I mouthed her a “thank you” and continued my duties behind the counter. Just being around him made my skin crawl.
I’d already started cleaning out my home of all the old furniture and carpet and had spent one of my only days off stripping the old floors. They were beautiful, and my next buy would be the rug and my new couch. I had tried to make the place mine, though every time I turned around, Rain had Devin over. I couldn’t move on with him constantly under my feet.
“Can I get a large vanilla and caramel latte?” I looked up at Rain who had come to place her order.
“Sure.” I got busy making her drink, and she waited at the counter watching my every move. When I brought it to her, she paid and then leaned in.
“I’m really sorry. I shouldn’t have met him here. I just hope that the site has been paying off already.”
“I’ve gotten a few hits, and I wouldn’t care if he was around if he’d at least act like a human being. He’s such an asshole.” I glared across the room at him.
“So, you did get a few? Any hot ones?”
“Actually, the notification sound is what set him off.” I pulled out my phone and lit up the screen with the guy’s profile. “His screen name is using name is Foreplay, and apparently his real name is Tate Evans.”
“Holy shit, he’s hot. What did he say?” She fanned herself and gave me a wink.
“Just a simple Hello, Beautiful, and hope we can chat. He might do that to all the girls.” I wasn’t inclined to trust the sites at all, and I had even second-guessed signing up.
“You should say hi back.” She couldn’t take her eyes off the screen.
“Maybe I will. How’d it go with Daren Craig?” They were supposed to have had a hot date over the weekend.
“It’s good. He’s so dreamy and just my kind, but this one,” she tapped at my phone screen. “He could convince me otherwise.”
“Hand’s off. If I message him, I’m not sharing.” I laughed, and Devin cleared his throat.
“Hey, am I supposed to sit around waiting all day? I want a smoke.” He took the cigarette he’d lit and put it between his lips.
“Just behave, Devin. I’m on my way.” She gave me another apologetic glance. “Sorry.”
I walked to the back and leaned up against the counter. The guy was almost too good looking to be true. I scanned his profile, and he liked photography. My heart stopped. Could this be a guy I could actually talk to? Someone, to spend time with? Someone who wa
s interested in what I had to say, not only how I looked. Someone who wanted me for more than a groupie or arm candy?
He was a few years older, which was good, liked the outdoors, which was fine by me. I’d learned to love camping as a kid and hadn’t been in forever. Tate Evans sounded like a total winner. He was my solid match. I scrolled back up to his image and studied his features; his dirty-blond hair, tanned skin, and eyes so blue that they pierced right through me. They seemed to stare into my soul and pull me in.
I messaged back. Hello, I’d love to. I see you like photography? I hit send and waited to see if he’d message me back. I worked on a few things around the shop, and sure enough, half an hour later, he messaged me back.
It’s a passion. Are you passionate too? The words sent a warmth down my spine, which spread out to all the best places. My nipples tightened, and heat bloomed between my legs.
I’d like to think so. I went to school for it and had studio for a few months. That’s another story.
That’s amazing. I’m totally self-taught. I’d love to see yours and show you mine. *wink*
“Shit, he’s asking me out,” I mumbled to myself. I looked up, and Rain was sitting at the table twirling her straw as Devin talked on his phone. “Rain, get over here!”
She wasted no time crossing the room and sitting up the counter’s small bar area. “What’s wrong?”
“He wants to meet me and talk about photography. What should I do?”
“Uh, you should message him back, and if you’re lucky, you’ll get laid.” She turned the phone to her again, seeing his profile picture from the chat. “God, he’s hot. I bet he’s packing a big one too. I’m so jealous.”
“I don’t want to get my hopes up for anything.”
She pulled the phone from my hands and started typing.
“What are you doing?” I read over her shoulder and found her asking for a picture.