Luscious Love by Zach Sweets

 
     
    Photo Description: Handsome, scruffy looking man with a hand covered in chocolate and a sensual silver-eyed stare. He is licking chocolate off of his index finger.
     
    Wendell Choate shielded his sterling silver eyes from the bright sunlight as he breathed in the powerful salty scent in the air. He ran his fingers through his wavy chestnut brown hair as he enjoyed the ocean waves splashing against the shore. People played and laughed in the water. Watching them was a pleasure and helped to alleviate some of the sorrow Wendell felt as he sat alone in the sand.
     
    He’d been struggling to find a job since he got laid off a year ago. The beach was the only place he could go to find peace. He had been surviving on the small income he got from Social Security and Disability. It was enough to pay his rent, but there wasn’t much left over for his other bills.
     
    His resume was good enough that he’d received several phone calls regarding job interviews. Once they found out that he was Deaf, they politely declined. It was discrimination, but Wendell would rather work for someone who wasn’t so closed minded, so he’d decided not to report them. He just wanted a job where he could be happy.
     
    Wendell scanned the newspaper he’d brought with him and a new job captured his attention.
     
    Luscious Love
    Help Wanted
    Must know chocolate
    Contact Caleb Adams at (800) 555-1462 for an interview
     
    Wendell instantly wanted that job. Chocolate was an addiction to him, a personal stress-reliever. He grabbed his iPhone and used the Video Relay application to call Caleb. No one answered, so he left a message, hoping Caleb would call him back.
     
    While waiting for the return call, he spotted a man in a dark blue Speedo. Wendell could see a well-defined bulge through the clingy material. Even better, a thick mat of hair covered the man’s chest. It’d been too long since Wendell had gotten laid. Just the sight of the man made his mouth water.
     
    As the man walked by, smiling at him, Wendell reached absently for his phone. He searched his pocket as he watched the man disappear down the beach and nearly freaked out when he realized the cell was missing.
     
    He scurried around, searching his other pocket, finally finding it on the ground beside him. He checked to see if there were any missed calls.
     
    He had one. Shit . Luckily, whoever called had left a message.
     
    He opened the video mail and watched as the interpreter signed,
     
    -Hello Wendell, this is Caleb Adams from Luscious Love. I got your message about the job interview. I’m available tomorrow at noon. Call me back if you can’t make it; otherwise, I’ll see you tomorrow.-
     
    Wendell jumped with joy, drawing people’s attention. Some threw him dirty looks, probably wondering what the heck was going on with him. He shrugged them off; he was so happy to have gotten a job interview at a chocolate place. Maybe he’d get to sample everything once he got there.
     
    He was too excited to just go home, so he walked to the street where all the touristy shops decorated the strip, looking for Luscious Love. He wanted to prepare himself for his interview tomorrow. There was no way he could afford to screw up his dream of a job surrounded by chocolate.
     
    Finally, he saw it. The rich, warm tones of the façade, together with the wide windows, hinted at the decadence that was sure to decorate the shelves inside. He already pictured himself working there, standing behind the counter, looking out at the adorable shop and the stream of endless chocolate lovers flowing through the door. Paradise .
     
    Through the window he spied a tall, bald man with a full beard. From what he could see, the man was just his type—broad shoulders and heavy muscles. The man was wiping down counters, probably getting ready to close up for the night. If it was Caleb, Wendell couldn’t wait to meet him in person. He couldn’t wait to get a closer view of the man’s face. A bear