head, confused. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“You know, humming. That thing you do when you can’t remember the words, are in the shower or generally in a good mood. Lady Gaga, from the sound of it.”
“I am not humming.” Though she did have “Bad Romance” stuck in her head this morning. “You’re imagining things.”
Her phone chose that moment to buzz, announcing another text message. Her hand slipped into her pocket to curl around it, but she didn’t pull it out. No way she’d do that in front of Ian.
Ian rolled his eyes and added more beans into the roaster. “I’m not saying it’s a bad thing. It’s kind of nice actually.”
True, she’d been feeling lighter since her night out with Carter, but she hadn’t realized others were noticing. They’d spent the rest of the evening down in the bar, talking about the submissive strapped to the cross. Carter had wanted to know her impressions of the Dom’s technique, how he wasn’t pushing the sub far enough. What her preferences would have been.
That had been a far more difficult conversation.
Still, when he eventually put her in a cab to make sure she got safely home, the care with which he helped her into the car and gently shut the door, Paige knew she wanted to see him again. The texts had started later that night.
Carter had plans for the weekend, but he didn’t let that stop him. At first the texts were a distraction, little updates about what he’d been doing peppered throughout her day. But the more she received, the more she liked it. Carter wasn’t chatty face to face, his sly humor usually delivered with a soft chuckle. But through his notes, Paige started to see more of his sarcastic nature slipping through. After a week of messages, Paige found she was looking forward to them. The steady buzz of her phone was a pleasant distraction from her day.
“There it is again! A smile.”
Turning her back on her brother, she concentrated on stacking the clean mugs under the counter. “Shut up, Ian.”
“This doesn’t have anything to do with a certain fireman, does it?”
“No.”
“Because you haven’t said much since your date with him.”
“No, I haven’t.”
“Does that mean things are going okay? Are you going to see him again?”
“One date, Ian. That’s all. If there was something earth-shattering going on, you’d be the second to know.”
“You’re worse than Sadie with the personal life details.”
“For God’s sake, Ian, the last time I said anything to you about my personal life you freaked out.” Paige leaned forward and rested her head on the side of the counter door.
He tapped the top of her head, reaching over her to fill the coffee pot with filtered water. “You were talking about your sexual preferences. I don’t want to hear anything about that. I only want to know if you’re interested in this guy. If there’s a chance I might need to hire yet another staff member because you’re going to be out half the week.”
“We haven’t even talked about a second date, and the first one was barely that.” She couldn’t count it as a date when he’d spanked her soundly before giving her the best orgasm she’d had in years. That was way more intimate than learning about each other’s reading preferences or their favorite colors.
The phone in her pocket buzzed again. This time she snuck a peak. Sure enough, Carter’s phone number was on her screen.
How bout burgers? Do u like em w/cheese or r u into veggie?
Smiling, she quickly thumbed. Meat’s yummy. xtra cheese & bacon on mine plz.
Within seconds of her hitting send, Carter’s reply bounced back. Then we shld go. I know a place.
When?
2morrow?
Her stomach did a little flip. Sounds good. I’ll call u 2nite?
KK.
She was going out on a date. Again.
The bell over the door sounded and Paige turned around as she shoved the phone back into her pocket. “Welcome to Pulled Long. What can I get—?”
Oh, hell no.
Rick stood
“You know, humming. That thing you do when you can’t remember the words, are in the shower or generally in a good mood. Lady Gaga, from the sound of it.”
“I am not humming.” Though she did have “Bad Romance” stuck in her head this morning. “You’re imagining things.”
Her phone chose that moment to buzz, announcing another text message. Her hand slipped into her pocket to curl around it, but she didn’t pull it out. No way she’d do that in front of Ian.
Ian rolled his eyes and added more beans into the roaster. “I’m not saying it’s a bad thing. It’s kind of nice actually.”
True, she’d been feeling lighter since her night out with Carter, but she hadn’t realized others were noticing. They’d spent the rest of the evening down in the bar, talking about the submissive strapped to the cross. Carter had wanted to know her impressions of the Dom’s technique, how he wasn’t pushing the sub far enough. What her preferences would have been.
That had been a far more difficult conversation.
Still, when he eventually put her in a cab to make sure she got safely home, the care with which he helped her into the car and gently shut the door, Paige knew she wanted to see him again. The texts had started later that night.
Carter had plans for the weekend, but he didn’t let that stop him. At first the texts were a distraction, little updates about what he’d been doing peppered throughout her day. But the more she received, the more she liked it. Carter wasn’t chatty face to face, his sly humor usually delivered with a soft chuckle. But through his notes, Paige started to see more of his sarcastic nature slipping through. After a week of messages, Paige found she was looking forward to them. The steady buzz of her phone was a pleasant distraction from her day.
“There it is again! A smile.”
Turning her back on her brother, she concentrated on stacking the clean mugs under the counter. “Shut up, Ian.”
“This doesn’t have anything to do with a certain fireman, does it?”
“No.”
“Because you haven’t said much since your date with him.”
“No, I haven’t.”
“Does that mean things are going okay? Are you going to see him again?”
“One date, Ian. That’s all. If there was something earth-shattering going on, you’d be the second to know.”
“You’re worse than Sadie with the personal life details.”
“For God’s sake, Ian, the last time I said anything to you about my personal life you freaked out.” Paige leaned forward and rested her head on the side of the counter door.
He tapped the top of her head, reaching over her to fill the coffee pot with filtered water. “You were talking about your sexual preferences. I don’t want to hear anything about that. I only want to know if you’re interested in this guy. If there’s a chance I might need to hire yet another staff member because you’re going to be out half the week.”
“We haven’t even talked about a second date, and the first one was barely that.” She couldn’t count it as a date when he’d spanked her soundly before giving her the best orgasm she’d had in years. That was way more intimate than learning about each other’s reading preferences or their favorite colors.
The phone in her pocket buzzed again. This time she snuck a peak. Sure enough, Carter’s phone number was on her screen.
How bout burgers? Do u like em w/cheese or r u into veggie?
Smiling, she quickly thumbed. Meat’s yummy. xtra cheese & bacon on mine plz.
Within seconds of her hitting send, Carter’s reply bounced back. Then we shld go. I know a place.
When?
2morrow?
Her stomach did a little flip. Sounds good. I’ll call u 2nite?
KK.
She was going out on a date. Again.
The bell over the door sounded and Paige turned around as she shoved the phone back into her pocket. “Welcome to Pulled Long. What can I get—?”
Oh, hell no.
Rick stood
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