for sure next year, made my chest clench.

I wanted that. Wanted him to stay. Wanted a future that easy and—

“Levi?” A guy with a cultured voice stopped us on the path. He was slick. At least five years older than me, but hot as hell. Thin but muscular with a full head of hair, he could easily star as a silver fox on one of those billionaire-prince romances my mom had loved. Crisp white shirt, no trace of sweat despite it being end of July, pressed shorts. Fancy watch. He was vaguely familiar, like I’d seen him around town or Bold Brew.

Levi’s eyes went wide. “Rick?”

Chapter Twenty-Two

Levi

“Rick?”

Fuck. What where the chances? I’d been in Laurelsburg for weeks now and hadn’t seen him a single time. I had kind of figured that Ralph or Jess must have warned him off coming back into Bold Brew because he never once showed up on any of my shifts. But here he was now, on a random path at this music festival thing.

In my imaginings about running into Rick again, I’d been smooth, all hot and unattainable, not sweaty and hungry after a day in the sun, with my mouth hanging open at the shock of seeing him again.

Beside me, Joe tensed, looking bigger and scarier than usual. Good. At least one of us could be attractive and fierce.

“What are you doing here?” Rick asked me with the barest of nods for Joe.

“Living.” I kept my tone defiant. He didn’t deserve my small talk. “I got a job.”

“Ah. Yeah.” Rubbing his chin, he didn’t seem particularly startled to hear that, giving support to my idea that someone had warned him off Bold Brew. “Good. Good for you. And you’re looking well.”

Actually, I wasn’t. I could clean up far better than this, but I continued to stare Rick down, without letting myself crack a smile. “I am well.”

“You can drop the attitude, Levi.” Rick shifted into stern Daddy voice.

Beside me, Joe bristled. That perked me up. And I almost laughed because Joe did that same voice so much better. Not that I wanted a showdown with punches between the two, but I also wasn’t mad when Joe stepped in front of me.

“You don’t get to talk to him like that.” Yup. Joe’s commanding voice was so much more real.

“Ah. I see. Got yourself a new…friend?” Rick’s smile was both forced and more than a little slimy.

“Yup.” I couldn’t help being a little gleeful.

Rick gave an elegant shrug. “Not exactly your usual type.”

“You wouldn’t know,” I shot back as Joe growled.

“I know you plenty.” Rick’s voice was sickly sweet. How had I ever found him so hot? He reached for my arm, and Joe swatted his hand.

“You don’t get to touch him.” Joe’s glower was a thing of beauty.

“Levi. Call off your prison guard boyfriend here.” Rick managed to seem both bored and alarmed at the same time.

“Nope.” I shook my head.

“Whatever. I only wanted to tell you that Stan and I broke up. I mean, technically, it’s a separation, but we both know where it’s headed.”

“Do you? Do both of you know this time?”

“Levi. Marriage is complicated.” Rick sighed like I was eight, and I had no clue what I’d ever seen in the guy. Joe never patronized me or made me feel immature the way that Rick did. “Anyway, we split, and I’ve been missing you.”

He gave me a seductive smile, the one that used to unleash a million butterflies in my belly. But now it simply made me nauseous.

“Not interested.” I grabbed Joe’s hand, almost like the referee in a boxing match. Winner! But Joe seemed less than thrilled at the gesture. He didn’t drop my hand, but he also didn’t stop glaring, even after Rick moved along.

Expression still near murderous, Joe headed right for a clump of trees beyond the main stage and set apart from foot traffic. When we were as alone as we were going to get in a crowded park, he whirled on me. “What the heck, Levi?”

“What?”

“Did you actually want to start a fight? Like, I’m not sure I’ve ever seen you…gloating like that before.”

“It was awesome the way you glowered at him.” I nodded, which only seemed to make Joe more upset. “Were you not into it?” Another possibility entered my head, one which made my jaw clench. “Are you mad because he called you my boyfriend?”