Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 87298 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 436(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87298 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 436(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
“Ready to order?” she asks, making her way toward me.
I look up from where I’ve been forcing myself to read the menu. “Cheeseburger deluxe and fries.”
“Anything else to drink?”
“Nah, water’s fine.”
“I’ll go put this in for you.” She turns on her heel, and I watch her and her ass in those jeans as she disappears behind the swinging doors to the kitchen.
“Well, if it isn’t, Deacon Setty. It’s been a long time,” Sarah Sanders, a girl I graduated with, says, moving to sit on the stool next to mine.
“Sarah.” I nod, barely sparing her a glance. Sarah has been married three times and is, I’m sure, looking for husband number four, and I’m not interested. I am not even tempted to dip my dick where so many before me have gone.
“You should let me buy you a drink.” She places her hand on my arm, which is followed by her moving in close and rubbing her tits there too.
“No thanks.”
“Come on,” she coos. I think it’s meant to be sexy, but it’s anything but. “We’re both single. What’s the harm?” She runs her pointed blood-red fake fingernail down my arm, and I shiver at the contact. Not because it turns me on, but because she keeps fucking touching me. There is no part of me that’s even remotely attracted to Sarah.
“I’m not single,” I blurt.
“Oh, really? Who’s the lucky girl?”
“I am.” Ramsey's sweet voice wraps around me, and it takes me a few seconds to comprehend what she just said.
Slowly, I turn my head to look at her. She’s glaring at Sarah and her hand that still rests on my arm. I watch as she forces herself to look away and lay eyes on me. There’s something in her expression I can’t name, but it has me opening my mouth to agree with her.
“Hey, babe,” I reply gruffly. This time I’m watching closely as her eyes soften and her body relaxes. Was she afraid I was going to reject her?
“You expect me to believe that you’re with her?” Sarah asks. “Isn’t she like best friends with your sister and way too young for you?” Sarah sneers.
“She’s Palmer's best friend, and her age is of no relevance when it comes to being able to hold my attention. She has all of it. All the time.”
“So you’re robbing the cradle?” Sarah laughs humorlessly.
“In case you missed it, I’m a grown woman who is, in fact, old enough to serve you the drink you’re holding. Which also means I can make my own decisions, and I can kick your ass out of this bar.”
“Me?” Sarah gasps. “What did I do?”
“You’re breathing,” Ramsey mutters under her breath, and if I wasn’t so in tune with her, I probably would have missed it. “Hitting on my man.”
Something happens to me with those four words. I sit a little taller on my stool and my chest does this crazy tightening thing. “I was just telling Sarah I wasn’t interested.” I ignore Sarah altogether and keep my eyes on Ramsey.
“Yeah?” Her smile does things to me, and I’m glad that I’m sitting down.
“Yep.” I reach for my water and take a long pull, wishing it was beer.
“Why didn’t I know about this?” Sarah asks.
“Because what we do is none of your concern,” Ramsey says, crossing her arms over her chest.
“Whatever. When you want a real woman, you know where to find me.” With that, she stands, and turns on her heel and walks away.
“I’m so sorry,” Ramsey blurts.
“What are you sorry for? You saved me just now.”
“I just- You looked uncomfortable, and I’ve seen her charade one too many times, and I-I just reacted.”
Her hands are now braced on the bar, so I reach out and slide one of mine over hers. “Thank you, Ramsey. You read the situation correctly. I wasn’t the least bit interested.” She flinches at my touch, and I curse myself for not warning her. I knew I was supposed to warn her.
Quickly, I pull my hand from hers. “I’m sorry. I know you like to be warned.” I nod to where her hand still rests on the bar.
My mouth falls open in shock when she reaches across the bar and places her soft hand over mine. “I’m okay, Deacon.”
“Why?” The word falls from my lips before I have a chance to stop it.
“I think-” She looks down, and I don’t push her. I give her the time that she needs to process what she wants to say. When she looks up, her beautiful blue eyes lock with mine. “-because it’s you. You’ve shown me kindness.” She shrugs. “I know I can trust you.” She pauses. “I can trust you, right?” She chuckles nervously.
I swallow the words I want to say. The ones that tell her that I feel this connection to her that I’ve never felt before and that it’s slowly driving me insane. I want to tell her I can’t stop thinking about her, her floral scent, or the taste and feel of her lips. Instead, I go with the words that I’m hoping won’t scare her away. “Yes, Ramsey. You can trust me. Always,” I add, my eyes boring into hers, willing her to believe the conviction in my voice.