Just For You, Sir (Doms of Decadence 1)

Didn’t help that she’d cut her caffeine intake down drastically.

Oh, baby, the things I do for you. She patted her still flat belly with one hand, before slipping on her uniform. She didn’t regret a single thing she had to do to keep her and her baby safe, including hiding from her abusive husband. She hadn’t known she was pregnant when s

he’d run from Stephan, but she was extremely glad that she had left him. No way would her baby be raised by that bastard.

Pushing Stephan out of her mind, Jacey got to work.

Hours later, she stifled a yawn. There was another hour left of her shift and Derrick had yet to show up today. She forced down the wave of disappointment. It was for the best. Derrick had been at the diner every day that week, trying to convince her to go out on a date with him. So far, she had managed to turn him down. But she was weakening under all that sexy charm.

She couldn’t deny that she looked forward to seeing him each day. It was crazy, she would be better off chasing him away, not dancing around like a giggling teenager every time she thought of him.

It wasn’t like she was ever going to take him up on his offer. She could never date him; there were just too many obstacles in her path. Too many lies, like where she lived and who she really was. Oh, and then there was the fact that she had a husband she was on the run from and was ten weeks pregnant with his child.

Yeah, that’s so not something you can just blurt out over dessert.

She’d tried to give him back the fifty dollars he’d left the first day. He’d taken it, only the next time he’d left one hundred dollars instead. Finally, she’d had to tell him that she couldn’t be bought. From the look of shock on his face she’d realised that he hadn’t been thinking about her that way, which had eased her indignation. He’d stopped leaving such huge tips, although they were still generous.

No, it was best if he gave up, no matter how much she enjoyed seeing him.

She placed a heaping plate of sausages, biscuits and fried eggs in front of one of the regulars before heading over to clean the table of a group that had just left.

Tucking the small tip into her apron, she cleaned up the mess they’d left. Balancing some plates on her arm, Jacey turned, coming to a stop with a gasp. The plates teetered on her arm. Large hands grasped the plates, before they ended up on the floor, taking them from her arm.

“Derrick, you scared me!”

He gave her a long look. “Sorry, love. I did say your name, but you seemed to be deep in thought.”

“Oh, right. Let me, umm, put these plates in the kitchen and I’ll come back to take your order.”

“Actually, I don’t have time to eat. I just wanted to speak to you for a moment.” He placed the dirty plates on the table and gestured for her to sit. Jacey glanced around; all of her customers seemed to be happy for the moment.

She sat.

Derrick reached across and took her hand, running his thumb over her knuckles. “I have to go away for a few days. I leave early tomorrow morning and I’m not sure when I’ll be back.”

“Oh, well…ahh, have a good time.” There was that disappointment again. She was getting far too attached to him.

His lips twitched. “It’s business, love, not pleasure. Have dinner with me tonight, before I go.”

The temptation was so great. She knew she shouldn’t, but this might be the last time she saw him. She really should move on. Staying in one place probably wasn’t a wise idea.

“I’m not sure…”

“Please, I’m begging.” He widened his eyes and she giggled. Derrick wasn’t a man who begged well. She figured he’d never had much practice.

“I don’t have anything to wear.”

“We’ll go wherever you like. You choose.”

Okay, maybe she could do this. She enjoyed being with him and she was lonely. A night out could be what she needed.

“I’ll meet you at the place where Cece had her accident. There’s a great Thai place around the corner.” It was cheap and she’d eaten there a couple of times when she couldn’t get into the shelter for a meal.

“I’ll pick you up.” He frowned.

She shook her head. “I’ll meet you or it’s no deal.”

“Okay, love, you drive a hard bargain. Seven tonight it is.” He kissed her cheek, his lips lingering.