Read Online Coming Home- Rock Bay 1 by M. J. O’Shea - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: M. J. O’Shea
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Grandma. I’m fine. Do you want to watch a movie? I rented a few at the store.”
“Action?”
Tally chuckled. After all the missing years, it turned out he still knew his grandmother pretty well. “Yeah. I got a spy thriller and one of those big bloody historical epics.”
“Either one of them would be excellent. I’ll make popcorn.”
It was somehow both funny and a bit scary to watch his lovely grandmother get all bloodthirsty over the hundreds of longsword eviscerations that littered the screen for the next few hours. Those kinds of movies had honestly always turned his stomach a bit. He didn’t mind watching the hero, though. Tight, skimpy leather and sweat? Mmmm.
T
ALLY wasn’t sure what he’d expected to meet with Sunday morning, but a Lex only slightly less surly and taciturn than the one he’d met on his first day for sure wasn’t it. Tally watched in a bit of shock while Lex organized his pastries and sandwich supplies into neat little displays. He’d barely even looked up when Tally walked in.
“Um, morning, Lex,” Tally mumbled. He couldn’t believe how unsure of himself he felt. Even on his worst day back in Seattle, no one had been able to turn him inside out like Lex could.
“Morning, Tally.” His tone wasn’t exactly unfriendly, but it wasn’t Friday night, either. “I want to start teaching you how to make the coffee drinks today. We’ll have some work to do before you’ll be able to be left on your own.”
Tally knew that was the eventual point of his employment, but the idea of being in the shop, not to mention dealing with the natives, without Lex, made his stomach twist.
“Okay,” he answered. His voice came out hoarse and halfsqueaky. Great. Nothing like showing such a lack of confidence in front of your employer… and the guy you want like it’s nobody’s business. Even better that they’re one and the same.
“You’ll be fine. Once you get the basics down, building the drinks is no problem.”
I only wish it was the coffee I was worried about.
After that Lex warmed up a bit. There wasn’t any flirting or nervous-looking glances, but he was professional and a good teacher. At least they weren’t back to piling a million directions on at once, like the first day. By the time the shop opened for the before-church crowd, Tally felt that he’d be able to confidently make a few of the drinks… during the slump after church started. He didn’t think he was quite ready to do any concocting under pressure. As it was he was kept very busy running the register, passing out cinnamon rolls and blueberry muffins, and grilling the odd breakfast sandwich when someone ordered one. By the time the church crowd was out of the shop, he was sweaty and ready for a break.
Lex handed him a huge steaming latte. “Here, take your fifteen and drink this, then we’ll start round two of espresso 101.”
“Thanks, Lex.”
“Sure,” Lex answered, but his attention was drawn to the front door, where the overhead bell had just rung. His face broke into a huge grin, and he dodged around Tally, running toward the open door.
Tally turned to see… a familiar face. Emily Barry. She’d been in his class, and he’d always had a secret respect for her—smart, had her shit together, knew that good grades were her ticket out of their little temperate swamp of a town.
“Hey, fancy lawyer lady, when did you get into town?” Lex was hugging her tight, and they were spinning around in circles together.
“Last night. Mom said you needed some help at the shop and were having a hard time finding an employee. I’m between cases and had some vacation time, so I figured I’d lend a hand.”
Emily Barry was Lex’s sister? Aw, Jesus, he is a local. Tally felt a little niggling feeling in the back of his neck, like there was something he should know about the two forcefully whispering siblings, but for the life of him he couldn’t come up with anything. He didn’t remember Emily having a brother; other than
“Action?”
Tally chuckled. After all the missing years, it turned out he still knew his grandmother pretty well. “Yeah. I got a spy thriller and one of those big bloody historical epics.”
“Either one of them would be excellent. I’ll make popcorn.”
It was somehow both funny and a bit scary to watch his lovely grandmother get all bloodthirsty over the hundreds of longsword eviscerations that littered the screen for the next few hours. Those kinds of movies had honestly always turned his stomach a bit. He didn’t mind watching the hero, though. Tight, skimpy leather and sweat? Mmmm.
T
ALLY wasn’t sure what he’d expected to meet with Sunday morning, but a Lex only slightly less surly and taciturn than the one he’d met on his first day for sure wasn’t it. Tally watched in a bit of shock while Lex organized his pastries and sandwich supplies into neat little displays. He’d barely even looked up when Tally walked in.
“Um, morning, Lex,” Tally mumbled. He couldn’t believe how unsure of himself he felt. Even on his worst day back in Seattle, no one had been able to turn him inside out like Lex could.
“Morning, Tally.” His tone wasn’t exactly unfriendly, but it wasn’t Friday night, either. “I want to start teaching you how to make the coffee drinks today. We’ll have some work to do before you’ll be able to be left on your own.”
Tally knew that was the eventual point of his employment, but the idea of being in the shop, not to mention dealing with the natives, without Lex, made his stomach twist.
“Okay,” he answered. His voice came out hoarse and halfsqueaky. Great. Nothing like showing such a lack of confidence in front of your employer… and the guy you want like it’s nobody’s business. Even better that they’re one and the same.
“You’ll be fine. Once you get the basics down, building the drinks is no problem.”
I only wish it was the coffee I was worried about.
After that Lex warmed up a bit. There wasn’t any flirting or nervous-looking glances, but he was professional and a good teacher. At least they weren’t back to piling a million directions on at once, like the first day. By the time the shop opened for the before-church crowd, Tally felt that he’d be able to confidently make a few of the drinks… during the slump after church started. He didn’t think he was quite ready to do any concocting under pressure. As it was he was kept very busy running the register, passing out cinnamon rolls and blueberry muffins, and grilling the odd breakfast sandwich when someone ordered one. By the time the church crowd was out of the shop, he was sweaty and ready for a break.
Lex handed him a huge steaming latte. “Here, take your fifteen and drink this, then we’ll start round two of espresso 101.”
“Thanks, Lex.”
“Sure,” Lex answered, but his attention was drawn to the front door, where the overhead bell had just rung. His face broke into a huge grin, and he dodged around Tally, running toward the open door.
Tally turned to see… a familiar face. Emily Barry. She’d been in his class, and he’d always had a secret respect for her—smart, had her shit together, knew that good grades were her ticket out of their little temperate swamp of a town.
“Hey, fancy lawyer lady, when did you get into town?” Lex was hugging her tight, and they were spinning around in circles together.
“Last night. Mom said you needed some help at the shop and were having a hard time finding an employee. I’m between cases and had some vacation time, so I figured I’d lend a hand.”
Emily Barry was Lex’s sister? Aw, Jesus, he is a local. Tally felt a little niggling feeling in the back of his neck, like there was something he should know about the two forcefully whispering siblings, but for the life of him he couldn’t come up with anything. He didn’t remember Emily having a brother; other than
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