IT WASN’T Luke’s first time in subzero temperatures, and perhaps he’d blocked it out, but he didn’t remember it ever being this fucking cold. He was literally shaking like a leaf in a windstorm, and his balls were so far up into his stomach he seriously doubted he’d see them till spring.
He wrapped his arms around himself, hopping from foot to foot to keep the blood from freezing where he stood. “There is no way you can like living here in the winter.”
Nelson finished unlocking the door to the bakery, then shrugged. “You get used to it.”
Luke rushed past Nelson the second he had the door open. “Bullshit. Humans weren’t made for these kinds of temperatures. There is no way I could get used to it.”
“How soon they forget,” Nelson chuckled. He pulled off his jacket and hung it on a hook, then stomped his boots on the rug to dislodge some of the snow.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Luke asked. He followed Nelson’s lead, stomping off the snow on his boots, but kept his coat. He was too cold to let it go just yet.
“Remember when we were kids? We used to pray for either mass quantities of snow or temperatures of negative ten or less.”
“That’s because our brains weren’t fully developed, so we didn’t know any better. Now we do.” Luke tilted his head back, then nodded to the new sign. “They did a great job on that.”
“I hate it,” Nelson insisted. He pulled a bottle of coffee Patron from where he’d hidden it beneath the counter and poured a good measure in two mugs rimmed with crushed peppermint.
Luke took a seat at the counter and eyed Nelson with a curious look. “Then why did you hang it up?”
“It’s not the sign I hate, but the name,” Nelson clarified. He took the mugs to the hot chocolate dispenser and filled them.
“I think it’s a great name and a great sign. What’s that you’re making?”
Nelson stirred each drink, then brought them over to the counter, setting one in front of Luke. “This, my friend, is how one survives winters here.”
Luke eyed it suspiciously. He’d never been a fan of fancy drinks. Beer was his go-to. Nelson taught him to enjoy good bourbon, but this? He sniffed it.
“Oh, just try it,” Nelson urged.
“Well, if it helps me survive the winter, what the hell.” He took a tentative sip. It was warm, chocolatey…. He took another sip, the Patron heating his throat and gut even more than the temperature of the drink.
“Well?”
“Okay, I can totally see how this could help. I’m already starting to feel warm and fuzzy.”
Nelson laughed. “That’s probably because you have your coat on and are about to pass out from the heat, but yeah, the drink helps.”
“Oh yeah, it does,” Luke agreed. He took another sip before sliding out of his coat.
“So, what are Nellie and your parents up to?”
“They are shopping, can you believe that? Nellie has spent the last week opening gifts. What possibly could she not have gotten?”
“It’s a girl thing, I guess,” Nelson responded with a shrug.
“I guess. What’s on the agenda for today?”
“The contractors were supposed to be back today, but once again, delay. I swear to fuck, I am so sick and tired of hearing about issues that set the complete date farther and farther. Not to mention the hits my budget has taken.”
Luke looked around the bakery. It looked even better than the last time he was here. Not only did the place have new name, but a new vibe. A good one. “It looks amazing. I would have thought this place was done. I don’t see a single sign of construction.”
“Grab your drink.”
Luke picked up his drink and followed Nelson into the back room. His eyes were glued to the sway of Nelson’s hips. He couldn’t wait to get his hands on him. It felt like it forever since he’d had his lips on Nelson’s sweet flesh. The shock of seeing the kitchen pulled Luke from his lustful thoughts. “Holy hell.”
Nelson nodded. “That pretty much sums it up.”
There was a small area that seemed to be usable, but the rest of the room was complete and utter chaos. The wall to the back room was nothing but studs, a large portion of the ceiling missing, exposing the rafters and wiring. “How in the fuck have you been baking back here?”
Nelson pointed to the one clean spot. “Every day we wrap my little workstation in plastic, and I do what I gotta do. Plus I’ve been baking at home too.”
“Anything we can do to get you closer to fixing this?” Luke asked, still scanning the area in disbelief.
“Nope, unfortunately not. Something about a missing permit that shut the jobsite down,” Nelson said, his tone full of sadness.
The disappointment in Nelson was palpable, and Luke would do anything to make him feel better. Unfortunately he couldn’t do anything about the jobsite, but…. He stepped up close to Nelson and wrapped his free arm around Nelson’s waist. “You know there is one good thing about the crew not being here today.”
Nelson arched a brow. “And what would that be?”
“We have the place all to ourselves.” Luke pressed a soft kiss to Nelson’s lips, then spoke against them. “And I’ve really, really—” He kissed him again. “—really missed you.”
“Is that so?” Nelson asked, pushing up even closer, rolling his hips.
“Uh-huh. What’s your office look like?”
Nelson took the drink from Luke and stepped back. He set them on the table, then grabbed Luke’s hand. “Let me show you.”