Read Online Sacrifice Love: Saints Protection & Investigations by Maryann Jordan - Free Book Online
Authors: Maryann Jordan
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Aaron’s wife. Don’t forget tonight. Meet at 7pm at Stella’s .
Going out tonight is the last thing I want to do , she thought, but then realized that after a day of memories she needed to get out of the house. Texting back, see you then , she sighed heavily and began to get ready. Time to learn how to move ahead.
Chapter 6
S tella’s Restaurant and Bar was in the newly renovated downtown area of Charlestown. When Dani moved from her parents, she thought about moving into Charlestown, but with her new job northwest of Richland, she wanted to split the difference. Finding a small home in a modest neighborhood near work, she was about twenty minutes from work and about twenty minutes from Charlestown.
Catching a ride with another co-worker, they arrived on time, finding parking easily. Entering the restaurant, Dani immediately appreciated the warm interior. The wall sconces illuminated the reddish tones of the cedar plank paneling. The long bar to the right was of a deeper wood and polished to a high gloss. The crackle glass mirror behind the bar caught the light and refracted it creating a soft glow. She recognized Aaron and Melissa at the far end of the bar, standing with another man. Not bad looking…if I was in the market for another man.
Plastering a smile on her face, she walked over. Greeting Aaron and Melissa, the introductions followed. “Danielle, this is Simon, my cousin.”
They shook hands and she noticed his eyes lit up at their introduction. Moving to a table already filled with a few of Aaron and Melissa’s other friends she sat down, hoping the evening would go quickly. Ordering a sparkling water, she caught the strange expressions from her tablemates. “Sorry, I’ve had a…stressful day, and feel like the water will be easier on my stomach.” As the conversation flowed, she relaxed. A rather loud group was occupying the back area making hearing difficult. Leaning forward to catch what Melissa was saying, her gaze roved behind her. And caught sight of Chad…staring straight at her. Shifting back rapidly, she tried to still her racing heartbeat, irritated that even after so long the sight of him affected her.
Reminding herself why she was so angry with him, the reason now seemed ridiculous. If I can separate myself from Adam’s betrayals, how can I not do the same with Chad? Sliding her gaze back to him, she was assaulted with the realization of how handsome he still was. Broad and muscular, compared to the men at her table, she noted he appeared to fit right in with the others at his table.
Suddenly realizing Simon had been speaking to her, she blushed. “I’m sorry. I seem to be such poor company this evening.”
“No worries,” Simon said smoothly. “We’ll just have to make sure to go out again sometime when you are less stressed.”
Offering him a wan smile, she forced herself back into the conversation with her tablemates.
Chad had seen her walk into Stella’s. He would recognize those titian colored waves anywhere. Her dress was modest although did nothing to hide her figure. A figure he had dreamed about for almost two years. He watched her move to the bar, where it appeared she was meeting her date for the first time. Good, he’s not a boyfriend. He had kept up with her secretly. He knew when she landed the job with Marsden Energy Systems and Munitions. He knew it was a good job and she would do well there with her ATF background. He knew when she moved out of her parents’ house and into the rental outside of Charlestown. A drive-by assured him, while the neighborhood was modest, it was safe. Maybe I can’t have her, but I can sure as hell try to take care of her from a distance. He watched as she laughed with her friends and grimaced at the emotional kick in the gut. Fuck, who am I kidding? I want to be the one to make her laugh.
The Saints and their women were rowdy as they laughed, talked, and celebrated the upcoming marriage of Bart and Faith. Jack, Bethany, Cam,
Going out tonight is the last thing I want to do , she thought, but then realized that after a day of memories she needed to get out of the house. Texting back, see you then , she sighed heavily and began to get ready. Time to learn how to move ahead.
Chapter 6
S tella’s Restaurant and Bar was in the newly renovated downtown area of Charlestown. When Dani moved from her parents, she thought about moving into Charlestown, but with her new job northwest of Richland, she wanted to split the difference. Finding a small home in a modest neighborhood near work, she was about twenty minutes from work and about twenty minutes from Charlestown.
Catching a ride with another co-worker, they arrived on time, finding parking easily. Entering the restaurant, Dani immediately appreciated the warm interior. The wall sconces illuminated the reddish tones of the cedar plank paneling. The long bar to the right was of a deeper wood and polished to a high gloss. The crackle glass mirror behind the bar caught the light and refracted it creating a soft glow. She recognized Aaron and Melissa at the far end of the bar, standing with another man. Not bad looking…if I was in the market for another man.
Plastering a smile on her face, she walked over. Greeting Aaron and Melissa, the introductions followed. “Danielle, this is Simon, my cousin.”
They shook hands and she noticed his eyes lit up at their introduction. Moving to a table already filled with a few of Aaron and Melissa’s other friends she sat down, hoping the evening would go quickly. Ordering a sparkling water, she caught the strange expressions from her tablemates. “Sorry, I’ve had a…stressful day, and feel like the water will be easier on my stomach.” As the conversation flowed, she relaxed. A rather loud group was occupying the back area making hearing difficult. Leaning forward to catch what Melissa was saying, her gaze roved behind her. And caught sight of Chad…staring straight at her. Shifting back rapidly, she tried to still her racing heartbeat, irritated that even after so long the sight of him affected her.
Reminding herself why she was so angry with him, the reason now seemed ridiculous. If I can separate myself from Adam’s betrayals, how can I not do the same with Chad? Sliding her gaze back to him, she was assaulted with the realization of how handsome he still was. Broad and muscular, compared to the men at her table, she noted he appeared to fit right in with the others at his table.
Suddenly realizing Simon had been speaking to her, she blushed. “I’m sorry. I seem to be such poor company this evening.”
“No worries,” Simon said smoothly. “We’ll just have to make sure to go out again sometime when you are less stressed.”
Offering him a wan smile, she forced herself back into the conversation with her tablemates.
Chad had seen her walk into Stella’s. He would recognize those titian colored waves anywhere. Her dress was modest although did nothing to hide her figure. A figure he had dreamed about for almost two years. He watched her move to the bar, where it appeared she was meeting her date for the first time. Good, he’s not a boyfriend. He had kept up with her secretly. He knew when she landed the job with Marsden Energy Systems and Munitions. He knew it was a good job and she would do well there with her ATF background. He knew when she moved out of her parents’ house and into the rental outside of Charlestown. A drive-by assured him, while the neighborhood was modest, it was safe. Maybe I can’t have her, but I can sure as hell try to take care of her from a distance. He watched as she laughed with her friends and grimaced at the emotional kick in the gut. Fuck, who am I kidding? I want to be the one to make her laugh.
The Saints and their women were rowdy as they laughed, talked, and celebrated the upcoming marriage of Bart and Faith. Jack, Bethany, Cam,
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