“You didn’t tell me you worked here,” I say, trying to recall seeing her here before. This is one of the few places I frequent on a regular basis. The General Store and the diner.
Her face turns down as shame washes over her features. “Yeah, I pick up shifts from time to time to make things easier at home.” Her answer makes me uncomfortable even though she’s merely speaking the truth.
Party planning in a small town must not be lucrative. I instantly want to help her in whatever way I can. I’ll make it my mission. Her big brown eyes fringed with thick lashes slide up to meet mine. Her face is beautiful. She’s wearing less makeup today than she was last night. Surprisingly, she’s more appealing this way. “I, ah,” I stutter, hiking my thumb over my shoulder. “Beer and sandwiches,” I manage, like an idiotic Neanderthal.
She blushes. “I’m sure you know where to find those,” she replies without missing a beat. “But let me know if you need help finding anything else,” she supplies, a sunny smile taking the place of the deep frown. She turns to leave, her tight ass encased in a pair of black pants. Closing my eyes, I silently let a string of curse words flit through my mind.
My face heats. “Malena,” I call.
She stops in her tracks and turns her face to the side. “Yeah?”
“When are we getting lunch?” So much for waiting for her to get back to me about the locations. So much for a lot of things. Apparently, her face and ass dictate I make rash decisions, something I am not used to doing. “You were busy today. What about tomorrow? It’s Sunday. Are you off?”
Malena opens her mouth to shoot me down. I can tell by the set in her shoulders. I’ve approached her in a place she isn’t comfortable in. “The diner?” I supply, when her reply isn’t immediate. “Or we can grab Chinese at the spot in the next town over? It’s worth the drive. I’ve been there a handful of times since I moved here.”
She shakes her head, her long brown ponytail brushing the collar of her shirt. “I can’t tomorrow. I have some work to do from home and I need to be there for my mom.”
Rash decisions, right. “I’ll bring over lunch. Can I? For your mom, too?”
That gets her attention. She turns all the way around to face me, peering over my shoulder at the girl at the register. I’m sure she’s glaring at her coworker. “Come help me find the beer while you think about it,” I say, nodding my head to the side. “I need your help.” I say it loud enough to be heard by all. Smirking, she nods.
“Was that a yes, I can bring over lunch?”
Malena is much shorter than I am, so I have to look down at her and lean away a bit to see her face as she says, “I’m still thinking about it. People don’t come to my house,” she explains, meeting my eyes. “Not that I don’t want you to, you understand?”
“You’re not comfortable having me there?” I ask.
“A little of that,” she says. “Leave me your number and I’ll get back to you after my shift is over.”
She slides her cell phone out of the apron pocket and looks confused as she enters in my phone number. “I haven’t switched to a Florida area code yet,” I respond. “The last piece of California that I am hanging on to is my number.”
My other cell chimes in my pocket. I’m sure it’s Sutter wondering where I am. He never distinguishes between which phone he’s calling. He doesn’t care. Pulling it out, I glance at a text message from my friend. It’s a photo of three blonde chicks in barely-there bikinis. According to the words below the photo, he’s waiting for me.
Even though I shouldn’t care, I try to click off the message quickly before Malena sees. Her face tells me I wasn’t successful. She sighs as I pick up a case of beer and two sandwiches from the premade section. “Need any more help,sir?”
I don’t need help from her, but I do need a few other things. I shake my head. “I’ll see you tomorrow at noon.”
“I’ll text you,” she fires back, mouth hanging open. “It’s probably a no.”
Sighing, I narrow my eyes at her. “You can text me what you want for lunch. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Malena smirks. “You’re so rude.” I have her. I have her. When my head is clear, I can spit the game she wants to hear. It’s when I’m all hard dicked for her that I’m fucking shit up. She folds her arms across her chest, a glint of challenge in her eye.
I grab the end of the ponytail laying down one shoulder. “And you’re fucking beautiful,” I reply.
She looks away, then remembers where we are and takes a step away from me. “See you tomorrow Ms. Winterset,” I tell her, reminding her of the end of last night’s conversation.
