Page 17 of Wild Night
“Yeah?” I ask.
She nods her head once, her lips curving up into a smile. “Yeah,” she says. “When I was younger, we had two coffee shops, three diners, and one restaurant open for dinner. Then, the winery industry blew up. It’s not a thriving metropolis or anything, but there’s a bit more now than there used to be. It’s still fairly rural.”
“Well then, it won’t be a surprise that there isn’t anything fancy about this place.”
Without another word, I place my hand at the small of her back and gently push her forward. Together, we walk toward the front door. Reaching out, I curl my fingers around the door pull and tug it open.
Posey passes through the door, and I follow behind her, watching as she makes her way to the hostess stand. The hostess smiles as we approach, but then her eyes widen when they flick to my patches and notice who I am or at least the club’s name.
“Can I help you?” the hostess asks softly.
She can’t be more than sixteen years old, so she’s probably scared shitless at the sight of the Vicious Reapers name on my cut. It makes me smile. I try to appear harmless so she’s not downright terrified. I know I’m not, harmless that is. But when itcomes to this little girl working at this restaurant, I am just that—completely harmless.
A few moments later, we’re seated with a glass of ice water each and sticky plastic menus in front of us. I shift in my seat, my eyes scanning the menu but seeing nothing. Thankfully, I have this thing memorized. It’s one of the few places open when I’m working late. My cousin, Cidney, will get it for me and bring it to the office before she leaves for the night.
“Do you know what’s good here?” Posey asks.
Lifting my eyes, I look over the top of the menu at her. Her teeth are worrying the corner of her bottom lip, and I highly doubt that she’s really asking me about the food but is more trying to get me to talk.
“I have to admit something,” I say, leaning forward and speaking just above a whisper. Posey leans forward as well, her eyes wide and dancing as they search mine. “I’ve never actually eaten inside this building before. My secretary usually brings me the salmon and a vegetable with rolls.”
Her lips curve up into a grin, and she shakes her head. “You’re a mess, Ivy,” she exhales.
She shifts her attention back to her menu. Her brows snap together as she searches the single page of items. It’s cute as fuck. A few moments later, the waiter appears, and I order a beer and the salmon. I decide not to fuck up a good thing since it’s the only item I’ve ever tasted, and it’s damn good.
Posey orders a salmon salad and a glass of white wine. I tilt my head to the side, unable to take my eyes off her as she finishes her order. The waiter sets down a breadbasket and then thankfully disappears, leaving us alone for now.
“Where are you from exactly?” I chance asking.
“Shellgrove, California. It’s on the northern coast of the state. Only about six thousand people, but I work at a winery about thirty minutes out of town.”
“Yeah?” I ask.
I could have already had all this information this morning if I weren’t so focused on this husband of hers. I didn’t even read what town she lived in, just that it was California, and I didn’t look to see what her job was or even her address.
Once I got wind of a man, it was the only thing I could focus on. And then said man was a puzzle, so solving said puzzle was the only thing that mattered. Now I can genuinely ask questions and hopefully get some answers from her—real answers, though. Not bullshit ones.
“I am the assistant wine club manager. It’s not anything special. I do all the boring wine club stuff, like bill people their fees, send out newsletters, run their social media, and help put together the wine club pickup parties once a quarter.”
“You don’t think that shit is special?” I ask.
She shakes her head, her eyes meeting mine before she speaks, and when she does, I can’t help but wonder if anyone else feels this way when they’re around me. I wonder if my own brothers do. If they did, it would piss me off because I have never once thought I was any different than they are.
“It’s definitely not anything like an attorney. I only have an associate’s degree, and it took me so many years to complete that it’s embarrassing .”
Leaning back, I clear my throat. “Did I give off the impression that I think less of anyone who isn’t a lawyer?” I ask.
Posey’s tongue slips out and slides across her bottom lip, then she sinks her teeth into the flesh. Fuck, I want my teeth to sink into the flesh of her lip. I want to sink my cock inside of her cunt, too.
“No,” she exhales. “It’s my thinking. You haven’t said anything.”
My lips twitch into a smirk. “Well, stop that shit,” I snap, keeping my tone light.
POSEY
I’m not sure what is happening here, but I like it. And I know I shouldn’t because my track record with men is crap. I should not trust any instinct that I have when it comes to the opposite sex, but I seriously like Ivy.
He’s calm and cool. When he speaks, it’s not only with authority and confidence, but it’s also with a softness that I can’t quite put my finger on. He’s like no man I’ve ever had in my life before.
