Taken (Dark Desires 1)

She was wearing just a plain black skirt with high heels. The shoes must have been hurting her feet because she kept sliding her heels out of them and flexing her calves as she did so.

It was obvious this woman had built up an immunity to noticing the men who watched her. Unlike Molly who wanted everyone to watch her at all times this one was different. She didn’t seem to realize how beautiful she was and that made her even more desirable.

The table of construction workers had watched her walk in but each one of them knew approaching her would be like trying to take the Bar Exam. It wouldn’t just be a failure, it would be a monumental example of humiliation that would be felt for generations to come.

“Can I get you anything else, Mr. Hewitt?” I looked at Beth, the round-faced waitress who was bending down low to speak quietly and give me a glimpse at her budding cleavage. She was sweet but I could see traces of Molly in her eyes. Obviously, she had read the tabloids that told of Joshua Hewitt falling for a poor waitress and their brief whirlwind romance.

It was sad how a woman would settle for a brush of fame and fortune on the tail end of someone else instead o

f going out there and getting it for themselves. Beth wanted it badly. But she’d have to find some other sucker. Waitresses were off my to-do list.

“No, thanks, Beth. But do me a favor. Send a drink to the lady at the bar. Keep the change.” I dropped a twenty on Beth’s drink tray and focused my eyes back on the woman at the bar. I didn’t want to see the jealousy in her eyes. It was annoying and would have made me mad.

“Sure thing.” She chirped as if my interest in someone else didn’t bother her. It did. And I was glad it did.

I watched as the bartender took the money, got the change, gave it back to Beth who promptly stuffed it in her pocket, then turned and poured another Bud Light in a glass, placing it in front of the lady.

She shook her head trying to explain she didn’t want another round thinking to herself she didn’t have the money.

“Nope,” the bartender said. “It’s from the gentleman at the booth”

But then something happened I didn’t expect. She still shook her head no. What? Who turned down a gift from the Universe? The bartender looked at me and shrugged his broad shoulders.

This was interesting.

I stood up from my table and walked over to the woman I had sent the drink to. Her eyes looked a little red.

“Look, before you say anything, thanks for the beer but I’m just not interested.” She said before I could even say hello. She barely looked at me. I assumed because she was embarrassed. The Universe was throwing me a curveball and I was liking it.

“Well, that’s okay.” I said quietly. I didn’t want to scare this one away. “I just thought it looked like you had a rough day and could use a kind gesture.”

That got her attention. Finally, she looked at me. I smiled and stuck out my hand.

“Joshua Hewitt.”

She was a little hesitant at first. I knew what she was thinking. She was thinking she did need a kind gesture. Yes, he was being a gentleman. Okay, I’ll shake his hand.

“Natasha Morgan.” She said. I held her hand in both of mine. It was small and soft cocooned in my grasp and yet there was a strength there. She didn’t try to pull her hand away. In fact, I had the feeling this was the first bit of human contact she had in a long time.

“Miss Morgan, I couldn’t help but notice you bringing your office supplies with you. Bad day?” I watched her swallow hard. Her throat bounced and she was obviously biting her tongue so as not to break down and cry in public.

“Yeah, you could say that. Call me Natasha.”

“Natasha, do you mind if I sit?”

She shook her head and scooted herself over in cute way as if making room on her stool…. somehow made room for me, too.

“If it’s any consolation I have been laid off, too.”

She smiled a little.

“You ever been fired?” she asked, as if she half expected me to recoil in horror at the very idea.

“Yup. In fact, my own brother fired me.”

That cracked her shell just a little. Her eyes were wide and she showed a sympathy for me I had never seen from anyone before. Taking her glass of beer and a small sip she shook her head in disbelief.

“Your own brother? What did you do?” She asked in a hushed voice. “Steal his woman?”