Her Sweet Temptation

by Nina Crespo

  A Maroon 5 song blared from the back hall.

  After leaving the plate and saucer in the kitchen, she followed the music to her bathroom. Bracing herself for maximum damage, she peeked inside.

  Plastic draping lay on the floor around the tub and a thick blanket-like drape covered it.

  Scott stood in the tub singing and humming to the song as he used a small saw-like tool to cut through the drywall below the showerhead.

  He paused to wipe his brow with the hem of his blue shirt, and Rina’s imagination went rogue.

  Endless abs. That’s what was probably under his shirt.

  He went back to work.

  Rina erased the vision. “Hey, can we talk?”

  Scott jerked his hand away from the wall and cursed.

  Crap! She hurried to him. “How bad is it?”

  “I’ll live.” Scott set the tool down near his feet and snatched up a worn faded green rag from the side of the tub.

  She grabbed his arm before he pressed it to his wound. “Don’t use that. It’s not clean. Hold on.” Rina lifted his hand above his head. “Keep it there.”

  As he followed her instructions, he leaned down to his phone lying in the bottom of the tub and turned off the music. “It’s not that big of a deal.”

  “Anytime there’s blood, it’s a big deal. Broken skin can get infected.” She found the first aid kit in the cabinet below the sink and set it on the counter. After digging out packets of alcohol wipes, she turned to him. “Let me see.”

  He lowered his arm and she took his hand. A series of small cuts ran along the knuckles of his thumb and index finger.

  She removed the dampened gauze from the packet and dabbed it over his wounds.

  He flinched. “That hurts.”

  “I thought this wasn’t a big deal.” She blew softly over his hand and kept cleaning the cuts.

  “It wasn’t until you touched it.”

  The husky tone in Scott’s voice made her look up. Her heart tripped. Resisting falling into his lazy smile, she went back to the first aid kit and returned with two large Band-Aids. “Just make sure you play nice with sharp objects from now on.”

  “Give me a break. You snuck up on me.”

  “I’m sorry.” She opened one of the adhesive bandages and wound it around his index finger. “I shouldn’t have walked up on you like that.”

  “I’ll accept your apology on one condition.” He caught her hand making her pause in wrapping his thumb. “Stop avoiding me. I’m starting to feel like I’m invading your space instead of helping you out.”

  The earnestness in his eyes raised remorse. “Actually that’s why I came up here. I brought you breakfast. I thought we could talk.”

  “About you wanting to take my clothes off?”

  “I don’t.”

  “That’s not what I heard.” A teasing smile played over his kissable mouth.

  She bobbled the bandage and momentarily stuck the adhesive to her own finger. “What else did you hear?”

  “I’m not sure. The blood loss from these cuts is making me woozy. I should eat.” He climbed out of the tub. “What did you bring me for breakfast?”

  Mixing up the conversation, convincing her to smile and go along with his antics. How did he do that? “A Belgian waffle and lots of bacon.”

  “Define lots.”

  “Ginormous.”

  Scott grinned. “I’m feeling better already.”

  While he cleaned up, she warmed the food in the microwave.

  Minutes later, Scott sat down in the adjoining dining room at the oval table where she’d set the plate on a blue place mat. “This looks great. Did you make it?”

  “No. Belgian waffles are Ben’s specialty, and no one, including me, gets in his way when it comes to making them. And this is nothing. For brunch on Sundays, he goes all out with flavors and toppings.” She was rambling, but stopping would mean talking, and she wasn’t quite ready for that. “Would you like some orange juice or I could make some coffee?”

  “Orange juice is fine, but only if you’re having a glass with me along with some of this.” He pointed to the food.

  Eating was actually a great way to stay occupied during the most embarrassing conversation on earth. Rina brought a saucer and utensils to the table along with two glasses of orange juice. She sat to his left at the head of the oval.

  After giving in to her request for only a quarter of the waffle instead of half, he dug into his food. “Let’s talk about the leak first.”

  As she took a sip from her glass, relief at not jumping into their other conversation mingled with a hint of anxiety about the fate of her tub. “What’s the verdict?”

  “If all goes well, I’ll find the problem where it should be and fix it. After that the wall will have to stay open for a few days to dry out and make sure the repair is good. Do you have a dehumidifier?”

  “I don’t think so.”

  “I’ll check and see if they have one at the hardware store. Actually, I better pick up two. We’ll need one for the men’s room.”

  We. That’s what Dennis used to say whenever he’d talk about a repair. But Scott wasn’t an employee with a vested interest in the form of a paycheck. “All this seems like a lot of work. You don’t have to put in time doing it. I can call a plumber.”

  “With the set closed, all I have right now is time and I don’t like sitting around doing nothing. Darby mentioned that you had a few odd jobs around the cafe that needed to be done. I can take care of them, too.”

  “That’s too much to ask.”

  “Not if we’re indulging in having fun together.” He held up his hand stalling her objection. “All I’m saying is that if you’d like to share more waffles or ice cream or maybe even dinner with me sometime, I’d be willing to accept that in exchange for more work.”

  “That doesn’t sound like a fair trade for all you’re doing.”

  “You’re right. Throw a few desserts my way, along with everything else, and we’ll call it even.” He lifted his glass of orange juice, ready to seal the agreement with a toast. “Sound like a deal?”

  * * *

  Two days later, Scott walked through the doors of Brewed Haven at the end of the lunch rush. He searched the dining area and the counter for Rina, but didn’t see her. By the time he’d arrived at her apartment that morning, she’d already left. He’d sent a text letting her know he that he was there. She’d volleyed back texting him to let her know if he needed anything. Seeing her would have been nice, but the parameters of their new relationship didn’t exactly require an in-person connection for it to work.

  To friendship. That had been the toast Rina had made when she clinked her glass to his, and agreed to it. Holding her, kissing her, those things were off limits according to the definition. His handyman services in exchange for spending time together as friends and a few desserts. That wasn’t what he wanted, but she did, and he wouldn’t press her for more.

  A server stopped by his table and he ordered a burger and fries. As he waited, Scott searched the internet for the next closest home improvement store. His father had reached out to check on him last night to see how he was progressing with the repair. He’d told his dad that he was having problems finding the parts he needed at the local hardware store along with dehumidifiers.

  He’d also been truthful with his father about what was happening with Shadow Valley—that filming was still on hold, but there was a good chance they would start shooting around Nash soon, and he needed to remain available. Once again, his dad had smiled and said he understood about him not making it to the wedding. But now, he kept wondering if that were true. Was Wendy right about their dad being really disappointed that he wouldn’t be there?

  “Your burger, sir.” Rina set the full plate on the table and flashed a cheerful smile as she slipped into the other sid
e of the booth. “Make sure it’s the way you like it.”

  He’d eat the burger, even if it was raw or tough as leather. Now that she was there, talking to him, he wasn’t giving her a reason to get up and leave.

  He took a bite and juicy perfection settled his growling stomach. “Medium well, just like I ordered.”

  “Good.” She settled back in the seat. “So what’s happening with the shower?”

  As he poured catsup next to the fries, he noticed her staring at his plate. “Want some?”

  “No. I’ll eat later.”

  He took another bite of his burger. It would have been even better if she were sharing lunch with him. He’d enjoyed having breakfast with her the other morning. “The good news—I didn’t see any mold inside the walls, and the hardware store in the next town has dehumidifiers. I’m picking them up today. That and the bathroom fan should dry up any moisture.”

  “And the bad news?”

  Her brow furrowed. He hated to see her worried. If only he could just erase the problem overnight. “There’s a mix of older metal and newer PVC pipes behind the wall. The metal ones in the area I cut away are corroded so I’ll replace them. Honestly, I think I should check a wider section in the wall just in case more of them need to be switched out.”

  “So it’s a much bigger job than expected?”

  “It doesn’t have to be. I can just replace the backflow valve and the pipes attached to it.”

  Rina hesitated in reaching for a fry and sagged back in the seat. “But it’s probably better to get it all done now. Like I should have in the first place when the contractor told me.”

  “Why didn’t you?”

  “At the time, down here, the plumbing was in terrible shape and had to be replaced. Upstairs, the situation with the pipes wasn’t ideal but good enough to pass a building inspection. I wanted to open in time for the Fourth of July. The only way I could make that date was by having the contractor install new plumbing down here but not upstairs.”

  “I could see where you’d make that decision. Fourth of July sales probably gave you a nice revenue bump.”

  “But it was a bad decision.”

  “I didn’t say that.”

  “But Zurie did. She said my decision would come back and bite me and she was right.” Rina reached toward the plate again but pulled back empty-handed.

  Whatever this thing was between Rina and her sister caused Rina to waver between frustration and uncertainty. Maybe it wasn’t his business, but it needed to stop. “I didn’t realize Zurie owned Brewed Haven?”

  Agitation flashed through Rina’s expression. “She doesn’t own the cafe. This place is mine.”

  “The way you’re talking right now, it sure doesn’t sound like it. Of course the contractor recommended you replace everything. Part of his job was to maximize the opportunities to make more money, and as the owner of Brewed Haven, that was your job, too. Being open for one of the biggest holidays of the year was a smart call, and from the looks of this place you, not Zurie, have been making the right decisions. Acknowledge that, stop second-guessing yourself and stop drooling over my fries. Eat some.”

  Rina stared back at him and blinked with a neutral expression.

  Shit. Was it too soon in their friendship for blunt honesty?

  Long seconds later, she slipped a fry from the pile on his plate. “Maybe you’re right. And I wasn’t drooling.”

  Relief hit him squarely in the chest. “If you weren’t drooling over the fries, that means you were drooling over me.”

  “Seriously? Please tell me you’re not that conceited.”

  “It’s not conceit, just deductive reasoning. The only things in this booth beside you is the food and me. You just said you weren’t drooling over my fries so that leaves only one option.”

  “You wish.” Laughing, she flung a fry at him.

  Even though he was momentarily caught off guard that she’d start a food fight, he caught it. Actually he did wish she wanted him. Then he wouldn’t have to keep denying that he wanted her, too. Hell, maybe he should just tell her. And maybe she’d totally reject him. And then, there wouldn’t be moments like this where he saw her happy and with her guard down.

  He ate the fry she’d tossed at him. “Act nice. This isn’t that type of an establishment. The boss will kick us out.”

  Smiling, she picked up another fry. “A troublemaker like you, definitely. But I’m on good terms with management.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Rina studied the two pies on the kitchen prep table at Brewed Haven. The sweet smell of baked goods hung in the air along with near silence. Busy days at the cafe that week had kept her from testing new recipes. Toward the end of dinner that night, she’d finally gotten a few moments to make the pies. Now that the cafe was closed, it was the perfect time to analyze them.

  The only staff hanging around late on a Saturday night was Darby, who was working on schedules. And Scott and his friend.

  Booted footfalls in the rear storeroom and the rattle of a metal ladder signified their presence. The flickering storeroom light hadn’t been just a simple bulb change but an issue with the fixture itself. He’d brought Owen, another member of the stunt crew, with him who was a trained electrician to help fix it.

  The two’s laughter traveled from the back of the kitchen. She easily picked out Scott’s baritone chuckle, and her heart thumped with a beat that expanded in her chest. Since they’d shared fries in the booth almost two weeks ago, she’d had that experience every time they’d taken a moment for coffee, a meal in the cafe or an ice cream together by the fountain, or really whenever he was in proximity.

  She’d also enjoyed their lighthearted conversations about random topics while he’d repaired the pipes. Athlete or nerd—they’d both been a little of each growing up. Star Wars or Star Trek—that debate remained unsettled. Introvert or extrovert. Almost always an extrovert for him. Conditional extrovert for her. Happy or grumpy morning person—after a hot shower or coffee he was good to go. Coffee was her preference later in the day. It took a cup of Positive Energy tea plus a long shower in silence to help her feel close to human first thing in the morning. Thanksgiving or Christmas—that was the only time they’d deviated into more serious territory as she’d shared how losing her parents had impacted her perception of the holidays. They didn’t feel as joyful. Scott could relate when it came to his parents’ divorce.

  Social engagements between two people, most often involving food, and the two people are attracted to each other...

  Sure she was attracted to Scott, but that didn’t make Philippa’s dating definition right. Plenty of friendships probably involved some level of attraction. Just because Scott ranked high on the eye candy meter or that she looked forward to their moments together more and more, didn’t mean she had to act on any impulses those two things might inspire. She just had to keep her mind on the friendship part and what was important like nailing the contract with Gwen’s Garden.

  Rina focused back on the pies. Both were in a flaky crust and were filled with a custard that she hoped was the perfect blend of the three main ingredients: pecans, chocolate and a touch of alcohol. One had bourbon, the other rum.

  Rina carried the pies out front and put them on the counter. “Would you mind giving me your opinion?”

  Darby, working at a table by the window, mocked huge relief as she stood. “Bless you. I’ve been dying over here. They smell amazing.”

  “Hopefully they taste just as good.” Rina walked behind the counter for rolled silverware and plates.

  Having participated in tastings in the past with Rina, Darby went to the coffee station for two cups of water.

  Once the pies were cut, they settled onto stools next to each other.

  Rina pointed. “The slice on the left of your plate has rum in it. The one on the right has bourbon.”

&nb
sp; Darby took bites from one slice, cleansed her palate with water, then sampled the other.

  Rina did the same. They tasted okay.

  Darby pointed to the rum version on the left. “Definitely this one.”

  “Really?” Rina’s pick leaned toward the one on the right. “Does it need something?”

  “Chocolate. More is always better in my opinion. And maybe a skosh more rum, too.” Darby licked the fork and winked. “You can’t go wrong with more alcohol.”

  “Rum?” Scott walked out of the corridor into the dining room with Owen. “You guys are having a party and you didn’t invite us?”

  Owen grinned. “That’s not right.” Slightly shorter and stockier than Scott, his shaved head and a snub nose gave him the appearance of a brawler, but his smile was friendly.

  “Consider yourself invited.” Darby glanced at Owen and got up. “Take a seat and have some dessert. I’ve got to get going. I’m supposed to meet my girlfriends at the wine bar.”

  Scott leaned an elbow on the counter as he stood next to Rina.

  The space around her seemed to shrink as the heat from his body radiated across the inches between them. She focused harder on Owen who was speaking to her.

  “Mind if I take a rain check on dessert?”

  “Of course. Anytime you want something. Just ask.”

  Owen glanced at Darby gathering her things at the table. He clapped Scott on the back. “You still need me?”

  “Nope, I’m good. Thanks for the assist.”

  “No problem.” Owen hurried after Darby who was walking out the door.

  Scott’s gaze landed on Rina. “I guess it’s just the two of us.”

  * * *

  “Yes. Just us.” Rina stared at him.

  Satisfaction ticked Scott’s heart rate up a notch. Being alone with her was the best part of his day.

  “So,” Rina breathed out as she looked to the pies. “You’re wondering about these, right? No, you’re not. You already know what’s going on.”

  Answering her own questions. She did that when she was nervous. Was she unsure about the pies or something else? “I’m guessing you’re testing pecan pie recipes and from what I heard, they have rum in them?”