5. Marko

Chapter 5

Marko

M y phone vibrates on the counter, and I pause from my clean-up to read the text.

Heath assures me he’s on time and will be there. Well, that’s one source of nerves I can let go of. He’s not standing me up, at least.

Another one comes through as I’m holding my phone.

Heath: No peacocks!

“There’s only one reason for you to smile that big.” Curtis seems to always sneak up on me and if he wasn’t the only friend I had in this small town, I’d tell him to fuck off. I’m not a fan of being teased.

“You’re giving your notice, then?” I say dryly.

He flashes his middle finger with a laugh and flops into my client chair.

“You’re funny. So…you talked to the peacock guy over the weekend, right?”

Locking my phone, I place it face down on the counter and continue with the restocking and clean-up of my space.

“I did. His name is Heath, remember? The peacock is Jeff.”

“And? What happened? ”

Turning around, I lean my ass against the counter to survey Curtis. He waits with an expectant smile, and since I’m dying to talk about it, I pull up my stool.

“There’re no clients here, right? And you promise not to tease or bug me if I ask your opinion?”

Curtis’s smile fades a little. “We’re empty and I know I tease you, but Marko, I’d never be a dick. If you need to talk about something, I’m always here. It’s the least I could do.”

Nodding, I agree. He likes to yank my chain, but I can trust him.

“He’s adorable.” I sigh. “Like, you have no idea how much. He loves animals, and he’s so gentle with them. I got to pet the donkey. The peacock seems overly protective, but he’s a neat thing. And up close…lord, Curtis…he’s…” I trail off, not sure what word best describes Heath. He’s so kind and full of life. Like a giant ball of happiness and sun that warms me from all angles. And those eyes. I’d be lying if I said they weren’t something I constantly think about.

“Sounds like you hit it off, then.”

“I think so? I brought him coffee, and he got busy so he couldn’t drink it. Then I offered to have a proper coffee with him away from work and he accepted. Then he offered to make it lunch.”

“So, it’s an actual date, then. That’s why you’ve been so quiet and jumpy today.”

I’m always quiet, but I’ll admit the jumpiness is all because of Heath.

“I’m nervous. I really like him. He has the longest eyelashes and prettiest eyes.”

I sigh again, and Curtis laughs, so I smack him.

“You said you wouldn’t be a dick.”

“Sorry. It’s just…you sighed twice, and I’ve never seen you like this. In fact, I wasn’t sure you had a heart.” I scowl and he holds his hands up. “I’m kidding. But for real, Marko, I don’t know what to say because this is a new side of you.”

He’s right. After deciding to try for a new start, it included me reaching for love again. Not that I’m in love with Heath, but he’s the first man in a long time I feel even a little comfortable with about letting in. Something about him makes me want to let my guard down and take a chance.

“I don’t like to let many people into my life. You’re an exception. Probably because you’re as clingy as a bad smell in a running shoe and I have no choice.”

He grins at me. “It’s my most endearing quality.” We both laugh and I smile fondly. He is a good friend. There are some people you just click with, and Curtis was one of them. He’s been instrumental in helping get this place set up and, at the time, he’d only lived here a few months. Our meeting was one of those right time and place things. He may be my employee and fellow tattoo artist, but he’s also a friend and someone I trust with my business.

“Have you ever just been totally mushy about someone and all you can think about is how their laugh sounds or how it felt when they touched your arm? Shit, like the stuff you see on the Hallmark channel?”

“You watch Hallmark?” He smacks his thigh. “Did you see the one with the best friend who didn’t know his best friend was into him and the family knew? They all meddled and sent them on tasks together for them to figure it out. It was funny and so cute.”

“Literally any Hallmark movie ever. But good to know you’re just as sappy as me sometimes. ”

He shrugs. “A sensitive side isn’t a bad thing. But to answer your question, yes, I have felt that way before and I’m happy for you.” He slides out of the chair and squeezes my shoulder. “Just be you and see what happens. You’re a good guy. You deserve the moon, my friend.”

Curtis leaves, and I glance at my phone.

Thirty minutes until the first date I’ve had in years. Here’s hoping I don’t screw it up.

***

The Burgatory is an interesting place.

Photos of farm animals, cowboys, and burgers cover the walls. Half the floor is wooden planks, and the other half is black-and-white tiles. According to the history of this place printed on the menu, the tile side is a bar after 8 P.M. and they pull a sliding wall out to separate the sides.

Like I said, interesting .

Just as I arrived, Heath messaged his car was giving him trouble, and he’d be a bit late. Unsure if I should offer to pick him up or not, I settled into the booth and read the menu. Then I slid around the sugar packages on the table to make a design.

“I’m so, so sorry.”

Heath’s voice has me snapping my head up and I jostle the table while standing to greet him. “Car problems happen all the time. I’m glad you’re here safe.” Offering my hand, he scrunches his eyebrows and slides his palm against mine .

“We’ve already met?” He huffs a laugh as I step into him.

“Not appropriately. Where I come from, we greet people like this.”

“Kako si?” I press a kiss to one cheek and then the other, being careful not to linger too long in his clean, soapy scent. His cheek is smooth under my lips, like he just shaved. Blond curls poke out from under his ball cap and he’s just about the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. “That means how are you?”

Heath stares at me and touches his fingertips to his cheek. A flush colours the tips of his ears and I wish I could kiss his lips instead.

“Oh…I’m great. Thank you. That’s really cool.”

Reluctantly, I release his hand, and he slides into the booth across from me.

“So, what happened with your car?”

Heath rubs a hand across his jaw and leans back into the cushioned booth.

“What hasn’t happened is probably a better question.” He snorts and removes his ball cap to run a hand through his hair. “It’s a twenty-year-old Honda Civic. The odometer stopped working years ago, and it’s held together with bailing twine and a prayer.”

Heath chuckles, but I’m mortified.

“That sounds like a death trap. I can have a look at it for you, if you want?”

He blinks those enormous lashes at me and I panic that I’m being too forward already.

“Thanks, but Dan, he’s the owner of the ranch and kind of like one of my dads, has been on me for a long time about it. He makes sure the car isn’t gonna blow up, but he also disapproves. ”

“I apologize for being so forward. I just don’t want you to get hurt.”

“It’s okay. I know all its quirks and I never drive it where I might get stranded.” He swivels his head and looks around the restaurant. “So, what do you think of the Burgatory?”

His expectant grin makes me smile and the concern over his car fades. “It’s different. But interesting. What’s good to eat here?”

“Literally everything.” He slaps open the menu and I tear my gaze away from him as he runs his finger down the laminated plastic. “What are you in the mood for? Any allergies?”

I’m in the mood for you. I bet you taste as sweet as the smile you always wear.

Okay. Clearly, he’s under my skin more than I thought. But I’ll put a lid on those thoughts until we have a few dates first.

“What’s your favourite here?”

“Everything! I love food. I’ll try anything once, and here, the food never disappoints. Today I’m in the mood for beef. The mushroom burger is amazing. Messy but incredible.”

I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone so passionate about food. He’s so animated, too. It’s not just words he uses to describe this burger. Heath gestures as he speaks and his face glows with the same excitement he uses to talk about animals.

“And what if I don’t like mushrooms?”

“Really? Are you just saying that or have you ever really tried them? It makes a difference between canned and fresh, too.”

He’s so freaking adorable and he’s talking about mushrooms. Fuck me, I’ve got it so bad.

“I’ve tried mushrooms and I don’t like them. But maybe next time you can try to convert me. I’ll have the chicken linguine then. Is that good?”

“ So good.”

He beams another smile that makes my heart melt as the server approaches. I have a suspicion he doesn’t even know how attractive he is. It’s just the way Heath is. Carefree and happy, with a smile that stops the world and eyelashes that could make men kneel for him. Well, this man would at least.

Heath orders for both of us and insists I try the apple cider. I agree because I like cider, not because his face lights up when I go with his suggestion.

After the server delivers our drinks and we sip our cider, Heath asks me about the cheek kisses.

“So, the kiss thing when I got here, do you always do that?”

He’s genuinely curious, so I explain how I was raised.

“I lived in Croatia until I was sixteen. My family immigrated to Canada to give me a better opportunity for education. It’s a custom I never really dropped. My baka , that’s my grandmother, still does it to every single person she meets. I usually do it if I’m comfortable around the person. Like, I wouldn’t greet my tattoo clients like that.”

“So that’s why you have a bit of an accent. I couldn’t place it. Not that I know many accents, but I like it. You’ve got this bit of hardness around some of your words. It’s hard to describe, but I think it’s cool.” He takes another sip and I watch his tongue dart out to lick his lips. “Do you miss it there?”

He likes my accent ?

“I miss parts of it. Like the sea and the lavender fields on Hvar. We used to vacation there, and it was stunning.” I laugh. “And the way we can turn swearing into an art form. I miss that.”

Heath laughs, and his eyes sparkle with amusement. Lord, his eyes are my undoing. His lashes brush his cheeks with every blink, and his warm brown eyes make my insides melt.

“If you miss lavender, I can take you to a lavender garden at the brewery. It’s grown over the years and there are a few of them now, but it’s open for the public.”

“Really? I’d love that.”

The server places our meals down and we continue effortless conversation. He’s so awkwardly charming and funny. I haven’t laughed this much in forever. Heath is like a giant teddy bear, and the urge to squish him against my chest is alarming.

“Here.” He picks a mushroom off his plate that fell out of the burger and brings it to my lips. “It has the best barbeque sauce on it. Seriously. If you don’t like this mushroom, then I’ll leave it be.”

He’s feeding me.

With his fingers. In a public place.

With a lopsided grin, he waits for me, and like an idiot, I part my lips and lean forward while he slides the mushroom between them. Sauce drips and my tongue flicks out to catch it on instinct. My tongue gets a bit of his thumb.

His eyes widen as he sits back and I forget to chew.

I just fucking licked his thumb. Oh god.

“So? Do you like it?”

No waver in his voice. Okay. Good. It didn’t freak him out. Hopefully. Now if I can just do the same .

“It’s actually pretty good.” Swallowing, I attempt a smile and Heath asks if he can try a piece of chicken from my pasta.

“Oh, sure.”

Stabbing a piece on my fork, I hold it out to him. He stretches forward with his mouth open and takes it off my fork with an obscene moan.

“I love their sauce and whatever they do to that chicken. It’s just so, so good.”

I’ve never been someone to get my date in bed after the first date, but Heath is definitely pushing me to change my mind.

Somehow, we finish our meals without me lunging over the table and mauling him like a wild animal. It takes all my willpower, but I manage.

“So, do you want to see the lavender field next?”

“I would. Do Wednesdays work best for you?”

“They do. Right now works too.”

Frowning, I silently curse myself for not clearing my entire afternoon.

“I have a client in an hour. I only thought we were having lunch today or I would have cleared my entire afternoon. He’s from out of town…” Fuck. I’m babbling. He doesn’t need to know the details. Just set another date. “Next week? Or…”

He pulls out his phone and taps away before looking back at me.

“Do you work on Sunday? I just checked the weather, and it’s supposed to be beautiful. We could go in the morning and they do a bag lunch at the brewery for people in the gardens. It’s really pretty there. ”

Shit. Could he be anymore romantic? I don’t even think he’s trying. He’s just being nice to show me lavender, so I feel less homesick, which isn’t sweet all on its own. Nope.

“I can do Sunday. It’s my day for housework, but your suggestion is much more appealing.”

“Anything outside is more appealing than housework, Marko.”

Ugh. He needs to stop smiling like that.

The server brings our bill and after much arguing, we split it 50/50. He seemed very passionate about not letting me pay. Ever the peacekeeper, I relented to his request for an equal split.

When we walk outside, Heath runs a hand through his shaggy blonde curls and replaces his ball cap backwards. It’s a miracle my knees don’t give out as he offers me his hand to shake. With a questioning smile, I take it and he steps up to me, pushing up on his toes slightly to press a kiss to my cheeks, just like I did to him.

“I have no fancy words, but it seemed like the right way to thank you for your company. So, thanks, Marko. I’ll see you again on Sunday.”

A laugh escapes me as he walks backward with the most glowing smile and I wave like an awkward idiot.

“I look forward to it!”

Heath disappears with a last wave, entering the barbershop at the end of the street. I hope he doesn’t cut all his curls off. I really like how they poke out from under his ball cap.

In a daze, I cross the street back to Dark Horse, buoyed by the feeling of having an amazing date and another one still to come.