Chapter 8
EIGHT
Dane
My alarm blares loudly from my nightstand. It takes me a few seconds to recognize it and shut it off. This week has been brutal.
What day is it?
Shit! It’s already Friday.
I’m dressed to hit the gym first thing this morning.
I’m feeling off kilter—unfocused. Kendall pops into my thoughts more than I’d like to admit.
Multiple times a day…all week, especially after her last text a few days ago.
She seemed pissed about me butting into her business.
And I’m over here thinking I did a good thing.
I guess I see her point, but I’d still do it all over again.
She wouldn’t have the permits if I hadn’t stepped in.
I need to stay focused on this caseload. It needs to be my number one priority; instead, Kendall’s face and body show up in my thoughts on repeat. I try to shake them off, but she’s ingrained in my mind.
My bag is packed, and I’ll shower at the gym before heading to the office.
It will be another late night working on the case.
The gym isn’t busy at this time of day, which works well for me.
In and out, ready for the day. I’m on autopilot through my workout, and next thing I know, I’m pulling up and parking in front of the coffeehouse.
My head leans back on the headrest as I close my eyes and rub the center of my forehead.
This woman has a hold on me. I can’t stop thinking about her.
Her legs. Her sassy and sarcastic mouth.
Bringing my head back down and blowing out a sigh, I open my door and head inside the Saxville Coffee House.
I’m hitting it up at a good time; it doesn’t look too busy as I peek in through the storefront windows.
I walk in and all I can smell is coffee, bacon, and some sort of muffin.
After that workout, I could eat a few breakfast sandwiches.
Music pumps through the speakers, and all I can see are dark wood floors, tables, and chairs, with a few booths inviting me in further.
All the way to the counter, where they display dozens of muffin tops, cinnamon rolls, homemade Pop-Tarts, and what look like cake pops.
The menu above is all written on a blackboard in chalk.
There are so many choices, but I stick with my usual.
They do have the best pistachio-flavored coffee; it’s smooth, and I like it black with a couple of sugars.
I take a few seconds to glance around to see if I know anyone.
Okay, maybe a specific someone. She would stand out with her fiery red hair.
She isn’t here, and I swallow hard. My shoulders slump just slightly.
Her salon is right down the street. The odds of her being here seem high, but I’m out on a limb.
Who am I right now?
I order my coffee, and I almost ask for a mug to stay a little longer. Just in case Kendall walks through the door.
“Dane, right?” asks the barista. I come here often.
“Yes,” I answer, and she writes my name on the cup.
She’s cute enough. Maybe I can fuck someone else and get Kendall out of my head. My cock drives the ship, and he has no reaction—not even an inkling. Nothing.
I order a turkey bacon breakfast sandwich on a croissant to go, but decide to sit for a bit at a table that has a straight line of sight to the door. You never know; it might be my lucky day.
My phone chimes, and I look at the screen. It’s Logan, wondering when I’ll be in the office. I let him know I’ll be there within the hour. The office is only a twenty-minute ride from here, but I leave a buffer, just in case.
The coffeehouse bell dings, and I lift my head as the door opens. A flash of red hair spikes my heart rate, and my chest is heavy. Just as I lift myself up off the chair, I see a guy behind her holding the door. I sit back down and observe.
Wait, are they together?
She doesn’t seem like a woman who would cheat on her boyfriend, since I don’t see a ring on either of their fingers. But I guess Maggie didn’t seem like that kind of woman either—and she cheated.
Observing like a hawk as they interact, I watch from my corner.
She is sporting a bright pink skirt that falls a couple of inches above her knees, paired with a white button-down top.
My eyes roam down her long, strong legs to those studded heels.
Her red hair is flowing around her. It reminds me of that night when her hair spilled all over my pillows.
The mere thought of her like that sends a jolt straight to my dick, and the damn thing twitches, making me have to adjust myself.
Guess he isn’t dormant. He just didn’t want the barista, but Kendall? He’s all in.
Tracking her through to the counter, I listen to what she orders and file it for future reference.
Medium iced mocha with almond milk. I’m so lost watching her that the barista has to say my name louder the second time.
Oh shit! It still isn’t busy here, and Kendall turns around just as I stand up and walk over to the counter.
Our eyes meet, and she smiles, looking happy to see me even after her stern text the other day.
“Dane, what are you doing here?”
To see you, I want to say. The coffeehouse is a couple of blocks away from her salon. I’m here on purpose. And she knows it.
“Just grabbing the best pistachio coffee in town.”
“You live in town?”
“I do,” I say, nodding.
Her eyes widen and flicker with surprise. She steps forward but then hesitates for a split second before she wraps her arms around me. “Thank you so much for what you did with the building inspector. I have everything we need to host our opening celebrations in a few weeks.”
She’s stiff and a little awkward against me, but once I hug her back, she melts into my embrace.
Feeling her body against mine, the smell of her watermelon hair, and she ever so slightly rubs the back of my neck with her thumb.
It sends shivers down my spine. An unfamiliar sensation, but this woman has an effect on me like no other.
As she loosens her hold, I tighten my arms briefly and then let her go slowly. I stare back into her eyes. “You’re very welcome, and you deserve to open without that douchebag, Roland, holding you up.” Then I remember we aren’t here alone. “Who’s your friend?” I can’t help myself; I need to know.
She turns to the guy standing next to her and says, “This is Blake, my contractor.”
I offer my hand. “Attorney Dane Walsh.”
“Nice to meet you…Dane.”
We both squeeze a little tighter than we normally would. I wonder what his deal is. Wonder if anything is going on between the two of them.
And why would that matter?
Because you have it bad for this woman, that’s why it matters. Shaking that thought away. “You too.”
He glances over at Kendall and back at me. “So you’re her fairy godmother. Not sure what you said to Roland, but it worked. I’ve worked with him before, but that rapport went nowhere with this job.”
“I’ve had a few run-ins with him. He needed a reminder of how to treat a lady and how this town works.”
Kendall takes a slight step between us that doesn’t go unnoticed. “I owe you, Dane. And maybe you can swing by the grand opening.”
“You don’t owe me. I was helping a fellow business owner, and I’d love to be there. When is it?”
“Four weeks from tomorrow,” she says with a smile on her face and her eyes twinkling back at me.
“I look forward to it.”
Interrupted by the barista calling her name, I stand there as they collect their drinks and to-go bags. They must not be staying, which makes me smirk. To hide my excitement, I take a sip of my coffee.
“Dane, nice to see you here. Enjoy your coffee. We need to head back to the salon and work on a few design elements for the spa,” she says with a soft smile.
“You too. I’ll see you at the grand opening then.” Taking her hand in mine, a warmth spreads through my body. Her touch has this effect on me. Not wanting to release her, I rub my thumb over the top of her hand. Not making it obvious because this Blake dude is watching us intensely.
Finally releasing her hand, I direct them to the door.
“Have a great day.” As I wave to them, getting into my Ferrari, the look on Blake’s face makes me laugh. Yup, man, I’ve got this on lock.
“You too.” They say in unison as she walks to her car, which of course is parked in front of me.
After running into her, I decide to text her.
Dane:
Not gonna lie…that black-on-black Maserati suits you and your fiery red hair. Bold. A little intimidating. Definitely turns heads.
Kendall:
Corporate life was good for one thing…my car. And you’re too funny. I was just thinking that your Ferrari screams, “Look at me,” and somehow, it works.
Dane:
So you’re saying we’re a dangerously sexy…power couple
Kendall:
That…or we both have excellent taste and zero patience for the ordinary.
Dane:
Yeah, both. Makes me wonder what else we have in common.
Kendall:
Besides mutual caffeine dependency and top-tier sarcasm? Not sure.
Dane:
Let’s find out. Dinner?
I see the three dots indicating she is typing, but then they’re gone. It happens again and then is gone once again. I start the engine and decide to drive to the office. Maybe, just maybe, she’ll change her mind.