by Megan Slayer
“I am.” Jack stood and shook hands with him. “Thanks for meeting with me.”
“Not a problem,” Shaun said. “I’m Shaun Fallows, advertising director here at the paper. I’m told you’d like to discuss advertising for your restaurant. Pardon my appearance. I’m rumpled because I was just at the ballfield.”
“That’s what I’m here for—the advertising, not the rumpled part.” Jack pulled a couple of pieces of paper from his pocket. “I sent the information to the general advertising email, but I wanted to see what you’re printing and my options for streamlining or fixing it.”
“You sent it to the online form and email?” Shaun settled on his chair, then rolled up to his desk. “Let me see.”
“My assistant did. There should be something from Henry Walters-Lord. He does some freelance work for the paper,” Jack said.
“Oh yes. Here.” Shaun brought up the ad on his tablet and switched to client view. “Here you go. I haven’t met Henry, but I hear his work is good. Now, let me know what you want changed or whatever and I’ll do it.”
Jack looked over the ad. “Just the name of the shop. It’s Jack’s Hot Dog Shop. No extra letters—no p or e. We’re not that fancy.”
“God it.” Shaun noted the changes. If he recalled right, the information had been added per the client, but whatever. Maybe Henry wasn’t a great typist.
“And we only accept cash, except for the online orders—those can be cash or charge.”
“I’ll fix that, too.” That information should’ve been noted in the extra information section, but he’d bet the assistant hadn’t read that far. Few people did. “How long do you want it to run?”
“A month.”
“Done.” He noted the information on the paper, then fixed the letters and wording. “Now look at it.”
“That’s great.” Jack sighed. “It’s been hectic lately. Henry and I got married, consolidated our homes and I can’t keep anything on track outside of the restaurant. It’s like my world got turned upside down.”
“I hear you—I’m not moving in with anyone. My now ex-boyfriend and I were together for ten years and he refused to commit. I wanted to get married and he wanted to start dating again. It threw my life into flux, so I can’t imagine trying to consolidate and get married.”
“If you don’t mind me asking, what convinced him he should start dating?” Jack massaged his forehead. “It’s not my business.”
“No, I don’t mind. He had a guy on the side, so the dating thing was their idea,” Shaun said. “He never wanted to be with one guy for long, but I had no clue he’d been dating people while we were together. I’ve nicknamed him ‘the shark’ because he’s always got to keep moving.”
“Ah, one of those.”
“When did you know Henry was the one, since we’re discussing such things?” Shaun saved the ad template and moved his tablet aside. “I thought Jonah was the one and I was wrong.” He paused. “If you don’t mind me asking.”
“Don’t mind it at all.” Jack shifted in his seat. “I knew Henry was the one when he wasn’t jealous of the restaurant and wanted to help me. Other guys gave me the choice of them or the shop. I can’t dump my business. It’s my livelihood. If it’s done, then I’m done, and I needed a man who could accept that.”
“Makes sense.” He turned the tablet around. “This is the final ad. What do you think?”
Jack nodded. “Perfect. Thank you. I did get the bill and it’s paid.”
“Great. This will go starting tomorrow and will be in the lifestyle section for the first week, then alternate between the sports and national news sections for two weeks. The final week it’ll go back to the lifestyle section, but it’ll run every day.”
“That’s exactly what I want.” Jack stood. “I’ve never run an advertisement before and this was painless, so thank you for that. I was worried it’d be difficult or something.”
“I try to keep it simple,” Shaun said. “I know it’s stressful to figure out what to say, where to advertise and how best to spend your money. The nice thing about your month-long ad is that it’ll run on the website, too. So you get a little more bang for your buck and we can arrange for a clip to be recorded for the web show.”
“You have one?” Jack nodded again. “I had no idea, but I’m not fluent with the Internet. That’s Henry’s domain.”
“I hear you. I thought I was print or nothing, but the web versions are nice.” He followed Jack down the hallway. “Is there space to eat in your shop, or is it strictly grab-and-go?”
“To-go is best. It’s small, so there’s not much room for eating in, but if you know when you’d like to come in, we can have a table available.”
“I’ll have to keep that in mind. I’m trying to find small places to go with Kevin for dates. Plus, I’ve got to try what I’m advertising,” Shaun said. “Can’t say it’s great if I don’t know personally.”
“Kevin?” Jack asked. “Kevin Keiser?”
“Yeah. Do you know him?”
“I do. He worked for me over one summer before college. He’s a nice kid, er, guy. Smart, too. He’s working for the food services portion of the baseball team.” Jack shrugged. “He’s the head of food services, I mean. Are you together?”
“We’re feeling each other out.” They hadn’t actually started dating, but he had hope they’d be able to take things to that level. He kept stumbling over himself while trying to ask Kevin out.
“Well, you can’t go wrong with Kevin,” Jack said. “I hope it works out.”
“Me, too.” He walked with Jack to the foyer. “Thanks for advertising with us.”
“Thanks. Stop by soon and we’ll make you something great.” Jack waved, then left.
Shaun returned to his office and work, but his thoughts never wandered far from Kevin. God, he was hung up already. He chuckled. It was so like him to do this—get caught up on someone so fast. When he decided he liked someone, he dove in head first.
Shaun finalized the ad for Jack, then called Stone. He wanted to stop by the shelter, too. Ever since he’d come to Cedarwood, he’d debated getting a cat or dog. Kevin had a cat. What if the cat didn’t like him? What if the cat loved Kevin and not him? Or what if the cat hated everyone? What if the critter was just what he needed to fill his chilly nights until he found the right guy?
Half an hour later, he’d shored up the details with Stone for the advertisement, plus set up time to meet for photos with the first prospective animal.
His phone rang and he didn’t bother to check the ID before he answered. “Hello, this is Shaun Fallows and you’ve reached the advertising desk for the Cedarwood Tribune, how may I help you?”
“Shaun, this is Kyle—Kyle Beglin.” Kyle laughed. “I thought you’d know me.”
“I didn’t look at the screen.” Shaun shook his head. “What can I do for you?”
“What are you doing?” Kyle asked. “This afternoon?”
“Working.” Shaun tapped the phone and set it to speaker, then worked on the type for the shelter ad. “You know, doing my job?”
“Okay, fair enough. What are you doing tonight?”
“Getting coffee with a friend.” He wished Kyle would get to the point so he could focus on the advertisement.
“Where?”
“I’m not sure because we’re still deciding.” He retyped the name of the shelter twice before getting it right. Damn. He didn’t need careless mistakes in this ad. “Does it matter?”
“Yes, it does, because I wanted to meet up.”
“Do you need to discuss advertising?”
“No, but you could use a friend in case the date goes sideways,” Kyle said.
“How do you know that will happen or that it’s a date?”
“I saw you eyeballing Kevin.”
“Oh yeah?” Everyone had seen him. He hadn’t been shy about his attraction and the folks on the staff at the paper had heard him ask Kevin out. “So?”
“He’s…you might w
ant a hasty retreat.”
“Let me decide and get back to work. I still have deadlines to meet tonight.”
“Sure, but you’ll want to call me when it doesn’t work out.”
“I doubt that. Look, I need to go so I can meet with a client.” He was lying, but he didn’t care. “See you.”
“Shaun.”
Shaun hung up on Kyle and switched his phone to vibrate. According to the clock, he had half an hour to finish the ad type for the shelter before printing and he didn’t need any more intrusions.
Kyle annoyed him. How could one man be so pushy? Sure, Kyle was attractive, but his attitude and drive were a little intense for Shaun. Besides, why did Kyle need to keep interjecting himself into the situation with Kevin? They were all adults and could handle themselves.
Oh well. Right now, he needed to finish his projects. If he wanted to see Kevin and try to nab an actual date, then he needed to have his work done. Plus, now he had the chance to figure out how to show Kevin a good time.
* * * *
Kevin arrived at the coffee shop early. He liked being ahead of schedule, because then he knew he wouldn’t be late. Kyle had called him ridiculous for his need to be on time. “Arrive late and make a statement,” Kyle would say. He disagreed. Being early meant he was prepared.
Joe walked up to Kevin’s table. “Hey you. How are things? Want your usual?”
“The usual is good, thank you. I’m meeting someone,” he said and shifted in his seat. “Joe?” Why did he have to be so nervous? He’d gone on dates before. This wasn’t even a real date. It was coffee.
“Yeah?” Joe sat across from him. “What’s up? You look scared to death. About the guy?”
“Kind of.” Admitting as much churned his stomach.
“Kyle?” Joe narrowed his eyes. “He’s a terrible influence on you and a jerk at that.”
“No.” Kyle had been a horrible influence in his life. Kyle had expected him to dress in expensive clothes he couldn’t afford, to go out to dinner often—another expense not in the budget—and club. He hated the noise and action of the clubs. Plus, Kyle never stuck around.
“Good. You deserve better.” Joe laced his fingers together. “What’s the issue?”
“I figured you’d say that, but you’re right. I do deserve better, but what’s bothering me is sort of the guy. He’s not Kyle—he’s cute, he’s polite and we just met. That’s the thing. I’m afraid I’m not doing the right thing and I’m going too fast.” Kevin balled his hands on his lap. “One minute I think I’m going along just fine and the next, I’m worried I won’t be right for this guy.”
“Why?”
“All I can think of is how Kyle berated me. I know I’m not a catch in the same way a lot of guys are—I trip over my own feet, I read too much and I’m picky,” he said. “I can’t buy a date.”
“Except this guy seems to like you. If he didn’t, he wouldn’t have asked you out.”
“It’s just coffee.”
Joe grinned. “There is no such thing as ‘it’s just coffee’.” He chuckled, then held up his hand. “Let me explain. You’re a catch and guys should be chasing you to get a date. Kyle said you weren’t good enough because he’s an ass. Forget him,” he said. “Since we’ve talked, you’ve mentioned Kyle a couple times. He shouldn’t be on your tongue at all. Put him in the rearview mirror.”
“Easier said than done.” But the right advice.
“I know, but take it from an old pro at holding on to the past, it doesn’t help. You’ll be lonely and not happy,” Joe said. “It sucks.”
“You haven’t gone looking for someone since Antwan left?” He’d thought Joe had a boyfriend.
“No. I’m too busy.” Joe rubbed his hands together. “I should start looking, but I’ve been out of the pool for so long…I bet I forgot how to swim.”
“You don’t forget, but it’s easy to get rusty.”
Joe sighed. “Let me get your coffee while you wait for your guy, but trust me. Forget Kyle and give this one a chance.”
“Sure, thanks.” Kevin exhaled as Joe left. He should open up and let Shaun in. At least give Shaun a chance. He spotted Shaun across the coffee shop and stood. “Hi.” He waved. “Over here.”
“Hey.” Shaun’s eyes lit up and he hurried over. “I thought I’d be early.” He hugged Kevin. “Thanks for getting the table. I’ve never been here before.”
Sparks shot along Kevin’s arms and heat flowed in his body. He hadn’t felt this way in a long time. He wobbled for a split second, then righted himself and sat across from Shaun. “I like to be early, too. I ordered and Joe knows my usual. When he brings it, you can order.”
“Great.” Shaun turned his phone off, then tucked it into his front pocket. “Thank you.”
“You’re a gentleman.” Kevin switched his gaze between Shaun’s pocket and his eyes. “Not many people are okay with having their phone off for even a second. I kept mine on in case you changed your mind or had car trouble or something.” He tapped the button to silence his phone and jammed it into his pocket.
“When I’m with a date, I don’t answer the phone, but if I had car trouble, I’d let you know. Thanks for the concern.” Shaun rested his forearms on the table. “What did you order?”
“Caramel latte macchiato with extra foam,” Kevin said. “Joe should be bringing it over soon.” He nodded at Shaun. “I appreciate when my dinner date turns off the phone, because it makes me feel like I’m important.” He paused. “Here comes Joe. Have you met him? You said you haven’t been here before, right?”
“I haven’t met him,” Shaun said.
Kevin accepted his coffee. “Joe, this is Shaun. Shaun, this is Joe, the proprietor of the Coffee Bar.”
“Nice to meet you,” Shaun said. “I’ll have the same as Kevin and put both on my bill.”
“Sure thing.” Joe stood behind Shaun and mouthed, he’s cute—good luck.
Kevin massaged his forehead. At least Joe seemed to be in his corner. His friend was goofy, but helping make the situation less scary. “Do you like macchiato? It can be too strong.”
“I haven’t met a coffee I didn’t like.” Shaun fiddled with the sugar packets. “How long have you lived in Cedarwood?”
“All my life. I left during college and returned to work at the ballfield. I wanted to do communications, but I got in with food service and kept moving up, so I stayed.” Kevin shrugged. “My communications degree involved writing press releases and such, but I hated it. I like working with my hands and making the food just so, plus it’s a puzzle to put together when I have to work on the pricing and expenses.”
“I was going to ask why you didn’t try working for the paper, but you’ve got a good reason.” Shaun toyed with his napkin. “I’m better at writing than numbers. I can figure up how much it’ll cost per word to post an advertisement, but I’d rather write up the ad instead.”
Kevin fiddled with his cup, buying time until Shaun’s drink arrived. “I wanted to work for the paper. When I was in high school, I thought I might like to be a journalist, but communications seemed like a better bet career-wise and there weren’t any openings at the paper when I graduated. Remy’s gotten it back on solid ground, but I needed a job then, so I applied at the ballpark. I started off selling hot dogs at one of the stands and moved up from there.”
“Nice.” Shaun grinned. “I guess they saw your potential.”
Joe arrived with Shaun’s drink. “If you need anything else, just shout.” He winked at Kevin, then left again.
“So you love working at the ballpark?” Shaun asked, then sipped his drink.
“I was one of the few guys working there—no, I was one of the few workers there—that wasn’t trying to date a baseball player.” Kevin turned his cup around on the plate. “That was it. I didn’t want to do a player and I did my job, so I got the promotion.”
“Ah.” Shaun waggled his head. “You didn’t use the team as a dating pool.”
“It’s
how I met Kyle, though, so it’s not all good,” Kevin said. “It hasn’t all been rosy.”
Shaun nodded, then sipped his drink again. “Kyle.”
“We dated a while, but Kyle demanded I stop working there and he hated my cat. There was a lot more, but he’s in the past and I shouldn’t have brought him up.” Damn. He’d pledged to himself to keep Kyle behind him. Still, he had to defend Leo. “He adopted the cat, but Leo didn’t like him and Kyle hated it. He wants to be the center of attention, so when he’s not, it drives him crazy.”
“That’s awful.”
“Leo’s a good cat, but he’s picky, which is why we get along.” Kevin pressed his lips together. He kept digging himself deeper into trouble. He’d talked too much about the cat and ended up sounding ridiculous.
“I had a dog, but he liked my mother and refused to leave when I moved, so she kept him,” Shaun said. “He stayed with her more than me, so it made sense. He keeps her company and she’s got someone to dote on, so it works out.”
Kevin nodded. He wasn’t sure what else to say so he didn’t make a fool of himself. Shit. He should fill the void instead of letting it get bigger. “What brought you to Cedarwood? Advertising?”
Shaun fiddled with his cup. “About four years ago, I ran a 5k race here in town. I thought the town was great—it’s so homey and quiet. I grew up in Las Vegas with the noise and action, but when my folks split and Mom moved to Cleveland, I followed. Then I ran the race here and fell in love with the town. My boyfriend wanted to live outside of Columbus, so we moved there. When we split, I needed a new start and found the job opening at the paper. It was fate.”
“Nice,” Kevin said. “You like to run?”
“I do.” Shaun grinned and held up his cup. “Do you?”
“There’s a great running path at the Metropark. Remy and Bobby run there. I’ve run the trails, too. The routes are a little daunting, but it’s good.” He wanted a running partner, but lost his words when he came to suggesting Shaun join him.