Darcy had told me that Angus liked to work at Black Medicine coffeehouse in Old Town. A coffeehouse was certainly more about conversation than flirtation (for the most part), so I decided it was my next step.
I wasn’t a stranger to Black Medicine. With its carved wooden furniture, delicious coffee, and quirky ambience, it was my kind of place. Most of the time I was too busy these days to do anything but drop by for a takeaway cup of coffee, but for however long it took me to get Angus’s attention, the coffeehouse would become like a second home to me.
I got there early enough to grab a table near the back of the room where I could face forward and see people entering. Two hours, two green teas, and one panini later I was still sitting watching the door. I had a book with me but I was afraid to really crack it open and get lost in it in case I missed Angus coming in for a flyby coffee. So instead I pretended to read the book, all the while staring straight over the top of the pages. If anyone were paying attention to me they’d think I was a crackpot.
For those two hours I tried to keep my focus solely on Angus, but just like it had for the last forty-eight hours plus, my mind wandered to Craig. I honestly couldn’t believe the intensity of the chemistry between us. It was off the charts! But I had to wonder . . . Craig was this incredibly sexual man. Flirtation and heat just oozed out of him. So perhaps the kind of kiss we shared was merely due to his inflated sexuality and it actually had nothing to do with a real connection between us. In that scenario, I was going to be the one who got hurt—chemistry like that and the fact that I liked being around Craig meant lust would develop into something more for me. I wasn’t the kind of girl who could have sex without letting my emotions get tangled up in it all, and as much as Craig insisted this wasn’t just about sex for him, I wasn’t sure I fully trusted that as truth.
And then of course there was the whole Angus plot. I couldn’t get involved in a messy situation with Craig or anyone just now because I couldn’t split my focus. Maybe . . . well maybe if it was with someone who I trusted wouldn’t hurt me, then yes, I could split my focus, I could make it work . . .
But Craig wasn’t that guy.
I groaned. I had to stop thinking about him.
The door to Black Medicine swung open and in stepped a tall, good-looking dark-haired man.
See! You’re thinking about Craig so much, now you’re actually hallucinating about him!
“Oh shit,” I muttered, thrusting my book right up so it hid my face. It was Craig.
Of all the coffeehouses in all the towns in all the world, he walks into mine at this very moment!
Sick joke, Life, sick joke!
I ducked my head, holding my breath, praying he was in for a coffee to go.
Two minutes later a familiar voice sounded above my head.
FUCK.
I lifted my gaze and lowered my book at the same time.
Craig stood by my table, smirking down at me. There was a hard edge in his eyes though that told me he was still mad about our last encounter. Except if anyone should be mad it was me.
“Seriously?” I moaned and slumped back in my chair.
“Nice to see you too.” He slid into the empty chair at my table.
“What are you doing?”
“Joining you.”
“No, you’re not. You’re not bloody well ruining this thing with Angus again. I’d really like it to be over with as quickly as possible but your interference keeps delaying it.”
Craig raised an eyebrow. “You’re meeting Angus here?”
I sighed. “No. But apparently he comes here quite a lot. I’m just waiting . . .”
“To ambush him with your feminine wiles again.”
I heard the bite in his tone and glowered at him. “No. Not that it’s any of your business but I’m rethinking that strategy.”
“Too late. The sleazy bastard wants to fuck you, Rain.” Craig leaned forward, the hard edge in his voice giving away to concern. “It’s dangerous to play this game with him. I think you’d better overhaul your entire strategy.”
His assertion caused a flare of panic within me because it echoed my own deeply buried concerns.
“All that matters is doing this for Darcy.”
“And keeping yourself safe. After meeting this guy . . . Rain, he’s a creep through and through. Who knows what he’s capable of.”