realization that neither of us had had any kind of intimacy in years. Not emotional or physical. He was so easy to talk to, though, and even easier to look at. I’d never talked that long about myself like that before—to anybody aside from Rachel. Not even Jason. Ever. It always seemed as if his life was more important than mine because of his job. I mean honestly, how shallow could someone be to sit there and gab on and on about their past, their life, their hardships when the person in front of them was risking their life on a daily basis? So, needless to say, we didn’t have many heart to hearts. I didn’t want to talk to Jason the way I wanted to with Nathan.
“So, I told you what my major malfunctions are. What’s your deal? How come you haven’t been with anyone? Should it worry me that it’s been so long for you? I’m not going to discover a bag of toenail clippings and hair in your closet or something, am I?”
He laughed. “No, it’s only because I hadn’t met you yet.” His crooked grin gave me the warm fuzzies all over.
“Holy crap, has that line ever worked?” I snorted.
“You tell me. Did it? I’ve never used it before.”
“Cheesy, yet efficient.” I smiled.
Somewhere in our conversation I must have fallen asleep, because when I woke up I was in my bed. I struggled to focus on the clock. It was twelve thirty-three in the afternoon. I rolled over into the thin stream of sunlight that peeked through my blackout curtains and heard something crinkle beneath me. I felt around on the bed until I found the source of the noise—a slip of paper. What did he leave me? A therapy bill?
With a huge smile on my face I sprung out of bed and hit the shower. I couldn’t stop thinking about his smile and how sweet he was. I realized, though, I didn’t know anything about him except his name and that he was visiting from... from? Oh damn. I didn’t even know where he was from, if he worked, nothing, nada, zip, zilch... I was too busy talking about myself the entire time. I hated to admit it, but it felt great though. I hadn’t had that kind of connection with anyone, ever. All I knew was that the guy was sexy as hell and made me think the dirtiest of thoughts.
It was right then I realized I didn’t even know how much longer he would be here. My stomach sank.
Just as I finished up straightening my hair I heard the ping of my cell phone downstairs. I rarely got texts, so I knew it had to be Nathan. In a hurry I grabbed my crap and flew downstairs.
“One New Text”
*You up yet sleeping beauty?*
*Yup, I am. I can’t do dinner, because of Emma, but lunch?*
I closed my phone, put it in my purse, and headed out the door for the bar. When I got there I went straight to my office. I lit a cigarette and pulled out last night’s till. Rachel had left me a note on top of it.
A change in the lighting caught my attention, and I heard the door out front open. What the hell? I didn’t lock it? Instinctively I reached under the desk for my 9mm.
“We’re closed. We open at five today.” My voice cracked a little. When nobody responded I yanked the gun out of the case stuck to the underside of my desk. The one thing Jason had always insisted on was a firearm for protection while he was away. Old habits die hard, I guess. I kept one in my closet at home as well. Nobody knew it was there, though.
I continued, “And I have a gun. I’ll shoot first and ask questions later.” What the fuck were you thinking not locking the door, Jordie? I know what you were thinking about. My guts were twisted.
“All right, Annie Oakley, don’t shoot.” Nathan’s familiar voice put me at ease immediately as he approached my office door.
“Shit, Nathan, don’t do that to me,” I barked at him.
“How about you lock the door, and I won’t be able to do that to you again?” He sounded a little pissy. Heh, he can throw an attitude, can’t he? I decided to ignore it though. It wasn’t like he was
“So, I told you what my major malfunctions are. What’s your deal? How come you haven’t been with anyone? Should it worry me that it’s been so long for you? I’m not going to discover a bag of toenail clippings and hair in your closet or something, am I?”
He laughed. “No, it’s only because I hadn’t met you yet.” His crooked grin gave me the warm fuzzies all over.
“Holy crap, has that line ever worked?” I snorted.
“You tell me. Did it? I’ve never used it before.”
“Cheesy, yet efficient.” I smiled.
Somewhere in our conversation I must have fallen asleep, because when I woke up I was in my bed. I struggled to focus on the clock. It was twelve thirty-three in the afternoon. I rolled over into the thin stream of sunlight that peeked through my blackout curtains and heard something crinkle beneath me. I felt around on the bed until I found the source of the noise—a slip of paper. What did he leave me? A therapy bill?
With a huge smile on my face I sprung out of bed and hit the shower. I couldn’t stop thinking about his smile and how sweet he was. I realized, though, I didn’t know anything about him except his name and that he was visiting from... from? Oh damn. I didn’t even know where he was from, if he worked, nothing, nada, zip, zilch... I was too busy talking about myself the entire time. I hated to admit it, but it felt great though. I hadn’t had that kind of connection with anyone, ever. All I knew was that the guy was sexy as hell and made me think the dirtiest of thoughts.
It was right then I realized I didn’t even know how much longer he would be here. My stomach sank.
Just as I finished up straightening my hair I heard the ping of my cell phone downstairs. I rarely got texts, so I knew it had to be Nathan. In a hurry I grabbed my crap and flew downstairs.
“One New Text”
*You up yet sleeping beauty?*
*Yup, I am. I can’t do dinner, because of Emma, but lunch?*
I closed my phone, put it in my purse, and headed out the door for the bar. When I got there I went straight to my office. I lit a cigarette and pulled out last night’s till. Rachel had left me a note on top of it.
A change in the lighting caught my attention, and I heard the door out front open. What the hell? I didn’t lock it? Instinctively I reached under the desk for my 9mm.
“We’re closed. We open at five today.” My voice cracked a little. When nobody responded I yanked the gun out of the case stuck to the underside of my desk. The one thing Jason had always insisted on was a firearm for protection while he was away. Old habits die hard, I guess. I kept one in my closet at home as well. Nobody knew it was there, though.
I continued, “And I have a gun. I’ll shoot first and ask questions later.” What the fuck were you thinking not locking the door, Jordie? I know what you were thinking about. My guts were twisted.
“All right, Annie Oakley, don’t shoot.” Nathan’s familiar voice put me at ease immediately as he approached my office door.
“Shit, Nathan, don’t do that to me,” I barked at him.
“How about you lock the door, and I won’t be able to do that to you again?” He sounded a little pissy. Heh, he can throw an attitude, can’t he? I decided to ignore it though. It wasn’t like he was
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