Chapter Seven - Hold My Havarti

FOR TWO DAYS, the only time I saw the four men was when they were cheeses lying on top of a pile of clothing. Well, three. I never find Roq. The store went from looking nearly ready to being a complete mess of wood, nails, and scraps of metal. Every time I stopped in, I'd hold my breath, praying I didn't walk on a rusty screw and get a MRSA infection.

Eventually, I got them what they wanted thanks to Googling cheese supply places. There are a lot more of them than I expected. While the milk took a few days, the squeeze bottles of rennet and packets of starter cultures arrived in hours. Every morning, there'd be a new list with more requests for Roq. At the top was always raw sheep milk.

In the end, I had to swear that I was not going to sell the milk as is, nor would I drink it, or use it in some kind of magical ritual before a farm upstate agreed to sell it to me. The stipend that Uncle Mateo gave me from his estate was dwindling fast. At least I got them their milk, so maybe Roq would get off my back.

Carrying the jugs of milk down to the always-cool cellar was a lesson in humility that the universe keeps teaching me. Midway, the lid on one slipped off, and disturbingly warm cream drenched down my blouse. By some blessing, I didn't drop the can. Losing fifteen gallons would get me a tongue-lashing from a cheese, and probably put on a watch list by the sheep farm.

I place the final jug next to the other two, stand up, and take in a breath. Strings of spherical lights dangle from the ceiling. The glow is soft but reveals metal molds screwed together with foot-long bolts resting on the racks. At least Roq is putting some of this to good use, though I don't know exactly who it's good for.

Sweaty, exhausted, and dripping with warm milk, I climb up the ladder just as the sun drops. Damn it. Moving that milk took me too long. I reach for my bag, and a hand takes mine. Panic thrums in my heart before the fingers dart up my forearm. Dark hair drifts into my view and his face lights up.

"Good evening, my enchanting pixie," Cam says, only delight in his eyes. Then his gaze drifts down to my chest and sheer horror overcomes him. "What has happened to you? Did I miss a travesty?" He quirks his head and stares harder. "Or a good time?"

What? I stare down at the mess I made of my best pale green shirt. My entire chest is soaked with a white, thick liquid— Oh.

Oh, god.

Laughing, I try to scamper away from the thought of anyone, much less many… Cam's soft touch grips me, keeping me close to him as I blather out, "I was bringing down milk and spilled it."

"So you've found it?" Cam asks.

"She's here!" Cheddy shouts, peeking around the pillar. "What's she found?"

"Roq's millstone," Cam says. He skirts a hand around the back of my waist—a milk-free zone. "That should tickle his fancy for a few days at least."

"Well, um, once he's…you're done, can you leave the canisters up here? I need to get them back to the farm. Somehow. Or they're gonna take so much money from my account." I try to slip away and reach for my purse, but Cam's got me by not only the waist but the arm too.

"Why don't you stay? Enjoy our evening meal with us?" Cam offers.

"There's hummus," Brie says, standing next to the bags. He's slipped on his long shirt but forgot the pants. As he bends over to dig out more dinner entrees, the bottom curve of his full moon peeks out.

Cheddy, the only one still fully naked, reaches over to pick up his whole pizza, then he slaps Brie's cheeks. The man pinks up but laughs at the touch before he leans against the counter with his vegetarian meal of pita and hummus.

"The food's for you guys," I say.

Cam takes both of my hands and pulls my willing body closer. He's wearing his leather pants and nothing else. The bright lights meant to make cheese glow amplify his tanned skin. Scars mar his flat pecs and trembling abs, but I can't look away from that trench of his hips. Even though I've technically seen them all naked, that tuft of black hair darting just above the low waist of his trousers is driving me mad.

Drooling, I give in as Cam guides me between himself and Cheddy. He brushes back the hair that escaped my ponytail. "We'd be more than happy to share, wouldn't we, men?"

Brie gives a little chuckle and nods. Cheddy lifts a slice of pizza high and tries to draw the tip into his mouth by swirling his long, flexible tongue around it. "Oh yeah," he answers before taking a huge bite.

"But first, you must be uncomfortable in that sticky blouse. Why don't we alleviate that spilled milk from your honeyed skin?" Cam offers.

I'm blushing to my toes as all three men look up from their dinner-breakfasts to take me in. Cam teases with the hem of my shirt as if he's going to rip it off in one go. "Why don't I—?"

"I assume the fresh milk is sheep."

All three men freeze at the voice behind us. Cam lets up and steps back until he's standing beside the counter. I swallow and face down Roq.

He's wearing his glasses. The light catches at my angle, turning the lenses milky white. He approaches, his face stern and mysterious, his eyes gone.

Dumbly, I nod.

Roq smiles and pushes on the nose bridge of his glasses. His sharp steel eyes return. "Good. Cam…?"

"Isn't someone owed a little gratitude?" he asks staring Roq down.

The man towering above me bows his head and looks away. "Yes. Thank you for the milk. And the other supplies. We should get back to work."

"What about dinner?" Brie asks and lifts one of the bags I brought in.

"I…I will eat it in the cellar. There's much to do. Cam, your cheese molds require—"

"Yes. Yes. As if that can't wait for an hour, or two."

"No reason to put it off," Roq says, then he stares directly at me. "Is there?"

Cheddy, Brie, and Cam all take a bite of their dinner. While chewing slowly, they start to wrap the food back up and don't look at Roq.

"Good. The curds could use another squeeze, Cheddy. And Brie?"

"I know. Dishes."

They look miserable but take Roq's word as law. All except for Cam who dabs the sides of his lips with a napkin while the other two shuffle off to Roq's side. "I think I'll pass for the eve."

"Excuse me?" Roq freezes in his tracks and stares over his shoulder. Slowly, his eyes narrow. "Why?" he asks like he already knows the reason.

"After our long sleep, I deserve a constitution about the city. And who better to show me than our benevolent new lady?" Cam crooks out his elbow toward me, but I'm paralyzed by the rage vapors radiating from Roq.

"That's…a terrible idea."

"What of it? I'll be out of your blue hair for a night. A turn I thought you'd enjoy."

"What if you don't return before dawn? What if you're separated from us? Again."

Cam snickers coldly. "You mean what if I leave?"

A hard gasp cuts through the glare and Brie bites his thumbnail. Cheddy rushes forward and drapes his arms over both Cam and Roq. "Hey. Come on. There's no reason to go bringing up the past when our future's so bright."

Wrinkling his nose, Cam stares at Cheddy. "What precisely do you think will happen in this rosy future?"

"We rebuild the store. Sell lots of cheese. And live happily ever after," Cheddy declares. "Right?" He turns back to Roq who groans and massages his forehead.

"What are you talking about?" I press, but Cheddy's gone quiet.

"Yes, Roq. Whatever are your plans? I'd quite like to know," Cam asks.

Roq begins to buff his glasses, keeping himself in profile so no one can read him. "Since when have you cared about my plans, Bare?"

That nickname or the state of Cam's chest causes him to pull in a sharp breath. He lunges forward and clamps a hand to my arm. "We shall be leaving. Chedward, Brie…if you wish to remove yourselves from the ever-suffocating gas from that man's mouth, please join us."

Cheddy makes a step forward, but Roq raises a hand to stop him. Brie's halfway to the basement, but he keeps looking back at us while he goes to town on his hangnail. Cam shakes his head. "I would never expect anything more from you two." He tries to drag me toward the front door, but I've locked my legs.

"Wait," I cry out.

"Don't tell me you're trapped in his thrall too?" Cam doesn't let go of my arm, but he pauses.

I focus on Roq. For the first time since he ordered me to leave, I meet him eye to eye. "What are they talking about? I thought we were gonna sell your extra cheese and then…"

How stupid are you, Vi? If he wasn't going to make more he wouldn't have asked for all that cheese-making stuff. Duh.

"I'm an idiot," I groan.

"No," Cam insists. "He is the fool. You're merely sucked into the whirlpool of his madness, as are we all. Forever twisting and twirling to your delusion of—"

"Enough!" Roq thunders. "I did not lie to you…" He pauses at Cam then looks to me. "Violette. The cheese we are producing is to accompany the cheddar stock. I doubt many would come here seeking only hard cheese. They may be disappointed to not find fresh mozzarella or a nice brie."

He walks away to focus on one of the photographs on the big wall. This one has just my uncle when he was standing in front of the shop. Probably on its opening day. "All of our cheese is for you to sell. I ask for nothing, we ask for nothing in exchange for our labor except your silence. Do you believe me?" Roq swivels his head to peer at me and so do three others.

Only Cam's shaking his head while Brie and Cheddy both shrug in acceptance. It doesn't really matter if they try to stay. I'm selling this place. I have to.

But another question grows more urgent by the day. "How long?"

Roq blinks in surprise. "Excuse me?"

"How long is it going to take for you to open this store and sell off all of your cheese?"

"Well, I haven't moved stock in many years. It's difficult to estimate the buying patterns of the modern citizen, but, at a guess—"

"Three months," Cam interrupts. Roq glares at him, but he smiles. "That's what you were going to say, isn't it?"

"Yes. At least three months before we can…clear out. Why?"

"It's just that, um, when I thought I'd be cleaning the place up and selling it, I only…uh. I booked my motel for a week, and I have to be out by Saturday."

"Why is that?" Roq asks.

"Because it's crazy expensive to stay here. I mean, I cleaned out my savings for this week. Almost all of the money put aside to clean this place up is gone. I can't do a month, much less three. If we don't open soon and start selling cheese, you're gonna have to eat your stock."

Both Cheddy and Brie cling to the dinners that could be their last while Roq shrugs. "I don't understand—"

"Why you're not using the apartment." Cam swoops in fast. He takes me by my hands and spins me to face him.

"A…apartment?" I knew my uncle had one farther into the city that was rented out as soon as they got his body out. I can't stay there.

"You don't know about the room upstairs?" Cheddy asks pointing to the ceiling.

"No. They didn't tell me about the basement either."

"Hmm," Roq muses. "Mateo must have stopped using it after he abandoned us."

"Problem solved. She can stay here overnight while we work ourselves to the rind below," Cam says. He crooks his arm and places my hand on his biceps. "I will take her up to tour the room, get her settled." He starts to pull me away when Roq calls out.

"Wait. I will take her. You should assist Cheddy in dumping the milk into the vats before it spoils." He tugs my palm off of Cam's arm and nearly holds it. Then he shivers and drops it. "This way." Roq heads toward the front door and I freeze.

I wasn't so stupid to miss why Cam wanted to get me alone, but instead of being flirted with and maybe even… Let's not go there, Vi. I'm gonna be trapped in a tiny apartment with a giant man who can't stop growling at me. Biting my lip, I shuffle forward and keep shooting glances at Cam.

He raises a hand and waves, "Stay strong, tender violet."

Roq shoves open the door but he keeps standing inside. I have no choice but to walk under him, which I can easily do without so much as ducking. Good lord, how tall is he?

The glass slams shut and Roq points to the right. "Around the back. You'll have to use a ladder, but you seem to be capable of that."

He knows. He knows I heard some of their argument. I bend my head and stumble after, doing my best to not step on any cracks. Behind the shop is a fenced area for the dumpster, the HVAC, and not much else. Roq opens the gate, then he shoves the dumpster aside with one hand to reveal a ladder hiding behind it.

"Up this way," he says and holds his hand out to me. I place my palm in it, girding myself to be hoisted or even thrown to the top of the building. To my surprise, Roq slowly closes his fingers around mine until they meet across the back of my hand.

"Careful. It can get slippery in the rain or snow." With a gentle touch, he guides me to the ladder inside a recess of bricks. I start to scale it carefully, then pause and look back.

A radiant gray-blue beams back at me. I damn near yelp in shock to find I'm eye to eye with him. At this height, I'm drawn to the cleft in his chin that points up to his pouting bottom lip. It's the only part of his face that's soft and sweet. Instead of being pursed in a grimace, it's gone slack as if he too didn't expect me to be right there in kissing range.

"I…I…climb," I have to tell my brain that aloud because that fool is rolling about those sculpted shoulders bulging astride his apron straps. "Up there." Not down here. Come on, Vi, if you leap onto him, your legs won't even reach past his chest. His wide, hard, virile chest.

A loud clang echoes below me. He's on the ladder too. I try to work faster, having to tell my hands to grab and my feet to not slip sending me falling onto the man directly under my ass.

By some power beyond me, I manage to reach the upper story where—sure enough—there's a solitary red door against a flat wall. I try the knob, but it's locked. Reaching into my pocket for the keys, I do my best to ignore the shadow blotting out the streetlights behind me.

"One of these has to work," I say, trying the one to the shop twice by mistake. Just as I reach for the fifth, Roq takes my hand. He clinks two keys down and holds one with a hint of red paint worked into the crevices.

"This one," he says and guides it into the slot.

The key. That's what he guides in. Not…never mind.

Roq twists it and another door opens on my mysterious uncle.