Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 98789 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 494(@200wpm)___ 395(@250wpm)___ 329(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98789 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 494(@200wpm)___ 395(@250wpm)___ 329(@300wpm)
“Are you leaving now?”
“I have a few things to do first.” She glanced at paperwork on the desk.
“Then I’ll wait for you.”
She shook her head. “You’ve been here all day, Dash. Go home.”
“I do have to run back and let Fritz out, but then I thought maybe we could grab a beer somewhere.” When she hesitated, I reached out and tugged one of those stray curls. “Come on, Sugar. One beer. I’ll even buy it.”
She laughed, batting my hand away. “Okay, fine. But only because I’m truly enjoying all the photos and videos of you in a Moe’s apron on the internet. Have you seen the slo-mo edit of you walking across the diner carrying the condiments?”
I groaned. “Ketchup will probably reach out tomorrow and ask for a meeting.”
“What’s wrong with ketchup?”
“Nothing. Never mind.” I didn’t want to complain about my career to Ari. She worked her ass off here day after day. She bartended on weekends. She drove a car that groaned with agony every time you tapped the gas pedal. She was great at what she did and always wore a smile, but I wondered if she was happy or if she wanted something more. “I’ll be right back.”
“You know what? Meet me at my house,” she said. “I want to change out of my uniform.”
“Okay.” I started to leave the office and turned around again. “Do you want me to unzip you?”
Her eyes widened. “Huh?”
“Your uniform. Will you be able to unzip it with only one good hand?”
“Oh. Probably not. Do you mind?” Rising to her feet, she presented me with her back. “Just a few inches should do it.”
I had many thoughts about giving her a few inches—and then some—but I decided to keep them to myself. We were finally friends again, and it felt good.
Still, I took my time pulling that zipper down, and as the two sides of her uniform parted, I became so distracted by the sight of her upper back and a tiny mole she had just to the left of her spine, I went a little too far. Her nude bra strap appeared. I zipped it back up a few inches, letting my fingers brush her skin.
A shiver rippled through her, and when I dropped my hand, I heard her exhale, as if she’d been holding her breath.
About half an hour later, I pulled up in front of her house, left my car parked on the street, and waited for her on the sidewalk. It was early May, and the temperature was cool but not cold. The smell of spring here was different from the smell of spring in California. More fresh and green, with a trace of dampness to it.
She came out the front door a minute later wearing jeans and a thick sweater, her hair loose and curly around her shoulders.
“I need a favor,” she said as she came down the walk. “I can’t tie my stupid shoes.”
Laughing, I knelt down and laced up her sneakers in the light cast by a street lamp, then popped to my feet again. “Anything else?”
“Yeah. Can you come over tomorrow morning and wash my hair? Give me a nice smooth blowout?”
“I could try, but I’m not sure you’d get the look you’re going for.” Unable to help myself, I reached out and touched one of the soft strands hanging by her cheek. “Besides, I like the curls.”
Her cheeks bloomed with pink. “Thanks.”
My eyes dropped to her lips. They were also pink. Full and round, luscious as a strawberry. Somehow I knew they’d taste as sweet.
It would be so easy. One step forward. A hand on the back of her neck. A tilt of my head. A stroke of my tongue.
She glanced to her right, breaking the spell. “I thought maybe we could walk. It’s kind of nice out.”
“Sure,” I said, stepping back. What the hell was the matter with me? I was supposed to be here working on myself. Somehow I doubted that messing around with Ari DeLuca would show the universe I was deserving of a lucky break.
But fuck, it would be a good time. I had ideas for that mouth.
I zipped up my hoodie a little higher and shoved my hands in my pockets.
At the end of her block, we turned left onto Spring Street, which sloped down toward the harbor. “Hey, did you get my note?” I asked. “The check engine light in your car is on. You should take it in.”
“Yeah, I know. I will.” She sighed, keeping her eyes on the sidewalk. “I’m just afraid of what a mechanic will tell me. I can’t afford any expensive repairs at the moment.”
“Austin could take a look at it for you.”
“Austin?”
“Yeah. He’s pretty good with cars.” I had no idea if Austin knew shit about cars, but what I did know was that Ari wasn’t going to let me take her car in as a favor. And I didn’t feel right letting her drive around in that thing. It wasn’t safe. “I’ll trade cars with you tonight, and swing by his house tomorrow. Let him take a peek under the hood. If there’s anything that needs immediate attention, he can probably do it.”