Read Online VAIN - Part Three (The VAIN Series Book 3) by Deborah Bladon - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Deborah Bladon
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about to ask. He knows I'm going to push for something he isn't comfortable with. "What's that?"
"They're looking for a photographer to lead one session with some of the children." I stop to look at his face but his gaze is cast down. He's grazing his hand along his thigh. The motion is unreadable.
"They wouldn't want me, Alexa."
"Why not?" I push back. "I've already asked if you could do it."
"You what?" He bolts to his feet in one swift movement. "You did that without asking me first?"
The veiled anger in his voice is tempered. I've never seen him pushed to the limits of rage. I've only seen small glimpses of what brews beneath the surface.
"I was just inquiring," I say softly. "I know that some schools don't want to associate with a photographer who takes nude photos. They are fine with it."
"You had no right doing that."
It bites. It may be true but it bites. "I did it because these children don't have anything and the idea of working with a photographer like you would be a gift to them."
"I'm not doing it." He brushes against the coffee table, causing it to move slightly. "Don’t ever volunteer me for anything again without asking me."
"I won’t." I stand now too. "I'm going home. I have a very long day tomorrow." I want to push back and insult him for not taking the kids into consideration. I want to tell him to get over himself already and accept that he's scarred. I want to tell him to let it go but I can't. All I can do is give in to the desire to get into bed and fall asleep.
"You're working at the school again tomorrow?" He's not asking out of curiosity. The question is meant to fill the empty gap of silence between us.
"There and the restaurant." I nudge him with my elbow, wanting him to move out of my way.
"When will you come over again?"
"I've busy for the next few days," I lie. I need time to decompress and think about what I'm doing. Can I really be satisfied being in a relationship with him? I'm in love with him but his life is so different than mine. I can't keep ignoring that. I won't keep ignoring it.
"Text me when you can come back." He brushes his lips against my forehead. "I'll be waiting."
I touch his cheek softly, rest my face against his strong chest for a moment before I head out the door.
Chapter 16
"You're serious?" He pulls his lips together in a grimace. "You seriously don't remember me?"
Who in their right mind would have imagined that I'd get hit on so much in an upscale restaurant in New York City? I was getting more action here than I had the entire time I worked at Star Bistro in Boston. The café had been milling with college aged men and I was lucky if I ever got a second look there. Here, I can't even deliver an entrée of grilled lamb to the table five feet away because this guy won't get the hell out of my way.
"Look at my face again." He touches his strong jaw. "You've got to remember. It's Alexa, right?"
The fact that he knows my name irks me. He's like a slightly taller version of Alec. This one has black hair, striking blue eyes and a drop dead gorgeous face. "I don't."
"We met years ago in Boston." He taps his finger along his bottom lip. "You look exactly the same now as you did then."
I nod. My eyes flit past him to where the couple who ordered the lamb is sitting in the corner. They haven't glanced at me but I need to bring their food to the table before it gets cold. "I'm really busy, sir."
"Sir?" The word grumbles out from between his full lips. "You weren't calling me that back then."
This game of whatever the fuck this guy is playing is annoying. I just want him to move over so I can get back to work. "I don't know who you are. I'm sorry. If we met, I apologize for that, but I'm juggling a full table load tonight."
"My name is Nathan."
"Nathan?" I scan his face. "I don't know a Nathan."
"You've never met a man named Nathan?" There's no denying that he's unimpressed with that answer.
"Did you come into Star Bistro when I worked there?"
"They're looking for a photographer to lead one session with some of the children." I stop to look at his face but his gaze is cast down. He's grazing his hand along his thigh. The motion is unreadable.
"They wouldn't want me, Alexa."
"Why not?" I push back. "I've already asked if you could do it."
"You what?" He bolts to his feet in one swift movement. "You did that without asking me first?"
The veiled anger in his voice is tempered. I've never seen him pushed to the limits of rage. I've only seen small glimpses of what brews beneath the surface.
"I was just inquiring," I say softly. "I know that some schools don't want to associate with a photographer who takes nude photos. They are fine with it."
"You had no right doing that."
It bites. It may be true but it bites. "I did it because these children don't have anything and the idea of working with a photographer like you would be a gift to them."
"I'm not doing it." He brushes against the coffee table, causing it to move slightly. "Don’t ever volunteer me for anything again without asking me."
"I won’t." I stand now too. "I'm going home. I have a very long day tomorrow." I want to push back and insult him for not taking the kids into consideration. I want to tell him to get over himself already and accept that he's scarred. I want to tell him to let it go but I can't. All I can do is give in to the desire to get into bed and fall asleep.
"You're working at the school again tomorrow?" He's not asking out of curiosity. The question is meant to fill the empty gap of silence between us.
"There and the restaurant." I nudge him with my elbow, wanting him to move out of my way.
"When will you come over again?"
"I've busy for the next few days," I lie. I need time to decompress and think about what I'm doing. Can I really be satisfied being in a relationship with him? I'm in love with him but his life is so different than mine. I can't keep ignoring that. I won't keep ignoring it.
"Text me when you can come back." He brushes his lips against my forehead. "I'll be waiting."
I touch his cheek softly, rest my face against his strong chest for a moment before I head out the door.
Chapter 16
"You're serious?" He pulls his lips together in a grimace. "You seriously don't remember me?"
Who in their right mind would have imagined that I'd get hit on so much in an upscale restaurant in New York City? I was getting more action here than I had the entire time I worked at Star Bistro in Boston. The café had been milling with college aged men and I was lucky if I ever got a second look there. Here, I can't even deliver an entrée of grilled lamb to the table five feet away because this guy won't get the hell out of my way.
"Look at my face again." He touches his strong jaw. "You've got to remember. It's Alexa, right?"
The fact that he knows my name irks me. He's like a slightly taller version of Alec. This one has black hair, striking blue eyes and a drop dead gorgeous face. "I don't."
"We met years ago in Boston." He taps his finger along his bottom lip. "You look exactly the same now as you did then."
I nod. My eyes flit past him to where the couple who ordered the lamb is sitting in the corner. They haven't glanced at me but I need to bring their food to the table before it gets cold. "I'm really busy, sir."
"Sir?" The word grumbles out from between his full lips. "You weren't calling me that back then."
This game of whatever the fuck this guy is playing is annoying. I just want him to move over so I can get back to work. "I don't know who you are. I'm sorry. If we met, I apologize for that, but I'm juggling a full table load tonight."
"My name is Nathan."
"Nathan?" I scan his face. "I don't know a Nathan."
"You've never met a man named Nathan?" There's no denying that he's unimpressed with that answer.
"Did you come into Star Bistro when I worked there?"
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