Read Online Off Limits by Sawyer Bennett - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Sawyer Bennett
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Most of my interactions with Emily revolve around me wanting more conversation and then less conversation. I'm in the less right now.
"I'm sorry. It's nothing. In fact..." she pulls her phone out of her pocket and shuts it completely off. "...I should have done that before I even came to work. It won't happen again."
She looks tired, angry and actually a bit scared, all at once, and for the first time I can ever remember in my entire life, I want to take a woman in my arms to just comfort her.
And as I realize that this is something I want to do, I'm immediately doused in frigid mortification as if someone poured a bucket of cold water on me. I do not have time for, nor do I want to have to care for anyone. I care for me and me alone.
I turn my back on her and walk toward the door. "Well, get busy. Inventorying this will take you a few days to get through."
***
I'm sitting in my ratty recliner, enjoying a beer. I deserve it. Not only did I manage to banish Emily from my mind for the last three hours, but I completed a wall sculpture of the Marine Corps Globe & Anchor. Linc asked for it for his condo. He actually tried to commission me to do it but I told him I'd beat his ass if he pushed it. We finally agreed he'd pay for the materials and I would do the piece because, well, he's my brother.
"I'm finished."
I jump at those words, as I had actually forgotten Emily was even here. I like it that way but now she's back in the forefront of my mind. And how can she not be...standing there looking like sex and candy all wrapped into one amazing concoction.
But I'm not in the mood to engage in conversation so I simply say, "Okay. I'll see you on Monday then."
But she's not listening to me. She's walking up to my workbench to look at the Globe & Anchor. She runs her hands lightly across the finish. I've peppered the bronze piece with tiny ball peen dings that dimple the entire surface. I tried to imagine if someone like Lyla had walked in here and touched my art. I know without a doubt I would have yelled at her to keep her hands off. But the way Emily is stroking the cool metal has me mesmerized.
"This is beautiful. Did you make this for someone who is in the Marine Corps?"
I'm taken aback for a minute. How does little Miss Rich Girl know about the Marine Corps' insignia?
"I made it for my brother."
"Lincoln was in the Marine Corps?" She sounds confused, as she should be.
"No, I was."
She turns quickly and looks at me with awe. "Really? When?"
"I went in when I was eighteen. Got out two years ago at twenty-four."
I watch as she leans back against the workbench and crosses her arms. They lay right below her breasts, which plump up nicely and strain against her blouse. All sorts of lewd thoughts run through my head and I have to keep telling myself to knock it off. Nothing of that nature is going to happen between us.
Besides...Emily is a nice girl and I don’t do nice girls.
"Did you serve in Afghanistan?"
"Yes."
She waits for me to say more but she'll wait a long time. I don't talk about my time there...ever. And I can tell by the look on her face she knows not to push it.
"Well, thank you for serving our country. I wish I was brave enough to do something like that."
I'm floored again. She seems to always say something that enthralls me. She always says the opposite of what I think will come out of her completely kissable lips. And she doesn't do it in a calculated way to achieve a certain result. No, it comes out of her perfectly shaped mouth with natural sincerity.
I shrug my shoulders at her but secretly I'm pleased she appreciates the sacrifice it takes to serve. No one's opinion of my service, except for my father and brother, really mattered to me before.
Pointing at the piece I ask, "How did you know that was the Marine Corps Globe & Anchor?"
"Well, you're not the only former Marine I know. It just so happens I know a grumpy Marine veteran who was in the first Gulf War."
She has my interest piqued
"I'm sorry. It's nothing. In fact..." she pulls her phone out of her pocket and shuts it completely off. "...I should have done that before I even came to work. It won't happen again."
She looks tired, angry and actually a bit scared, all at once, and for the first time I can ever remember in my entire life, I want to take a woman in my arms to just comfort her.
And as I realize that this is something I want to do, I'm immediately doused in frigid mortification as if someone poured a bucket of cold water on me. I do not have time for, nor do I want to have to care for anyone. I care for me and me alone.
I turn my back on her and walk toward the door. "Well, get busy. Inventorying this will take you a few days to get through."
***
I'm sitting in my ratty recliner, enjoying a beer. I deserve it. Not only did I manage to banish Emily from my mind for the last three hours, but I completed a wall sculpture of the Marine Corps Globe & Anchor. Linc asked for it for his condo. He actually tried to commission me to do it but I told him I'd beat his ass if he pushed it. We finally agreed he'd pay for the materials and I would do the piece because, well, he's my brother.
"I'm finished."
I jump at those words, as I had actually forgotten Emily was even here. I like it that way but now she's back in the forefront of my mind. And how can she not be...standing there looking like sex and candy all wrapped into one amazing concoction.
But I'm not in the mood to engage in conversation so I simply say, "Okay. I'll see you on Monday then."
But she's not listening to me. She's walking up to my workbench to look at the Globe & Anchor. She runs her hands lightly across the finish. I've peppered the bronze piece with tiny ball peen dings that dimple the entire surface. I tried to imagine if someone like Lyla had walked in here and touched my art. I know without a doubt I would have yelled at her to keep her hands off. But the way Emily is stroking the cool metal has me mesmerized.
"This is beautiful. Did you make this for someone who is in the Marine Corps?"
I'm taken aback for a minute. How does little Miss Rich Girl know about the Marine Corps' insignia?
"I made it for my brother."
"Lincoln was in the Marine Corps?" She sounds confused, as she should be.
"No, I was."
She turns quickly and looks at me with awe. "Really? When?"
"I went in when I was eighteen. Got out two years ago at twenty-four."
I watch as she leans back against the workbench and crosses her arms. They lay right below her breasts, which plump up nicely and strain against her blouse. All sorts of lewd thoughts run through my head and I have to keep telling myself to knock it off. Nothing of that nature is going to happen between us.
Besides...Emily is a nice girl and I don’t do nice girls.
"Did you serve in Afghanistan?"
"Yes."
She waits for me to say more but she'll wait a long time. I don't talk about my time there...ever. And I can tell by the look on her face she knows not to push it.
"Well, thank you for serving our country. I wish I was brave enough to do something like that."
I'm floored again. She seems to always say something that enthralls me. She always says the opposite of what I think will come out of her completely kissable lips. And she doesn't do it in a calculated way to achieve a certain result. No, it comes out of her perfectly shaped mouth with natural sincerity.
I shrug my shoulders at her but secretly I'm pleased she appreciates the sacrifice it takes to serve. No one's opinion of my service, except for my father and brother, really mattered to me before.
Pointing at the piece I ask, "How did you know that was the Marine Corps Globe & Anchor?"
"Well, you're not the only former Marine I know. It just so happens I know a grumpy Marine veteran who was in the first Gulf War."
She has my interest piqued
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