Read Coming Home- Rock Bay 1 for Free Online Page B

have money for much, but he already felt bad for freeloading.
“If you had money for groceries I doubt you’d be here, now would you? Just keep your job, and I’ll be happy. You couldn’t have picked a nicer boy to work for.”
“So everybody says,” Tally murmured.
He pulled plates out from the cabinet and put them on the table with silverware and water glasses. His grandmother puttered around the kitchen, chopping vegetables and mixing salad dressing in a bowl. That was another thing about her he loved. Tally had never seen a bottle of store bought salad dressing, pasta sauce, any cake mixes—nothing. She made everything from scratch. Her food was the only thing left that still seemed like home to Tally.
“Did you have a good first day?”
“Huh?” Tally said, snapping his head up. “Oh, yeah, it was pretty good. A little tense at first, you know, but whatever. It’s not like they don’t have a reason to stare.”
“You think people are still worried about what your father did? That was so long ago.”
“It could be me too. You remember how I used to be. Going to try my best to change their minds, though.”
“And working with Lex? How was that?”
“Not sure yet. He doesn’t like me much, that’s for sure. But I’m going to do a good job for him.”
“I’m glad. That’s the best you can do, after all. Sit down, Tally. Let’s have some dinner.”
    T
ALLY went to his room after the dinner dishes were done, stripped off his work clothes, and put them into a basket by his door. Then he gathered up a towel and slipped on a pair of sweatpants before he headed to the bathroom at the end of the narrow Victorian hallway. He nearly had to duck under the doorframe of the bathroom, and it felt like his shoulders barely fit through. These old houses weren’t made for guys like me. Then he hung his towel on the old brass hook and went back to dig through his duffels for the bag of shower supplies he remembered seeing on the hallway floor at his old apartment building.
    As soon as he walked back into his room, he noticed the smell of coffee, most likely emanating from the pile of clothes he had in the hamper. He hadn’t smelled it before, probably because he’d been around it all day. Guess everything I own will smell like French Roast soon enough. Could be worse. It smelled pretty great on Lex, for damn sure. Every time Lex had brushed by him in close proximity, Tally had inhaled, loving the odd blend of coffee, vanilla, cedar, and warm sexy man. Of course, as soon as Lex was gone he’d silently berate himself for drooling over any part of his hot as hell but prickly boss. As much as his personal history would beg to differ, Tally wasn’t a huge fan of trouble, and a crush on his boss? Trouble times ten.
    The shower was hot and delightfully intense. Obviously nobody had ever talked his grandmother into buying environmental showerheads. Tally was grateful. The pounding pressure of the water on his neck felt amazing, and it was easy to tilt his head back and close his eyes. It wasn’t as easy to dissolve the tensions of the day. He was both excited and apprehensive to see what the next one held in store for him. The day had ended earlier fairly well, with a barely less-thanhostile Lex bidding him good afternoon after he’d cleaned up as much as he could. Tally could only hope they weren’t back to ice water come morning.
    Very early morning.
Tally groaned. How does Lex do this open to close every day? He understood why the guy would want to have a helper or, gulp , someone to take over for him part of the time. Tally imagined that eventually he’d be in the store by himself running the till and making drinks while Lex took a much needed break. He tried not to freak out at the thought of facing those people without Lex at his back. Lex on his own was a bit nerve-wracking, but in a group of slightly hostile Rock Bay residents there wasn’t anyone Tally wanted standing next to him more. They liked Lex and