Chapter Text
Knov glanced up from the glass-topped counter, where he was replacing a tray of sold-out scones with another, less popular flavor. Jackdaw Books and Cafe felt a bit too busy for a Tuesday, but Knov couldn't complain. The place cleared out after 1 o'clock, and blissful quiet descended.
I just hope I can find someone to take over the cafe, so I can get back to the books. They've been rather neglected lately.
"I'll be with you momentarily," he said to the figure that cast a shadow over the counter.
"No rush," the person said.
Rather tall, Knov thought as he closed the black of the counter and stood, brushing his hands off on his black apron.
"What can I do for you, sir?"
The man cut a clean appearance in a suit and tie. The only things that made Knov clock him as someone other than a corporate type was the long gray hair, pulled back neatly in a ponytail, and his sunglasses.
He cleared his throat and said: "My name's Morel Mackernasey, and I'm here to talk about the open position."
Knov blinked. "Sure, let me finish up here. Can I get you anything? On the house, of course."
"Coffee would be great. And one of those apricot rosemary scones you just put in the case."
"Do you take your coffee black?"
"Nah, I'm not nearly as tough as I look. I like cream and sugar with a little bit of coffee."
Knov had heard that joke many times before, but coming from Morel it was…endearing. "No judgment here."
He set Morel's coffee and scone down and made himself a cup of coffee before taking a seat on the other side of the table.
"I'm sure you read the description and everything the job entails, so I won't bother rehashing all of that. Do you have experience?"
"Of course." Morel reached inside his suit jacket and produced a resume. Knov read over it for a moment. His eyes widened with every line.
"You're…extremely overqualified for the position I listed. These are some of the best bakeries and cafes on the continent, I…" He paused and took a deep breath. "I couldn't possibly pay you what you're worth."
Morel shrugged. "I don't need much. In fact, I’d buy the cafe part from you. Be your business partner."
"I…Well, there are other businesses in this town–"
A frown appeared on Morel's face, making a crease between his brows. "You don't want me?"
Oh no, Knov thought.
"I'm not saying that at all! I'm simply. Trying to comprehend why you'd want to work here when there's higher paying options and places that would give you a better return on your investment. You-you are free to live your life as you please I just–"
"I read a story about this place a few months ago. You used to be a big shot lawyer, right?"
Knov wrapped his hands around his coffee cup and took a drink to steady himself. "Correct."
"Then you get where I'm coming from. Being at the top of your game and yet just so…fucking tired of the weight of everyone's expectations. Maybe I'm projecting but–"
Knov shook his head. "No, you're absolutely right. I understand." He stared down at his coffee as thoughts raced through his mind.
For his part, Morel used the silence to eat and drink his coffee.
Accepting an offer from someone I barely know might be reckless but…
"How would you like to be my business partner?"
Morel grinned and Knov's heart skipped a beat.
"The paperwork and everything will take some time, but you’re welcome to redo the cafe as you please. However, I say this with the utmost respect. I placed a lot of my hopes and dreams in this place, and I will eviscerate you in court if you try to pull anything."
"Fair enough," Morel said as he put out his hand. "I accept."
—
The first Monday after Morel took over the cafe, Knov arrived to open the bookshop and found a scone and a hot cup of coffee sitting on his desk. He heard the low murmur of the radio in the kitchen, Morel’s tuneful hum overlaying the inaudible lyrics of a song.
Knov took a bite of the scone. Cranberry. Tart, not overly sweet, followed by the flavor of orange. The coffee was strong, but not bitter, and a different blend than Knov usually made. He took the cup to the small kitchen down the hall.
“I have to ask,” Knov said as he stood in the doorway. “Did you know cranberry orange scones are my favorite?”
Morel turned and grinned. “I do now.”
“Is that a pink apron?” Knov asked, returning the grin with a slight smile of his own.
“It sure is. The dark, brooding, and professional look works for you but it’s not my thing. I like cute stuff too much.”
“I couldn’t tell from your choice of decor,” Knov said dryly. “But it suits you.”
“Thanks.” Morel reached up and tucked a bit of hair behind his ear.
“Keep up the good work.” Knov said. He turned and went back to his office.
Much like the first time he’d seen Morel’s smile, Knov’s heart betrayed his outer calm and hammered in his chest.
Now it’s hard to focus, he thought as the numbers on his spreadsheet refused to make sense.
Knov finished off the scone and coffee before returning to work.
—
Two months passed in this fashion.
Morel proved an excellent business partner; warm and personable to customers, yet practical and no-nonsense. They talked quite a bit outside of work, and Knov didn’t find it irritating in the slightest. He thought constantly about how much he’d lucked out in this particular venture, but there was one tiny issue. Miniscule in the grand scheme of things, really.
Knov couldn’t stop the clattering in his chest sometimes when Morel was around, and it vexed him. He didn’t consider himself a young man anymore, not at the perfectly respectable age of forty-five, but what he felt belonged to a much younger version of himself...or would have, if he’d ever felt such a thing before.
He’d always been much too busy for more than an occasional fling in his previous life. Never quite knew anyone long enough to love them, or even wanted to. Nothing could dim Knov Galkin’s meteoric rise to becoming the youngest head prosecutor in the history of YorkNew City, nothing could come between him and his work.
Not until The Incident three years before.
Knov shook out his left arm, flexed his hand in an attempt to rid himself of the pins and needles crawling under his skin. The cloudy November day and the accompanying cold made him think of closing early and retreating to his apartment above the shop. He watched Morel out of the corner of his eye, wandering amongst the shelves in lieu of standing around the empty cafe.
He leaned against the counter, favoring his right arm this time, and managed to finish his chapter before Morel returned, a stack of books in his hand.
“I’d like to buy these,” Morel said. “Do I get some kinda discount?”
Knov opened the covers and glanced at the prices he’d written in the corner of each page.“You do. I refuse to accept payment for these.”
“You sure?” Morel asked. He shoved his hands in the pockets of his lavender canvas apron.
“I’m certain I can spare a few paperback romances. Ms. Krueger will be along within the next month or so to trade in stacks of them. Plus, I owe you for the coffee and pastries every morning. Want a bag?” Knov asked, half joking.
Morel leaned on the counter. “Dunno. I should probably get out of the way, so you can help all the other customers in here.”
They looked out at the empty store and laughed. Knov opened a brown paper bag, stamped with the logo, and placed the books inside.
“Thanks.” Morel took the bag, his hand brushing against Knov’s, and walked back over to the cafe.
How do I even begin to understand what I want from him? Knov thought.
Much less ask for it?
—
The beginning of December brought a blizzard large enough to shut down the city.
-Don’t worry about coming in. I’ll check the shop.- Knov texted before he headed downstairs.
Need to come in anyway, was the reply. Power’s out at my place. Was just gonna use the cafe kitchen and crash on the couch over in the nonfiction section. If that’s okay.
Knov stood at the base of the stairs and frowned at the screen, typing at twice his usual speed.
-Not okay. You can stay with me.-
You sure?
-Of course. I have a spare room.-
-It’s much warmer in my apartment anyway. If you don’t mind the company- Knov added.
I think I’ll find the company quite to my liking ; )
Knov smiled to himself and slipped his phone into his pocket.
I just realized, he thought as he checked downstairs for any problems. I’ve never seen Morel wink. Come to think of it, I’ve never seen him without his sunglasses.
—
Knov made his way back upstairs just in time to hear a knock at the door. He undid the locks and stepped back to allow Morel inside.
“Brought some stuff from my fridge. Probably wouldn’t go bad because it’s so fucking cold, but I figured we could use it.”
“Good thinking. I uh…don’t keep much on hand,” Knov said as he swept a well-worn pile of takeout menus into a drawer under the pretext of last minute tidying. He held out his hands for the bags. “I’ll take those, if you want to hang your coat and leave your shoes by the door.”
“Thanks,” Morel said as he handed them off. Knov made sure to place the heavier ones on his right arm. “Nice place. Love a good open floor plan. And high ceilings.” He leaned against the counter while Knov put everything away in the fridge.
“You’re the first person I’ve invited up here,” Knov said.
Oh, I spoke without thinking and made myself sound pathetic. Wonderful.
“I’m honored. I get the sense you’re not overly fond of letting people into your space.”
Not the response I expected. Not pitying and…flattering?
“You would be correct,” Knov said as he closed the fridge. “Come along, I’ll show you where you’ll be staying.”
They crossed the living room into a small hallway.
“It’s not much more than a bed and a nightstand. Bathroom’s across the hall, along with my room. Feel free to let me know if you need anything and make yourself at home.”
Morel tossed his duffel bag onto the bed and turned on the light. “Beats freezing to death in my duplex by a long shot. Though I am gonna go ahead and borrow the shower, if that’s all right.”
“Of course. I’ll…put on hot water for tea. Yes, that’s what I’ll do. Towels are in the cabinet next to the sink.”
Knov filled the electric kettle and pulled down two mugs: his favorite (handmade, with black, gray and light blue) and another handmade one that had made its way into his cabinet…somehow. It was a dark purple gray, swirled to look like clouds of smoke.
It didn’t take long for his mind to wander from the task at hand. Morel tended to wear loose dress shirts, rolled up to the elbow, but Knov suspected he was well built. He’d watched Morel pick up heavy boxes like they weighed no more than a few books.
The bathroom door opened. Steam wafted out and dissipated in the hall. The kettled switch clicked, meaning the water was ready.
“Damn, that feels so much better,” Morel said as he made his way back into the living room, wearing a loose white t-shirt and black shorts.
My suspicions confirmed, Knov thought as he chewed the bottom of his lip. He pulled down an assortment of teas from the shelf above the mugs. Why oh why must the universe tempt me with a good looking business partner?
“You all right?” Morel asked. “You seem a bit spaced out.”
“Just…trying to remember where I put the honey. Ah, the pantry. Yes.”
Knov went to the other side of the kitchen, across from the fridge, and rifled through the pantry more as an excuse to calm his nerves. As if it suddenly sensed the cold and his anxiety, Knov’s shoulder twitched, the pins and needles worse than usual–
“Hey.”
Knov set the jar of honey on the cabinet and grabbed his shoulder. He looked up at Morel.
“If me being here is freaking you out–”
“You’re not the problem,” Knov replied. “It’s me. I find it…difficult to think when you’re around. Words elude me, and I cannot begin to tell how…how lovely these past couple of months have been with you here. But I fear the way I feel about you will change things between us for the worse.”
Morel closed the distance between them. “If you feel the way I think you do, it won’t change things for the worse at all. In fact, if you want, we can give a whole new meaning to mixing business and pleasure.”
Knov took a moment to process. “Wait…you’re in love with me too? And used that corny turn of phrase to say as much?”
Morel gave him a look of mock outrage.“I thought it was pretty good! And I deserve to be a bit corny, I’ve been trying to get you to pay attention to me for months! It hurt my feelings at first, until I realized you’re just oblivious.”
“Impossible.” Knov crossed his arms. “Because I’ve been trying to get you to notice me. I don’t give free books to just anyone, you know.”
“Only the guys you think are cute?”
Knov cracked a smile. “You’ve seen right through me. And as your reward–” He motioned for Morel to come to him.
“Gonna make this easier on both of us,” Morel said as he picked Knov up and set him on the counter. “Noticed your shoulder gives you trouble. Tell me about it sometime?”
“Only if you tell me why you wear these.” Knov tapped the side of Morel’s sunglasses.
“It’s a deal.”
They were nose to nose, and Knov closed the distance with a gentle kiss. Morel didn't press against him. A pang of disappointment passed through Knov's mind.
When they pulled apart, Knov said: “Change of plans. You’re sleeping with me tonight.”
“Ah, no need to be hasty. Let me make you dinner and woo you just a bit longer.”
“Oh, if you insist.”
“I do,” Morel replied. “Now, do you mind showing me around the kitchen?”
—