Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 148704 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 744(@200wpm)___ 595(@250wpm)___ 496(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 148704 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 744(@200wpm)___ 595(@250wpm)___ 496(@300wpm)
“What are you thinking right now?” he presses.
“I’m not sure you want to know.”
“You said you’d answer when asked.” His neck stretches the teeniest bit. “Answer me, Sweets.”
“If you insist.” I step in until the table is smashing into my right thigh, bringing myself as close as I can, without dropping beside him, so I can keep my voice as low as possible. Don’t need Mr. and Mrs. Joe eavesdropping from their spot across the way.
“I’m pretty sure this is about where you’d reach if you were on your knees in front of me,” I whisper, then straighten and hold a finger up to the girl trying to gain my attention a skip over. Hurriedly pulling my pen from my pouch, I press it to my order pad. Did you want to try the sub or no?”
Silence.
My eyes lift to Crew.
He’s yet to move an inch, his attention frozen on my face. My eyes. I’m not even sure he’s blinking.
“Crew.”
His frown deepens, though he shows no other sign of life.
“Miss!”
Ugh.
“Look at the menu. I’ll be right back.” I go to walk away, but Crew’s reflexes are on another level.
His large fingers lock around my wrist so fast, I’m forced to jerk to a stop, my head snapping back in his direction.
Eyes on me, he glides his closed fist across the table, nudging the silverware right over the side, and it falls to the floor with a clatter. Crew scoots to the end of the seat, gently nudging me backward as he slips his body free, pressing a single knee to the floor.
Blindly, he stretches his long arms, scooping the fork, spoon, and napkin into his palm. He straightens then, his left knee still pressed firmly to the cheap linoleum, his chin leveling out. Only then do his eyes leave mine, now pointed directly forward, but only for a split second. Long enough to push a harsh, intentional breath out, one that seeps beyond the cotton of my clothes, teasing over my ribs.
Slowly, he rises to his feet, the next words leaving him a low rumble. “I’d have to hook your leg up high for that to work. Maybe put you in heels.” And then he sits back down and says, “Three nachos. One steak, two chicken.”
My mouth opens, closes, and then I nod.
“One chicken, two steak, got it.”
Unsteady, both mind and feet, I run through my tables on autopilot, all the while picturing my thigh braced on Crew’s stout shoulders, my favorite, glittery heels, I’ve never worn but had to have, resting along the muscles in his back.
He’d have to grab me by the ass cheeks to hold me still, and I bet he’d squeeze, knead.
Yeah, he seems like the type to enjoy a good handful and I’ve got a couple.
Why won’t he just take one for the team? And by team, I mean me.
“Davis?”
My head jerks up, and I realize I’ve come to Black Hat Guy’s table.
Look at that, I’ve already set his meal down.
“Ketchup?” I guess.
The guy chuckles, adjusting his frame in his seat, so he appears taller. “I didn’t think you heard me.”
He was talking?
“Sorry.” A low laugh leaves me. “My mind is—” in the gutter. Crew deep. “Anyway… what?”
A cup slams against a tabletop with a loud clank, and all eyes dart toward the sound. Toward Crew.
He’s slouched over, head lazily hanging forward. Eyes on me.
“Is he your boyfriend?”
“I wish,” I mumble.
It’s quick, instant. Accidental.
Crew looks away, but the shake of his shoulders tells me he heard, and he’s entertained.
I, on the other hand, ripen like the finest of tomatoes.
Black Hat Guy is looking at Crew but faces forward as I turn back around, shocking me when a large smile spreads across his face, and you know what? It looks good on him. It’s not crooked, and it doesn’t reveal any scars or dimples, but it is nice. Straight.
“Good to know.” Black Hat Guy—okay I really need to ask his name, or at the very least, peek at it on his card when he pays—winks and scoots his food closer. “Think I could get that ketchup?”
“Ketchup, coming right up.”
I spin on my heels, and Crew’s chin lowers to his chest as I pass, but that doesn’t stop me from shoving his head with my open palm as I walk by.
This time, his laughter echoes.
It’s an annoyingly glorious sound.
Chapter Fourteen
Crew
“Girl, let’s go!” I pull the door open, listening for my car’s engine to fire up when I press the button on the key fob. “If you’re not out here in three minutes, I’m leaving!”
A package catches my eye as I go to let the door close behind me, so I take it back inside, setting it on the table, right as Davis slips from her room.
“Sorry! I couldn’t find my other sandal. I had to get on all fours and pull a serious yoga move to reach it—oh! Is that mine?” She smiles, rushing over.