he headed to his bike. Red’s was his destination, and although the shop
wasn’t open for business yet, he knew Seth would be there working on a bike or
car. Red was always there. He still needed to talk to Kid, but obviously that
would have to wait. He didn’t want her mad at him and right now she was. Sophia
needed a little space, and he’d give it to her, because he needed Sophia more
than he needed to breathe.
****
Sophia
pushed the door open to the small café where she was supposed to meet Hunter.
He had wanted to pick her up, all gentlemanly, but she declined.
When she called Abe this morning she had lied
slightly. She did have a date, but she could have easily gone to his house and
made him breakfast. She was glad she had decided against going over there,
though. A little time apart would clear her head.
Her
love for Abe was strong, but she needed to sever these feelings if she had any
hope of moving on with her life. They were dangerous and would only lead to
heartache. He might have changed for the better, but how long would that last?
Her heart couldn’t handle going to his house and seeing the naked females,
smelling the sex in the room. She had done it for years and she just couldn’t
do it anymore, wouldn’t do it anymore. Of course she still wanted Abe in her
life, but the way she attached herself to him wasn’t healthy.
Hunter
sat at one of the bistro-style tables to her right. There was a chill from the
air conditioner and she shivered slightly. He spotted her and smiled broadly
while he stood. A smile curved her lips and she made her way over to him.
Because he was sweet, he held her chair out and pushed it in when she was
seated. The fact that he brushed his fingers along her shoulder wasn’t lost on
her, but she liked it. It was a nice, gentle touch that maybe could grow to
more when she was ready.
“I
hope I didn’t come off pushy or anxious when I called you last night.” He sat
in the seat across from her and smiled again.
When
she’d gotten off work last night, she was surprised to get a call as soon as
she stepped through the door. Despite the late hour she felt like a silly
schoolgirl when she saw that it was Hunter.
“No, I didn’t think you came off pushy at all.
In fact, I was excited you called.”
“Yeah?”
His grin was positively blinding, and she felt her own smile widen as well.
Hunter made her feel comfortable. She had always felt that way around him, but
now that she looked at him as more than just her boss, that comfort bloomed
inside of her.
The
waitress came by and eyed Hunter with clear attraction, but Sophia didn’t let
that bother her. For one thing, he was very good-looking and any woman could
see that. They ordered their meals, and after the waitress left Sophia couldn’t
help but laugh softly.
“What?”
There was laughter in his voice.
“Nothing.”
At his raised brow, she caved. “I just think it’s funny that the poor girl was
flustered. You really made an impression on her.” It was cute that the young
girl had to ask him twice what he wanted. His chuckle was rich and deep and she
let herself admit she liked it, a lot.
For
the next two hours they ate and talked about anything and everything. She found
out he’d purchased the bar when he was twenty-nine, just ten years prior. Yes,
he was seventeen years older than she was, but she didn’t feel like she was so
much younger. He had started out with nothing, but the bar had prospered. It
wasn’t the only drinking establishment in Northon, but it was the cleanest and
most popular by far.
“So,
I guess ‘no fraternizing with the employees’ doesn’t apply here?” She was only
teasing and was thankful he grinned at her comment.
“Well,
I’ll be honest, I have never asked one of my employees out. Ever. I do take
that policy to heart, but I won’t lie. I’ve always seen you, Sophia.” His voice had dropped an octave on the last part
and she felt a tingly sensation travel through
wasn’t open for business yet, he knew Seth would be there working on a bike or
car. Red was always there. He still needed to talk to Kid, but obviously that
would have to wait. He didn’t want her mad at him and right now she was. Sophia
needed a little space, and he’d give it to her, because he needed Sophia more
than he needed to breathe.
****
Sophia
pushed the door open to the small café where she was supposed to meet Hunter.
He had wanted to pick her up, all gentlemanly, but she declined.
When she called Abe this morning she had lied
slightly. She did have a date, but she could have easily gone to his house and
made him breakfast. She was glad she had decided against going over there,
though. A little time apart would clear her head.
Her
love for Abe was strong, but she needed to sever these feelings if she had any
hope of moving on with her life. They were dangerous and would only lead to
heartache. He might have changed for the better, but how long would that last?
Her heart couldn’t handle going to his house and seeing the naked females,
smelling the sex in the room. She had done it for years and she just couldn’t
do it anymore, wouldn’t do it anymore. Of course she still wanted Abe in her
life, but the way she attached herself to him wasn’t healthy.
Hunter
sat at one of the bistro-style tables to her right. There was a chill from the
air conditioner and she shivered slightly. He spotted her and smiled broadly
while he stood. A smile curved her lips and she made her way over to him.
Because he was sweet, he held her chair out and pushed it in when she was
seated. The fact that he brushed his fingers along her shoulder wasn’t lost on
her, but she liked it. It was a nice, gentle touch that maybe could grow to
more when she was ready.
“I
hope I didn’t come off pushy or anxious when I called you last night.” He sat
in the seat across from her and smiled again.
When
she’d gotten off work last night, she was surprised to get a call as soon as
she stepped through the door. Despite the late hour she felt like a silly
schoolgirl when she saw that it was Hunter.
“No, I didn’t think you came off pushy at all.
In fact, I was excited you called.”
“Yeah?”
His grin was positively blinding, and she felt her own smile widen as well.
Hunter made her feel comfortable. She had always felt that way around him, but
now that she looked at him as more than just her boss, that comfort bloomed
inside of her.
The
waitress came by and eyed Hunter with clear attraction, but Sophia didn’t let
that bother her. For one thing, he was very good-looking and any woman could
see that. They ordered their meals, and after the waitress left Sophia couldn’t
help but laugh softly.
“What?”
There was laughter in his voice.
“Nothing.”
At his raised brow, she caved. “I just think it’s funny that the poor girl was
flustered. You really made an impression on her.” It was cute that the young
girl had to ask him twice what he wanted. His chuckle was rich and deep and she
let herself admit she liked it, a lot.
For
the next two hours they ate and talked about anything and everything. She found
out he’d purchased the bar when he was twenty-nine, just ten years prior. Yes,
he was seventeen years older than she was, but she didn’t feel like she was so
much younger. He had started out with nothing, but the bar had prospered. It
wasn’t the only drinking establishment in Northon, but it was the cleanest and
most popular by far.
“So,
I guess ‘no fraternizing with the employees’ doesn’t apply here?” She was only
teasing and was thankful he grinned at her comment.
“Well,
I’ll be honest, I have never asked one of my employees out. Ever. I do take
that policy to heart, but I won’t lie. I’ve always seen you, Sophia.” His voice had dropped an octave on the last part
and she felt a tingly sensation travel through
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