Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 77941 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77941 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
“I’ll do it.” Caleb had suspected that was how it would go, but he didn’t mind. As long as he had some say-so in the flavors they used, he didn’t mind if Rhys needed to take control. But if he finally did get a chance to kiss Rhys, then he intended to be in the driver’s seat.
“Let’s not censor any of our ideas. We’re going to write down everything we think of for now since we’re just brainstorming.”
Rhys cringed visibly. “I’m not sure I can do that.”
“Could you try?” Caleb deliberately made his eyes big as he smiled at Rhys.
Rhys’s lips parted, and he stared for a second before seeming to shake it off. “I’ll try.”
Neither of them said anything for a few moments, and then Caleb suggested, “Cinnamon.”
Rhys typed into a note on his phone, then circled his hand, indicating he wanted Caleb to say more.
“Pumpkin.”
“A cinnamon, pumpkin what? Latte?”
“I’m just naming flavors for now.”
“But we need whole drinks.”
“Yes, but right now, we’re just throwing out everything that comes to mind.”
Rhys looked uneasy. “I have to think of the whole combination.”
“Then you can suggest combinations, and I’ll just name things as they come to me.”
Rhys seemed to get more and more tense as their list grew. Finally, he said, “Is that enough?”
“Sure. We can stop there. What do you like best out of all that?”
He shrugged. “I’ve tried so many of these already, and…”
“You haven’t tried them with me.”
“True. I’ve just been making them in my style, but I don’t know if this is going to work.”
“We haven’t even tried yet. Let’s make something so we have a start.”
“Now?” Rhys asked.
“We’ll pick something to try now, and if we want to do a second combo, we will. If not, we’ll get together again tomorrow night or whenever.”
Rhys’s brow furrowed. “We only have twenty days.”
Caleb fought the urge to laugh at Rhys’s exactness. “We have enough time to do this without rushing.”
Rhys didn’t look convinced, but he closed his takeout container and stood. “All right, let’s try cinnamon apple. I’ll go get the supplies we need.”
“What do you need that I don’t have here?” Caleb asked.
“The coffee beans.”
Caleb raised his brows.
“I know you have beans, but they’re not the same as mine.”
“What do you want to use?”
“The Ethiopian Yirgacheffe from Waves Roasters.”
Caleb smiled. “That’s a good choice, and it’s what I use for my light roast.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Did you think I just pick up whatever beans are on sale at the grocery store?”
Rhys bit his lip. “No, but I… I mean…”
“I’ve done my research. I’ve studied the local market to support New England roasteries, and I know a quality bean from one that’s merely acceptable. We used quality roasts where I worked in Boston.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to imply that you didn’t use good coffee.”
Once again, Rhys managed to charm Caleb. He looked so contrite, and Caleb was sure he hadn’t really thought about what he was saying. “If there’s nothing else we need to get, I’ll find our supplies, and we can get started.”
Rhys gave him a half smile. “That sounds good.”
This was going to be a very interesting partnership.
CHAPTER 13
After Caleb created an apple cinnamon puree, Rhys insisted on being the one to pull the espresso shots. He didn’t like that he wasn’t working with his own machine, but if they liked this drink, then they could go try it at Frost + Foam. He could make do for now. It wasn’t like Caleb had a bad machine. It was a damn good one, one Rhys had considered for his shop. Caleb really did have a top-notch operation. He had to admit that.
He tried to focus on measuring the ground espresso into the basket, but Caleb was right there watching him, so tall, so solid. Rhys turned to look at him. “Can you move back? You’re looming.”
“Looming?”
“I can’t do this with you watching me.”
“But how can I improve my espresso pulls if I don’t watch the master?”
Rhys quickly turned back to the espresso machine. His face was burning hot. Why did Caleb make him feel so damn flustered? He didn’t know if he could pull a decent shot under these conditions.
“Just take a deep breath,” Caleb said. “This isn’t life or death. This is one trial of one drink.”
But it mattered a lot to Rhys. He didn’t want Caleb thinking he was all talk. “I need this to be right.”
Caleb took several steps back. “We’re going to make a lot of drinks together, okay? I was just teasing. There’s no pressure for this one to be right.”
Rhys took a deep breath, then exhaled. Had he ever done anything without feeling pressure? He wasn’t sure.
They’d decided to use oat milk, so Rhys steamed some after he’d pulled the espresso and added it to the cup with the apple puree. He topped it with the milk, then handed it off to Caleb, who garnished the drink with apple pie spice and a few pie crust crumbles. Rhys wasn’t at all sure about the topping. It seemed a bit much, but he was trying to compromise.