Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 58727 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 294(@200wpm)___ 235(@250wpm)___ 196(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58727 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 294(@200wpm)___ 235(@250wpm)___ 196(@300wpm)
I’d take her across the table if I could, but I can wait. I have no choice.
“What are you getting?” I ask after we study the options.
“Chicken piccata,” she replies.
The server drops off waters and a basket of bread. I give both our orders, and she departs.
“I can order for myself.” Sadie tilts her head to look at me.
I shrug and set my arm along the back of the booth so my fingers brush her shoulder. “I like taking care of you.”
“You don’t even know me,” she replies.
“I want to,” I admit. “Tell me a secret.”
She laughs. “A secret?”
I nod. “Something no one else knows.”
“I…don’t like eggs.” She actually shivers in disgust admitting that.
“That can’t be a secret,” I counter. “Your parents must know.”
She nods. “My mom does, but she doesn’t believe me that it’s a thing. I mean, who hates eggs? So she served them anyway and made me eat them. I put tons of jelly on top to get them down.”
I frown at the disgusting idea of eggs mixed with jelly and then reach out and slide a finger through her silky hair. It’s long and sticks straight to her shoulders. “No eggs. Got it.”
“What about you?” She tilts her head again.
I’m not sure if she realizes she’s done it, making room for my finger to brush down her neck.
“I’ve never done this before.”
She shifts in her seat to face me head-on and my touch falls away. I set it on her thigh, my palm on her skirt but my fingertips flirting with the short hem.
“Eaten dinner? Dated?” She laughs. “I can’t believe that. The guy I met last night was no virgin.”
A smile tugs at my lips. “Don’t worry. I know what I’m doing.”
She licks her lips and her pink tongue flicks out. Damn.
“I’ve never…been with a woman I’m interested in keeping.”
She blinks. “Keeping?”
I shrug. “No woman’s ever handed me her panties before.”
Which, of course, isn’t the reason I’m interested in keeping Sadie, but this is all new to me. I’m not sure exactly what to say.
The waitress delivers Sadie’s glass of red wine and she waits until the woman leaves before she speaks.
“That was a game for a bachelorette party. You can’t tell me guys don’t do dares or stupid things at bachelor parties.”
I scratch my temple. “All we do is see how trashed we can all get while ogling strippers. I liked the panty thing a hell of a lot better.”
“I bet you did.” She takes a sip of wine. “The panty thing isn’t a secret, though. I was there. I know about it.”
I study her, all light and bright and sweet. I want to mess her up so fucking bad. Get those lips swollen, see if her nipples match the color of her blush. Hell, I wonder if her pussy is just as pink.
“I said I’ve never done this before. That’s a secret. I’ve never wanted a woman in my bed so bad before. I’ve never wanted to keep her there. My secret is most of the women I’ve been with have been flings.”
“Fuck ’em and forget ’em,” she says.
“Not as crude as that. I respect women. Appreciate their wants and desires as much as mine, but never more than once.”
“But I’m different?” she whispers.
I lean in close, kiss her forehead. “I’m not sure if I’ll ever get enough.”
It’s the truth. and not only did I reveal this to Sadie, but to myself as well.
The waitress brings our meals and we chat about anything and everything. Football, Montana winters, food options in New York, favorite vacations.
Sadie excuses herself to the ladies’ room as I pay the check. I wait for her.
Ten minutes pass. She should be back by now.
I cut through the restaurant to the bathrooms.
I halt at the start of the back hallway. Sadie’s standing there, a guy crowding her in.
“Come on, a pretty lady like you?” the man says, his voice slurred.
I see red. The guy’s crowding her into the wall and she seems so small and fragile trapped by the big guy.
“Step back, please.” Her voice is loud and clear.
It’s not a tone of voice she uses with me. More authoritarian, like a teacher or a…yeah, a law enforcement officer. But she’s not wearing a uniform and she doesn’t have her gun or badge at her hip. Tonight she’s just a woman.
My woman. She’s with me, and she’s mine to protect.
I don’t wait a second longer to intervene.
I approach, slap the man on the shoulder.
“Hey! What’s—”
“Thanks for keeping my girl company for me,” I say. “But I think she just told you to step back.”
I want to bash his nose in and toss the guy behind a dumpster, but this is small-town life and I want to be welcomed back to the restaurant. I also don’t want to taint our date with violence or anything that might involve paperwork on Sadie’s part.