Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 65582 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 328(@200wpm)___ 262(@250wpm)___ 219(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65582 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 328(@200wpm)___ 262(@250wpm)___ 219(@300wpm)
“She’s an ex.”
“Girlfriend, fiancée, or wife?”
I hear the uptick in her tone, a tell tale sign. “Is that jealousy I hear, Ms. Ryan?”
She spins away from me, I’m sure rolling her eyes. “Not at all. You’re allowed to have as many exes as you want.” Looking back over her shoulder, she summons, and we start walking. “I’m sure there’s a whole slew of women pining over the one who got away when it comes to you.”
My face is too cold for big gestures. I shove my hands in my pockets, and laugh. “It’s freezing.”
“You realize you’re not going to throw me off track that easily, right?” She bumps into me. “You always ask about me, but I want to know about you.”
“How about coffee first?”
“Definitely coffee first.”
We walk into a Starbucks and stand in line with the other freezing patrons looking for a quick warm up. “We met at college and continued dating after for a year.” Dusting my hands together, I add, “That’s about it.” Trying to sidetrack her again, I ask, “Pastry?”
“Yes. Cranberry Bliss. It’s my favorite and is only here for a limited time during winter.” Without missing a beat, she says, “Now back up and let’s go over how you ever dated someone so uppity.”
Calling me on my shit. Check. I’ve got to hand it to her, she’s good. Very good. “I wasn’t always the laid-back handsome and extremely suave happy go lucky bartender you see before you. Oh wait, I’ve always been handsome and suave.”
“And modest. I think that’s what drew me to you.”
If I weren’t falling in love already, I’d be a goner for sure. “Yes, it’s my ‘modesty’ that brings the bees to the honey.”
“Ew, don’t use animals or insects in reference to your penis.”
I bump into her this time, and whisper, “Say it again.”
“What? Penis?”
A little louder, I continue teasing, “Yes, Virginia, just like that.”
She may be embarrassed, but her green eyes sparkle in the pastry counter lights. “Hardy,” she scolds.
I can tell she likes it though, her smile becoming harder to restrain. “Yes, Virginia, you can touch my penis when we get home.”
Frantically looking around to make sure no one heard me, she grabs me by the coat and squeezes the fabric. “Good lord, Hardy. What is wrong with you?”
“Yes, you’re so bad it’s good when you use the lord’s name in vain.”
“You are so going to hell.” Not sure if I’m going to hell for real or if she’s teasing, but either way, I like her feisty.
I slap her ass, the coat breaking the blow. “How about you take my name in vain instead? Will that get me into heaven?”
Loosening her grip, she lifts up on her toes, and whispers, “If I’m taking your name in vain, I promise you, you’re already in heaven.”
“Damn straight I am.” I’ll have to wait until I see the pearly gates. We have another lesson to learn before we get to the heaven that’s awaiting me. I wrap my arm around her waist before she can escape and kiss her.
From the line, we hear the groaning, “Move up and get your coffee or get a room.”
Virginia tucks her head against my chest, her emotions worn in the shade her cheeks turn. I lean back and tell the guy moaning behind me, “I’m working on both.”She shakes her head, but at least she’s still smiling. “Can we end the torture?”
“For you, anything.” I kiss the top of her head right before she steps up and we order.
The small leather couch in the window by the Christmas tree is open and she beelines for it. We settle down, facing each other. She takes a sip of coffee, then asks, “What made you text me today?”
“I missed you.” With my leg anchored on the cushion, I’m not even sure if she knows she’s doing it, but her hand finds its way over, her fingertips rubbing back and forth. Dirty thoughts of those fingers rubbing something else come to mind. Grabbing her hand, I rest mine on hers. It feels so snug, though damn cold. “Geez, you’re like an icicle.”
That breaks any mushiness that was ballooning between us and we laugh. Pulling her hand back, she says, “Yeah, sorry about that. I need to buy a pair of gloves. I lost mine on the subway a week ago.”
I take her hands back from her lap and placing them between mine, I gently rub, creating just enough friction to warm her up. And you’re welcome. I set myself up with that usage of friction, but didn’t go there like I could have. Holding my crude comments might be another side effect of the chemical imbalance Virginia causes in me. Though she might consider it a positive side effect, the guys would call me pussy-whipped. I wouldn’t consider that such a negative though either.