8. Chapter 8
eight
DAISY
Monday morning, I’m at my office desk with my chin propped on my fist, staring sightlessly at the computer. My attention drifts off once again.
From behind, someone taps my shoulder. I jump, cover my heart with my hand, and spin around on the chair.
Sally smiles at me.
“You scared the life out of me,” I gasp.
“It’s not like I tiptoed up to you. You were miles away.
I bet I know what you were thinking about.
” She giggles. “It’s not the first time I’ve caught you staring off into space.
I don’t blame you. Having a stud muffin of a man feel you up in the middle of a crowded club would cause brain malfunction. ”
“Shhh.” I glance toward my father’s office. Thankfully, the door is closed. He’d want to perform an exorcism if he knew what I did. “Keep your voice down. I shouldn’t have told you. Now you can’t keep your big mouth shut about it.”
“Relax. No one heard me.” She sits on the edge of my desk.
“How did I let that happen?” For the past two days, I’ve been going over and over it in my mind. First, the tattoo. Now, the club. What did that man have over me to get me to do things that are so far from my personality?
Sally picks up a pen and twirls it between her fingers. “I know how. It’s because he’s hot. He’s a cross between Henry Cavill and someone who’s done twenty-five to life. A mega turn on.”
I roll my eyes. Wanting to drop the subject in case my father overhears us, I say, “What are you doing here?”
“On my lunch break. Thought we could get something to eat.” She drops the pen back on the desk.
Great idea. It will get her out of the office and away from my father. “Sounds good.” I pull my bag out from the bottom drawer. “Let me tell my dad I’m leaving.”
I tap on his office door and peek inside to find him at his desk reading something on the computer. “I’m going to get lunch with Sally. Is there anything you need before I go?”
He looks up over the rim of his glasses. “No, I’m good, sweety. Enjoy your lunch.”
We find somewhere to get sandwiches to go and take them to the park where we sit on a bench under a shady oak tree.
Around a mouthful of a pastrami and cheese sandwich, Sally mumbles, “When are we going back to the club? I loved it.”
“I’m not going back.”
“What? Why?”
“Because it’s not my scene. I’m not stopping you though.”
“Come on, you know I don’t want to go without you.”
I dab my mouth with a napkin. “We were together for five minutes before you took off and left me.”
Sally’s eyes widen. “I asked you to join me. You insisted I go dance with that guy. Besides, if I hadn’t left you alone, you wouldn’t have had so much fun.” I open my mouth to rebuke her, but she holds up a finger, stopping me. “Don’t pretend you didn’t.”
She’s not wrong. “It doesn’t mean I want to go back.”
Sally nudges my shoulder. “Kade might be there,” she says like she’s using him to entice me.
“And the reason why I need to stay away. He gets me doing things I don’t do.” I break off a piece of my sandwich and toss it to a waiting pigeon. “Can we forget about the club and go about our normal lives, please?”
She shakes her head. “Who wants normal after what you’ve experienced?
I’d give anything for excitement like that.
I saw the spark in your eye when you told me what happened.
You’re trying to hold on to the good pastor’s daughter reputation you’ve got going on, but deep inside there’s a hot, sexy vixen screaming to come out. And Kade is just the man to help you.”
And that’s why I need to stay away from him. Because I can’t let out the ‘hot, sexy vixen’. I tear off another piece of bread and throw it to the bird. At least someone is enjoying my lunch.
“Can’t you take someone else?”
“I don’t want to take anyone else. I want you to come with me.” She gives me a pleading expression.
I sigh heavily. “Fine. I’ll go one more time. That’s it. Don’t ask again.”
Sally squeals and throws her arms around me. My pigeon friend flies away in fright. “Thank you. Thank you. You’re not going to regret this.”
I hope I don’t regret it too. And with that decision made, a spark ignites in my belly. What if I see Kade again?
What if he makes good on his promise?