Page 15 of Gary
Clearing his throat, he took a hasty sip of his coffee and almost singed his tongue. Hoping she did not notice, he put the cup down and reached for his muffin.
“Is it safe here?” He asked abruptly, angry with himself and her for the strength of his emotions.
“Very. We have guards patrolling the premises from six until I leave, and this is a very quiet neighborhood. What do you do?”
“Pardon?”
“Your vocation. What field are you in?”
His mind spun as he wondered what he could say without telling an outright lie.
Corporate.” He settled on that and hoped she would leave it there.
“That’s very vague. Are you an accountant? Do you own your own business? What?”
He took another sip of coffee to gather his thoughts. “I work for a company and am in management. As I told you, I have just returned from living in Italy.”
She nodded. “Why did you come back?”
“My dad is ill.”
“Oh?” She looked at him and he saw the sympathetic look on her lovely face. “That’s…, I am so sorry to hear. It’s good that you returned.”
He was beginning to think so.
“Is it serious?”
He did not want to talk about his old man but could not very well say so. “Yes.”
He almost shot out of his seat when she laid a hand over his. The heat from her skin soaked through his skin and he felt his breath backing up inside his throat.
“You must be so devastated. I lost my dad, but I still have my mom.”
He wanted to drag her across the table and devour her mouth. For a few seconds he could not recall what the discussion was about.
“Gary?”
“Yes?” Dragging his eyes from her mouth, he concentrated fiercely on her eyes.
“Are you all right?”
“Yes, of course. It’s a touchy subject.” She still had her hand over his and he felt the heat spreading. Oh Christ, he wanted her so much, he could taste it. Just then the bell tinkled, and she looked up at the door, at the same time, pushing her chair back and standing up to greet the new customer.
He used the time to take several deep breaths as he fought the desire raging war inside his body. He could not stay. He was going to have to leave or end up disgracing himself. Finishing the coffee, he folded the rest of the cupcake into the napkin and brought the plate to her. By now, the place was filling up, giving him a chance to escape.
Chapter 4
He stayed away for two days. Forty-eight hours where he went through pure hell while he tried convincing himself that it was for the best. Besides, he needed to try and gather his composure and figure out what the hell was going on with him.
The intensity had boggled his mind. The touch of her hand on his had thrown him for a loop. He had had to force himself not to react to what he was feeling. It had been a good thing they had been invaded.
For the first time, he had not resented the interruption. It had saved him from making a fool of himself. She had just offered sympathy, that was all.
It was nothing to do with sex. He was not even certain she was attracted to him. This might be one-sided. She had not given him any indication that she was into him. She might be involved with someone, living with a man.
He knew nothing about her. Which was why he was avoiding going to the damn place. He needed a time out. To collect his thoughts.
But he was suffering. He would do anything just to see her, get a whiff of her delicate scent. Bask in her smile, feel the touch of her hand on his again.