claimed. And my panties weren’t wet because I peed myself.
With a rigid expression, Kane left, and I quashed my irrational guilt. I had nothing to feel bad about. On the contrary…
“I’m so happy to see you,” I said, pivoting to smile up at Darryl.
“Are you?”
Oh, my sweet baby Jeezus, he was jealous. I gave him a quick peck. “Very.”
Still he scowled. “I don’t like him coming around.”
“It’s not like I had a choice. He just showed up.” Was it wrong to be thrilled at his macho demands?
“I’ll deal with him.”
A frown pulled my brow. “What’s that mean? You’re not going to fight him, are you?”
“Worried about him?”
“More like I don’t want to see you get in trouble. I’m not interested in Kane.” I cupped Darryl’s face. “Why would I when I have you?”
The statement pleased him. He smiled. “Were you really coming to find me?”
I nodded. “I thought we could do lunch.”
“Wish I could, but I’m going to be busy today. I’ve got family stuff to deal with again.”
“Is everything okay?” He’d been handling a few emergencies of late. Made me wonder what kind of crisis kept cropping up and why he had to deal with it. After all, his parents and grandparents weren’t around. I’d not heard of any siblings. Who did that leave, and why were they so important to him?
“It will be soon. Until then, I might not be around too much.”
“Oh.” Yeah, that was a bit of a sad sound.
“That doesn’t mean you won’t see me.” He gave me a squeeze.
“I’m glad.” Then before I lost the courage, said, “What are you doing New Year’s?”
“Spending it with you, of course.”
The unexpected answer flustered me, and he took that opportunity to kiss me. Softly. A gentle sliding of his mouth over mine. His hands squeezed my ass.
The fire between my legs throbbed. Needed.
So I was more than disappointed when he pulled away. “Wish I had time to finish this, but I have to go.”
Being desperate, I almost asked him for two more minutes. I was pretty sure I could get what I needed that quick. However, I’d used up my bravery quotient with my half-assed New Year’s Eve demand.
With one last kiss, Darryl left. After a few minutes of staring into space, I put the sign in the window and went into the back. I didn’t need batteries, not with knowing fingers. I came quick. After washing my hands, I popped out to grab a salad from the new healthy-option bistro two shops down from me.
It almost felt disrespectful to Orville, who, in the past, had made me all kinds of special treats. However, I wasn’t ready to be around my friends right after an orgasm. I just wanted to eat my avocado chicken salad in peace and bask in my happiness.
The afternoon went quickly, with no visits from anyone I knew. At five-ish I got a text from Trish saying, We still on?
Hell yeah. Good food and girl gab? I’d gone almost twenty years without having a close friend. I wasn’t letting my bestie go for anything.
Despite it being busy, we met at Maddy’s Family Diner. Marjorie kept a booth reserved for us. She hustled up to it, slapping the menus on the table before turning to Trish. “I might not have time to join you.”
“Thanks for keeping us a spot,” Trish said to Marjorie as she dropped a kiss on her lips. They’d finally decided to stop hiding they were a couple. I could only hope no one was a jerk about it. I’d hex them if they said anything.
“The place is packed,” I remarked.
“Hasn’t stopped all day. I had to come in at noon instead of three to help out.”
“You working until what time?” Trish asked.
“Orville says we’re to close the kitchen at eight, everyone out by nine.”
Orville being the burly owner. Super nice man. If I weren’t dating Darryl, I might have been interested.
“Is Orville working tonight? I don’t see him.” I glanced over in the direction of the kitchen.
“The man is actually taking the evenings off. He hired two cooks to handle the dinner shift.”
“Wow.” I was surprised given the diner was his baby. Then again, given the brisk business, a break was well deserved.
“I think he met someone,” Marjorie confided.
Shy Orville? I had a hard time imagining it. He was a gentle giant. Gruff, yet soft spoken with a heart of gold, always insisting on walking me to my car the days I came for dinner alone.
Marjorie left with our orders,