Chapter 22
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
MAYA
A phone rang. I stretched and realised there was something heavy hanging over my waist. Not only that, but I was naked and achy, in a good way, between my legs. Then the night before strolled back into my mind, and I smiled.
Texas’s heat disappeared from my back for a moment, and I heard him slap his hand to the bedside table. “Yeah?” he answered. Last night, he’d gotten up to lock the house down, turn off the lights, and grabbed my bag and his phone to bring them into the bedroom with a couple of bottles of water.
Texas sat. “Shit, what time is it?... All right, tell her I’ll be there in half an hour…. Mon, I said half an hour…. If she’s not happy, we can reschedule. Thanks.” He hung up and crashed back down beside me. His arm curled under me, and he pulled me over him until I was lying on top of his deliciously naked body.
He grinned up at me. “Mornin’, babe.”
My stomach fluttered. God, he was good-looking. “Morning.” I dipped down and kissed him. It was only supposed to be a quick kiss, but it led to more. I pushed against his chest. “Wait, who was that on the phone?”
“Seems we slept later than I thought we would.” That was what he got for not setting an alarm. When I’d mentioned he should, he told me his body clock always woke him up on time.
“That was your fault for waking me in the middle of the night.”
His grin turned smug. “You didn’t complain when I slid inside you.”
“Well… no.” I smacked his chest. “Stop distracting me. Are you supposed to be at work?”
“If I say yes, what are you gonna do?”
I pushed at him to let me go, which caused me to slide down his body a little, only stopping when his morning wood nestled between my legs. I gasped, and he smirked. Licking my lips, I shook my head and cleared my throat. “Texas, you have someone waiting on you. Please let go.”
He rocked up against me. “That’s what I don’t want to do.”
“Texas,” I managed to snap. I really didn’t want him to lose a client because of us being up too late. “This is your livelihood; you don’t want to upset a customer.”
“I do if I have to let you go and then we won’t get to shower or have breakfast together like I planned in my head last night.”
I stopped pushing against him and relaxed down over him, resting my hands on his chest to lay my chin on them. Sighing, I arched up when an idea hit me. “How about you go shower and get to work. I’ll borrow your car to run home, so I can shower and get a change of clothes, then I’ll come back with coffee and breakfast for you at work?”
“And miss the chance to shower together?”
Leaning in, I kissed him and then said, “There’ll be many other chances to shower together.”
“Like tonight?”
Laughing, I shook my head and then shrugged. “I’ll have to see. Come on, you can’t keep your work waiting for much longer.”
He groaned and kissed me as he rolled us to our sides. “I’ll see you soon?”
“Yes.”
“Keys are on the kitchen counter. Drive safe.”
I nodded. “I will. Go shower.”
His lips thinned. While he didn’t want to, he would because I asked, and deep down, he knew I was right. My heart skipped and belly went crazy again. He grumbled as he climbed out of bed and walked naked to his en suite. Of course, I watched him go. I wasn’t missing the show. When I heard the shower turn on, I forced myself to get out of the warm bed. Smiling as I dressed, I felt light. A shiver swept over me as I thought about what we’d done in that bed, only to cringe when I realised I would have to go home in last night’s clothes.
God, I hoped Dad was already at work.
Thankfully when I got home, no one was there. I took a shower and dressed in jeans, a simple off-the-shoulder black sweater, and ballet flats. Since Channa’s wasn’t too far from Texas’s, I decided to go there.
During the drive, I couldn’t stop thinking about Texas. Last night had been amazing. After my one previous experience, I’d never thought sex could be as good as what I’d heard some women talk about. Texas showed me it could be mind-blowing, and I honestly couldn’t wait for it to happen again. Even thinking about the next time had me all warm and tingly.
As I drove, my phone rang, and since I’d plugged it into Texas’s charger it was already connected to the car, I pushed the button to answer Easton’s call. We’d grown closer when I started working as a paramedic, but more so after what had happened.
“Hi, Easton.”
“Hey, Maya. What are you up to today?”
“Just heading to Channa’s bakery and grabbing some breakfast to take to Texas at his work.”
He groaned. “Boy, would I love some of Channa’s muffins right about now.” I heard laughter in the background. “Shut up, Parker. You know that’s not what I meant.”
Snorting, I grinned.
“Ignore the childishness in the background, Maya. Are you doing anything after that?”
“I have a free afternoon.” But tonight I wanted to spend with Texas. My heart gave off an extra beat in agreement.
“Parker, Lan, and I are coming to Ballarat. Lan’s going to see his cousin, and I was wondering if you… I mean, you don’t have to, but I thought it might be good to see some people at the depot.”
My pulse raced, and I quickly slowed to pull over down the street from Channa’s. I pressed a hand over my heart as my stomach clenched.
I needed to make a decision about work. Not only had I forced the thought of work away, but also the people there. They’d tried to reach out. They’d tried to be there for me. But I wasn’t handling life well at the time they made contact, and then when I could, they’d stopped trying, and I never returned their calls or texts. Guilt twisted inside me. The depot and the people reminded me too much of what I’d lost in one night. Not only John, but the way I’d felt safe.
Still, maybe I’d put off going there long enough. With Easton by my side, some of my stress would be eased more so than it would by arriving on my own.
“Maya? You don’t have to. I’m not pushing you to go there.”
“It’s okay. I-I want to, but… I still don’t know if I want to work there in the end.” Did that make me a chicken? If I quit, did it make me weak?
“Honey, you don’t have to choose. Not now. Not in a week. Only when you’re ready.”
He was right that I had pretty much indefinite leave, considering the attack happened during work time. Knowing work wasn’t forcing me to return helped me breathe easier.
“You’ll stick with me?”
“Like glue.”
“It’s not that I don’t like the people there,” I added quickly.
“But it can be overwhelming. I get it.”
“I’d like to go with you, Easton.”
“Okay, honey. Do you want me to pick you up from Texas’s work or will you be home?”
“His work, please.”
“You got it. I already know where it is. I’ll be there around three.”
“Thanks.”
“And, Maya, even if we arrive at the depot and you don’t want to go in—that’s all right too.”
“All right,” I whispered with a nod. We ended the call, and I stared out the window towards Channa’s bakery, thinking that this would be good for me. It wasn’t long ago when Devlin suggested a visit to work, saying it could help me make up my mind so I could make a decision about my future. At the time, I’d shot the thought down. Now, I clung to the small amount of strength to help me get through this and hopefully come out in the end with a plan.
Drawing in a deep breath, I ignored the rising anxiety by biting down on my bottom lip and pulled out to park closer to Channa’s.
The bell jingled as I entered. Channa glanced over from behind the counter and greeted me with a warm smile before she went back to serving her current customer. A lot of the tables were full, which didn’t surprise me because the food was delicious.
“Hey, Maya,” Denise called. She worked with Channa and was also a good friend of hers.
“Hi, Denise.”
“What can I get you?”
Before I could answer, we all heard someone yell, “I don’t care what you say! We’re doing it my way.”
“Stanley, I will kick you in the balls if you touch my cupcakes.” That was Susan, another employee like Stanley. Both of them were a little older, and you wouldn’t think it, but they liked each other a lot.
Channa stuck her head out the back. “Will you two keep it down?”
“No,” they both snapped back.
Channa sighed and walked our way. Her face brightened once more. “Maya, how did your date go?”
“Date?” Denise asked. “Oooh, do tell. Who was it with?”
Channa gave me a tight smile and mouthed, “Sorry.”
I waved her off. Thinking and even talking about Texas was a good distraction from what I had to do this afternoon.
“Denise, I’m not sure if you’ve met Texas before, but—”
“Have I met Texas, that hunk of tattooed man meat? Yes, I have. You went on a date with him?”
Laughing, I nodded. “Yes, and it went well.” I glanced at Channa and found her smiling softly. I asked, “I guess someone told Cody about it?”
“Yes. He was on the phone last night with Drake.”
That explained it. Drake had a big mouth.
“Now, did you pop in for a visit or do you need some things?” Channa asked.
“Actually, I’m taking brunch to Texas at his work.”
“That’s a good sign,” Denise said.
Channa nodded. “A very good sign. I’m happy for you. Hey, maybe we could do the double date thing again.”
“Wait, so you’ve already been on a date with Texas?” Denise asked.
I shook my head “No. It…. Well, Channa mentioned a band when we’d all been together and we all decided to go, but it wasn’t a date.”
“Ah,” Denise drew out. The bell jingled as some customers left and others entered. Denise walked over near the register to greet them.
“What are you going to take?” Channa asked.
I glanced along the counter. “I’m thinking a mixture of things. Some muffins, a couple of bacon-and-egg burgers, and cookies?”
“Sounds good. I’ll get it ready. Won’t be long.” She leaned in closer. “And sorry again for saying anything in front of Denise.”
I gave her a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry about it. Texas and I, well—we’re actually dating now.”
Her eyes widened, and she let out a squeal while jumping on the spot. “That’s the best news.”
“I think so too.”
“Aww, that look on your face says it all. You’re smitten.”
I was.
How could I not be?
It was Texas.
My body warmed as I thought of him.
Channa laughed. “Okay, all right, I’ll get your stuff together so you can get back to him.”
“Can you add in a couple of egg-and-bacon rolls for his co-workers? Oh, and four cappuccinos, please.”
She winked. “You got it.” When she disappeared to the back, I snuck over to the register, since Denise was done with her customer.
“Can you ring me up?” I told her what I was getting and then paid. I knew Channa wouldn’t charge me because I was her man’s sister, but I wanted to pay. She had workers to take care of. “Don’t tell Channa I paid.”
Denise shared a smile with me. “Your mum does the same thing.”
Laughing, I shrugged. “Doesn’t surprise me.”
By the time I got the items, it was nearing lunchtime, and as I thought, Channa had waved me off when I went to pay. I called out a “Thank-you” and went on my way.
I wasn’t sure why, but in that moment, I was more nervous about seeing Texas than the afternoon adventure. My pulse sped under my skin, and by the time I stopped out the front of his shop, parking on the opposite side of the road, I’d started to sweat a little.
Blowing out a breath, I flung the strap of my bag over my shoulder, grabbed the box, and hooked the plastic bag over my wrist before I kicked my door open and climbed out. I used my hip to shut the door and beeped the locks.
“Okay, you’ve got this. You’ve already kissed, seen each other naked, and know he’s into you,” I told myself as I made my way across the street.