Read Online Rock Me Gently by HK Carlton - Free Book Online

all. And yes, I thought you’d be here before you ask. That’s not true actually, I hoped that maybe you’d come here before you headed home.”
    “Well, that was a mouthful of an explanation. I didn’t mean to accuse you of anything.” 
    Raising his gaze to the ceiling as if searching for divine help, he chewed quickly on the gum he had in his well-shaped mouth. “Wow, that came off cool, didn’t it?” He seemed a little thrown and she liked it.
    “All right, Mr Westlake, let me rephrase. I’m not surprised to see you here, but I am glad to see you.”
    Now distracted, she was suddenly fascinated by his lips. God, he was an amazing-looking man.
    “Really.”
    “Yes, I think I need to apologize for my behavior last evening.”
    “No need. I think maybe I came on a little too strong after telling you that you could set the pace and the rules.”
    Unsure of what to say, she bit her lip. She didn’t want to have to define anything. “I just wanted to have coffee, Mr Westlake,” she ended up saying softly.
    “Well then, we are in the perfect place.”
    “Can I help whoever’s next?” the counter attendant asked.
    Lainey was so flustered by his nearness that she couldn’t remember what she wanted.
    “Two large, double double,” Jason supplied holding up two fingers.
    While the clerk filled the order, Lainey took the time to openly examine Jason. He was dressed down today, compared to the usual designer suits. Worn, broken-in jeans clung to his shapely ass and powerful-looking thighs, while his formidable torso was topped with a tight dark T-shirt. It was so faded that she couldn’t decipher whether it had been black or dark blue when new. The customary carefully coiffed hair was even a mess, as if he’d been running his hand through it repeatedly. It stood up here and there, especially at the front. It made him look younger. Cute and easy-going, as if he might be easier to approach and relate to. Not that he’d been stiff or unfriendly in the suit but he was off the chart rugged-looking, especially with the thin layer of stubble dusting his cheeks.
    “You okay?” he asked as she stared at him.
    “Yes, I was just thinking you appear different.”
    He grinned. “Yeah, I don’t rock the suits on the weekends if I can help it. Not my uniform of choice, let me tell you.”
    “I like it,” she said before she had thought.
    “Why thank you.” He paid the clerk and picked up both coffees. “You want to have these here or…”
    She gave the café a once-over. “No, I’d rather go somewhere else, not so crowded.”
    He cocked his head for her to follow. Outside, he passed her a coffee cup and she fell in beside him.
    “How was your day?” he asked.
    “Better than yesterday by two hundred and thirty dollars.”
    “Well, that is better,” he said cautiously.
    “Yeah, better.” She opened her coffee cup and, remembering how he’d had such a difficult time opening his yesterday morning, she passed him her open cup and took his from him.
    “Why, thank you again. How inept am I?”
    “Well, you can’t be good at everything, can you?”
    “Why not?”
    She laughed. “How was your day?”
    “Long and boring. I got up this morning when my mother phoned to remind me that she and my dad were going to a friend’s tomorrow night so we won’t be having Sunday supper.”
    “Ahh, that’s sweet. You still do that?”
    “Yeah, ever since I moved back here, my mom insists that I be there.”
    “Since you moved back? Where were you before?”
    “All over. I was kind of a gypsy. Have you heard from Jill today?”
    Lainey didn’t miss the change of subject. He didn’t seem to want to discuss his past either. What did that mean? What was he trying to hide? Couldn’t be anything too bad if they’d hired him as a teacher. She let it go, for now.
    “Yes, the odd text here and there. The flavor of the week took her shopping at the mall. She bought some new tops. She