“Hey, Keith. Sorry for the wait. What can I get you today?” the perky barista asked, wrenching Keith’s gaze from Chuck’s retreating form.
After ordering two vats of coffee and a host of pastries, he stepped aside to wait for the barista to call his name. He tried to keep his gaze from drifting back Michaela’s way but failed after about ten seconds.
She was by far the most appealing person in the entire café.
“Keith!” the barista called after a few moments.
A quick and final glance at Mickie revealed she was so in the zone, she hadn’t so much as reacted to the shouting of his name in the relatively quiet café.
“Thanks,” he said to the barista before shoving a few singles in the tip jar. Then he scooped up his purchases and started for the door to head straight outside to his waiting truck.
His feet had other ideas, though. Before he made it to the door, he found himself standing next to the table occupied by the woman he’d eaten out four days ago and hadn’t seen since. Hadn’t seen her, but he’d sure as hell thought about her. She’d entered his mind at least once an hour since that night.
“Hey,” he said in a stunning display of communicative skills.
Mickie jolted then looked up from her laptop. Immediately her face broke out into a wide smile. “Keith, hi! Sorry, I was totally focused. Hope you weren’t standing there long.”
“Nope. Not at all.”
As though she just recalled what they’d done the last time they were together, her cheeks turned pink.
God, he loved making her face flush.
“Um, want to sit?”
No. He definitely should not sit. He should say goodbye and continue on to work.
“Sure, I have a few minutes.” Since when did he not have control over his tongue?
“Great.” She motioned to the empty seat across from her.
Since a brown-haired beauty popped up in his town and turned everything upside down.
He slid into the chair as she shut her laptop, making it easier to see each other. “What are you doing out so early?” he asked as he set the coffees and bag of pastries on the table between them as though they’d serve as some kind of barrier.
Rolling her eyes, Mickie sighed. “Ugh, construction on my kitchen is fully underway and very loud. I’ve been trying to stay away as much as possible the past two days.”
“Oh, that’s right. Jag mentioned things were moving along nicely.”
She beamed. “Yes, they finished demo yesterday, and I think he’s called in a few favors to have cabinets and countertops delivered quicker than usual. They’ll be in sometime next week as will the appliances. This whole process will be completed way earlier than I expected.”
“That’s great.” Jagger did quality work. Her kitchen would be a masterpiece once the reno finished. He sipped his coffee. God, that was good stuff, though not nearly as good as what he’d had the other night in the cornfield.
Silence fell between them, thick with unspoken words and the usual desire.
Christ, stopping by to chat had been a mistake. What the hell was he supposed to say to her now?
He wanted more. More of what they’d done in his lobby. More of what they’d done at the corn maze. More of her screams, more of her sighs, more of her hands and mouth.
But he didn’t want to get tangled up in a woman. Especially not one who seemed to have oodles of money, more class than an entire school, and was a recovering drug addict. As fun as Mickie was, she wasn’t for him in the long term. Even fucking Chuck saw the writing on the wall.
So why the hell was he so drawn to her when she couldn’t be more wrong for him?
COULD THIS GET any more awkward?
Mickie cleared her throat.
Say something.
Whether the plea was to herself or a mental one to Keith, she wasn’t sure.
A few more agonizing seconds passed where they each sipped their coffee to keep their hands and mouths busy.
She’d been wrapping up a text check-in with her therapist when he’d popped up next to her table. Maybe she should get her counselor back and ask for some advice on how to talk to a man she wanted.
As though she were a teenager.
Ugh.
How was it possible for a man to be so attractive in a pair of worn jeans and a charcoal hoodie? Of course, the dark beard, deep blue eyes, and peek-a-boo glimpses of tattoos at his neckline didn’t hurt.
And those full lips, those long skilled fingers…
Okay, clearly, she wanted more of the man. The two times they’d been together had only stoked the flame of desire she’d experienced the moment she laid eyes on him on that dark road weeks ago.
But they hadn’t spoken in days, and he was one of the hardest people to read. His face never gave away his thoughts, and his mouth stayed firmly shut most of the time.