Page 49 of Brutal Sin
Her sister scooted farther along, retrieved the device, and handed it over. “Send itnow.”
Pamela sucked in a slow breath and eyed her mother, who nodded in solemn agreement. “Do you really think this is the best way to go about it?” Guilt took over her stomach, making it roil and rumble. Or maybe that was the fear of missing out on another life-changing orgasm.
“Do you have his number?” Kim asked.
“Yeah.” She’d saved his details under Brute. Not Bryan. She’d even quit using his name in the hope the reminder of his attitude would kick her out of her stupidity.
The plan had turned out to be highly ineffective.
“Go on.” Kim spurred her on with the jut of her chin. “Doit.”
Pamela lowered her gaze to the cell in her hand and typed without thought. If she paused, even for a second, she wouldn’t go through withit.
Something came up. I can’t be at the Vault next Thursday. I’m sorry.
She clicked send and swallowed over the squeeze in her chest. Bye, bye, beautiful orgasms. “There.” She handed the device to Kim. “Done.”
It didn’t feel done. Her heart beat in a fractured tempo. Her chest grew heavy. She hadn’t liked a man in years. She hadn’t felt anything apart from pure frustration toward the opposite sex since Lucas died. Which made shoving Brute away seem comparable to punching herself in thevag.
“I’ll silence the ringer.” Kim pressed buttons on the screen, then returned it to its place under the counter. “If he calls, ignore it. If he messages, delete it. You don’t need another emotionless ass in yourlife.”
Ouch. The insult hit her in the chest. “Lucas wasn’t anass.”
“No, sweetie.” Her mom gave a sad smile. “But he didn’t love you either. You deserve something better thistime.”
Yeah, she knew she did. Her problem was her inability to attract anything other than two distinct categories of men—those who could work her body into a frenzy and leave her heart stone-cold or those who warmed her heart and lacked any understanding of her sexuality.
“Come on.” Kim inclined her head in the direction of the dining room. “Help me clear these tables to get your mind off him. And while we’re at it, I can tell you about those online dating sites I’ve been researching.”
She establisheda routine for the remaining two hours of her shift—do five minutes’ work, check her phone, ponder why Brute hadn’t responded, then do another five minutes’ work. The cycle was vicious. Then again, maybe his lack of response was a relief.
“See? There was nothing to worry about.” Kim flicked off the kitchen lights and headed for the front door. “He probably doesn’t care atall.”
Her mother had said the same thing before she’d finished for theday.
“Yeah. Maybe.”
Brute didn’t seem like a man who wouldn’t care about a cancellation. Or more specifically, a rejection. He seemed the type to demand explanations and berate unworthy responses. “At least I’ll sleep better tonight.”
“Do you want to come over and watch a movie? We can get pizza.”
“No, I’m good.” Pamela pulled the café keys from her handbag as her sister opened the front door. “I think a bath and an early night is what Ineed.”
She stepped onto the sidewalk, dragging the door shut behind her. With a jab of the key and the flick of her wrist, the lock was secure and she could finally gohome.
“Sorry to interrupt, ladies.”
She turned at the unfamiliar male voice and found a dose of cuteness staring back at her. “MuffinMan.”
Kim snorted at herside.
“Muffin Man?” His hope-filled expressionfell.
“Sorry.” She slapped a hand over her mouth and tried to ignore the heat setting her cheeks to flame. “I… Um…”
“You’re a regular.” Kim chuckled. “But we didn’t know your name. So, Pamela dubbed you MuffinMan.”
“I did not.” It had been Kim. AllKim.
