Total pages in book: 120
Estimated words: 112850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 451(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 112850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 451(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
Mace’s honest stare focused on me again. “You need to stay away from the bar. Lori figured you out, others will too.”
“Okay. I think we’d be considered friends if I do get identified,” I said and watched his expression wilt. I didn’t want that. “But I’ll stay away. You’re good at your job. Your hands move so fast. Is that muscle memory?”
Mace continued to stare at me, ignoring the question. “Because I’m vulnerable, I’ll give you the win. I’m drawn to you too. I find myself drivin’ to your place instead of mine, every night.”
My hand tightened around Mace’s, holding him securely while he finally gave me some truth. “Was that painful to say?” I asked, doing my best to hold the chuckle inside.
“Kind of, not gonna lie.” He straightened in his seat.
“Well, if you were an apple, I’d consider you a delicious,” I said, my grin taking up my entire face.
“How long did it take you to come up with that?” he asked, also with humor which meant I had somehow managed to turn the night around.
“I said it in a movie. I think I got the line wrong. Maybe, you’re my delicious apple. No that’s probably wrong too.”
Mace’s laughter erased any tension still between us. “So you know I lied to you about the animals at home?” he asked.
“Yeah, it hurt a little,” I said, playfully.
“This has been a struggle for me. You’re a lot to deal with.”
“I don’t mind hearing that,” I said, and tugged our joined hands to press a kiss on his knuckles. “Maybe we could settle into whatever’s happening between us. You make me nervous that you won’t show up. It’d be nice to let that worry go.”
The bark of Mace’s laughter was nonsensical, yet everything right in my world. No matter what was said from here on out, I sensed we were in the next stage of whatever relationship we were creating. I liked it there. The resulting silence was comfortable for the rest of the ride home.
=♥=
Mace
Hours later
With every ounce of surprise due, I realized I hadn’t emotionally tanked after the big reveal. I’d protected myself from the past, seemingly by being a hard, harsh, unconnected human being, which wasn’t the truth at all. I was relieved I hadn’t tanked, not by a long shot, and reached for my cell phone to send a text to Alice, letting her know Lori’s out and I’d be in late in the morning, since she’d be on her own to start cooking for the café.
“Where you going?” Slade asked, jostled when I adjusted the way I sat on the sofa, fingers extending as far as they could reach until the phone landed in my palm.
“I was thinkin’ about calling in in the mornin’. With Lori gone, I’ll offer to move to a twelve-hour shift from eight to eight, probably. Go in a couple of hours later in the morning than normal,” I said and used a single thumb to text out the letters.
“How’s it already five o’clock in the morning?” Slade lifted to his elbow, stretching to glance back at me. “You aren’t a big sleeper, are you?”
“Maybe. It’s just been a long time since I slept a regular eight hours,” I said, finishing the text then tossing the phone back on the table. “I probably need to sleep for a couple hours then go by my place and get my stuff.”
“I like the sound of that. I’ll follow you, and bring your stuff back, or we can stay at your place sometimes,” Slade said. We sat together on Slade’s large love seat. I was turned, one knee bent, the other hanging off the side. Slade had his boots crossed on the sofa table. His head leaned against the back of the sofa, staring at me.
We’d taken a turn tonight. I was different. I recognized it and also didn’t question it too closely. Happiness was weird. Easygoing was a pretend state, except right this minute. And we hadn’t had immediate sex. Most nights we weren’t able to make it to the bedroom before we started.
“Hey,” Slade’s fingers snapped in my face before I had an answer. “Where did the name Red come from? Max kept calling you Red.”
“Red? I don’t even hear it anymore,” I said and twisted in the seat to sit like Slade. His hand came to my thigh, patting me there. “When I was born, I had a patch of dark auburn hair. My eyes were bright blue with red hair. It stuck,” I explained.
His head cocked and tilted backward. Slade made a show of scanning my hair. “You’ve got an excellent head of hair,” he said. “Full, lots of color and depth. The loose curls are perfect.”
“Are you makin’ fun of me?” I asked, teasingly. I ran my fingers through my hair, pushing it off my face. “It’s a lot to deal with so I don’t. I’m due my annual haircut. Overdue.” I sought Slade’s hand, tangling our fingers together.