Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 22387 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 112(@200wpm)___ 90(@250wpm)___ 75(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22387 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 112(@200wpm)___ 90(@250wpm)___ 75(@300wpm)
I shrugged, not sure what to say with this many people studying us. “And I haven’t seen you much around here outside of the store.”
He got an ah-ha kind of look before nodding slowly. “I’ve lived here for a while, but I’m a homebody most of the time.”
Just as he started to say something else, he glanced around again and raised one eyebrow at a naughty soccer mom who kept inching closer.
She blushed and stepped toward the counter again. But it was enough for me to see what I should’ve figured out before.
Polite caretaker Doms did not make people uncomfortable.
Duh.
He’d been trying to be nice to the slightly pushy vers guy who’d just talked about regular stuff.
Okay, so we both had a better idea about why things had gotten so fucked up so quickly…now what?
Before I talked myself into taking the reins of the conversation, Robyn spoke up. “How’s your schedule today?”
It was so unexpected, I answered without thinking.
“I have a late afternoon meeting that might run into dinner because they’re terrible at making decisions. But other than that, I’m flexible.” The primary thing on my schedule today had been planning and phone calls, and I’d gotten most of them done.
Being a morning person had its upsides.
I got to play all afternoon some days without worrying about work not getting done.
Wait.
Why had he wanted to know?
Shit.
My mind was all over the place.
“Then how about we head over to my place and I’ll make us lunch while we talk?” There was the faintest pause before he nodded toward the front counter. “I live in the same building as Skyler unfortunately, and he’ll vouch that I’m not a serial killer.”
Barely holding back a smirk, I shook my head. “I’ll take my chances with death, thanks. I’m not going anywhere near him until he’s forgiven me for…”
Well, for whatever had pissed him off.
Thankfully, Robyn chuckled and agreed with my assessment before I had to figure out how to end the sentence. “Smart decision.”
I’d somehow managed to finish my cookie, so when he glanced down at my coffee and raised one eyebrow in question, all I had to take with me was my cup. “Should I pay…”
I hadn’t quite gotten that far when Skyler had lost his fucking mind.
Robyn snorted. “No, he should’ve paid us for the free sideshow. I’m pretty sure several of the customers in line with us started texting people to come over and watch.”
Considering how packed the shop was now, he was probably right.
“Then I won’t worry about it.” Besides, god knew that man could say something if he was upset about it.
As we stood, Robyn picked up our trash and quickly threw it away.
Yeah, total Daddy move.
How had I not realized that?
I had a vague memory of him doing something similar at the club.
“What?” Making our way through the crowd that was still watching us like we were the main event at a circus, Robyn gave me a curious look.
I had to admit, part of me wanted to make a teasing, snarky comment, but that would not have been helpful.
Behaving myself, I took a breath and answered honestly. “Um, just wondering how I read you so wrong before.”
I felt silly until he chuckled and nodded as he held the door for me. “Oh, I’m having that same thought.”
Feeling lighter, I flashed him a teasing grin. “And now I’m trying to imagine how our date would’ve gone if I’d known more about you.”
Talk first…Fuck second.
I was going to remember that just in case I screwed up in the future.
Well, when I screwed up in the future.
He laughed, nodding and gesturing down the street toward what I assumed was his building. “Yeah, I have to admit I was trying to picture that as well. I feel bad about the way everything happened…or didn’t in our case.”
I grimaced. I’d known that would come up sooner or later, but I hadn’t been sure how to tackle it. As the crowd thinned and we had more privacy, I inched toward the topic. “Um, well, you kind of hit some of the right vibes with the Daddy thing and it was distracting.”
When he peeked over and did his sexy raised eyebrow thing, I almost blushed. “I started worrying about what I would say and I didn’t want to relax too much and say the wrong thing. So I kind of got stuck in panic mode.”
I loved being a sub and a little…most of the time.
There were just certain times, though, like when I obsessively worried about something, where I didn’t like it so much.
“That makes sense now.” He looked slightly uncomfortable as he ran a hand down his suit jacket in a subtle, nervous gesture. “At the time, I wasn’t sure what I’d done.”
Wincing, I lifted one shoulder in a half shrug. “Sorry for making things weird?”