Clayton

 

When I finally made it back to bed last night, my thoughts drifted to Lacy. While we’ve only had a couple encounters, I knew that first day there was something. She intrigued me, and I wanted to know more about her. I had resources, I could’ve found her, but I wasn’t ready, it was too soon. Now…it’s like I’m getting a second chance—one I’m damn well not going to waste.

As I enter the coffee shop, I spot her immediately. The table she selected is in a corner, isolated. And while she chose to sit where she can see the door, she’s distracted with her phone and doesn’t notice me. For several moments, I don’t move.

The people coming through the door pass by, but my gaze doesn’t falter as I take in her beauty. She has her bottom lip tucked between her teeth and her eyes squint as she concentrates on the screen of her phone, looking every bit as innocent today as she did when we first met. When she gathers her hair to drape it over one side, the collar of her shirt slides down, leaving her sexy shoulder bare. It gives me an idea.

My stride is quick as I attempt to make it past her without being noticed on my way to the barista counter.

“Can I help you?” the twenty-something blonde asks, as her eyes roam over me and her lips turn up in a seductive grin.

“Yes. Can you tell me if you recognize that woman over there?” I nod in Lacy’s direction.

“Um…well, I’ve only worked here for a month, but…” she leans over, pressing her breasts on the counter and strains her neck to get a better look, “yeah, I’ve seen her here before.”

“Do you by chance know what she usually orders?”

She makes no attempt to straighten herself as she raises her eyes to mine and answers. “I do actually. She usually gets the white mocha with soy and a shot of peppermint syrup.”

I ignore the blatant flirtation and finalize our order, then toss enough cash on the counter to cover the drinks and a decent tip. “Please bring our drinks to the table when they’re ready.”  

When I approach, Lacy is still occupied with her phone. The exposed skin of her shoulder taunts me and I can’t resist sliding my fingers over the ridge. Her smooth flesh elicits an electricity that surges through my tips and pebbles her skin in their wake.

Whipping her head in my direction, her eyes level with my crotch, where they linger before moving higher. After traveling aimlessly over my chest, her gaze meets mine. My lips turn up in a mischievous grin. “Like what you see?”

Pink tints her cheeks, and she clears her throat. “Um…hi, Clayton.

I give her shoulder a squeeze, then take the seat across from her. “I hope you weren’t waiting long.”

“Oh, I haven’t been here long at all, but I haven’t ordered yet. I wasn’t sure how you liked your coffee.”

The intensity of her stare is hypnotic. If I’m not careful, those eyes could easily be the death of me. I pull my chair closer and place my forearms on the table. “You were distracted with your phone when I walked in, so I took the liberty of ordering for us.”

As the last word leaves my lips, the barista approaches and sets our coffees on the table. She dawdles longer than necessary, and I can feel her eyes on me. “Is there something else?” I ask, as I turn and narrow my eyes on her.

She shakes her head, her eyes lowering in embarrassment. “No, sir. Just let me know if you need anything.” Her steps are quick as she scurries back to the counter.

“I bet you get that a lot.” The bite in Lacy’s tone pulls my gaze back to her and it’s met with a raised brow.

My forehead scrunches in confusion. “Get what?”

“Girls lingering and staring at you all the time.”

“I don’t know, maybe. It doesn’t really matter. The only one I want lingering or staring is sitting across from me.” I reach for her hand, and the heat of her skin warms mine as electricity flows between us.

She takes in a sharp breath, and her hand stiffens, but she doesn’t pull away. Taking a sip of her coffee, her eyes close and lips press together as she hums her response. “Mmmm, how did you know?”

My deep chuckle vibrates my chest. “Well, I would say I’m just that good. However, while I am good—very good, actually—at most things, reading minds isn’t one of them. I asked the barista if you’d been here before. Had I known that was going to be your reaction, I would have bought a dozen of them.”

A small smile curves the corners of her full glossy lips and she shifts in her seat before changing the subject.  “You said you’re only here a couple days. What are you doing in Savannah? Do you still live in Colorado?”

Her question makes me think of all the things I still need to do today. And Deloris’s words echo in my head about not fucking anything up. I told her this wouldn’t jeopardize my ability to do my job, and I plan to keep my word.  “I have a job to do here, and no, I don’t live in Colorado anymore. I moved to New York when an opportunity came my way.” Sitting back in my chair, I cross my legs at my ankles and take a drink.

“So, inquiring minds want to know, are you still single?”

Her question is out of the blue and unexpected. I try to stifle a laugh but end up choking on my coffee. I cough, trying to clear my airway, and my throat.

“Are you okay?” She asks, her brows furrowed with concern.

I nod, to indicate I’m okay, but cough a few more times before speaking again. “Let me guess, you’re asking for a friend?”

“Actually, no.” When her eyes meet mine, the shy college girl is staring back at me.  “I’m asking for me,” she says, then lowers her eyes, and her tongue darts out, licking her bottom lip before pulling it between her teeth.

Fuck if that doesn’t make my dick come to life. Leaning in, I reach across the table and lift her chin with my forefinger. “Yes, I’m still single,” I say, then slide my thumb over her captured lip. “You have no idea what that lip does to me.”

Her lips part as she sucks in a breath.

I’m seconds from pulling her in and placing my lips on hers, but decide now is not the right time. I drop my hand, sit back, and cross a leg over my knee. “How is it that you ended up here, in Savannah?”

When she meets my gaze again, the brightness in her emerald eyes has diminished. She closes them briefly before letting out a deep breath. When she opens them again, she looks through me, as though she’s lost in the past. “Well, my mom is—was, the reason. She had some issues with alcohol, and after several visits to the hospital, my sister and I decided it was time she tried rehab. That’s when she was moved to Magnolia Woods, and I moved to Savannah.”

“I’m sorry to hear. There’s no need to continue if it’s too hard for you.” Guilt tightens my chest. What the fuck was I thinking bringing this up?

“No, it’s okay. My sister says I need to talk about it, it’s just…really hard.” She blinks several times. “I really thought she was starting to improve. The days she was coherent were becoming more frequent and she even laughed at my jokes a few times, but then she took an unexpected turn, and a few days later, we lost her.” The tears she blinked away earlier roll down her cheeks, and I move next to her, pulling her against my chest. She sniffles into my shirt, her tears soaking the material, and I stroke her hair, trying to offer some sort of comfort. “Oh, Clayton, it was horrible. Her body just gave up, and there was nothing the doctors could do to save her. I loved her so much. She was my best friend.”

Her body wracks against my chest, and I remain quiet as she releases everything she has. After several moments, when the shake of her body is only a slight vibration, I lean back, place my hands on her cheeks, and swipe away some of the wetness with my thumbs. “I’m very sorry about your mother. Had I known, I never would have said anything.”

She meets my gaze then her eyes widen as she pulls away. Wiping her eyes with a napkin, she sniffles and begins gathering her things. “I am so embarrassed. I’m sure this isn’t how you wanted to start your morning.” When she stands, she looks down at me and she adds, “Thank you for the coffee. It was really nice seeing you again, Clayton.”

If she thinks she’s going to leave, just like that, she’s mistaken. Her eyes follow mine as I stand, and I place a hand on her back. “Let me walk you out.”

“Okay,” she says, then takes a few hurried steps toward the door. Those few steps are almost equal to my single stride, and I keep up with her easily, even though she’s trying her best not to stay close.

Once we’re outside, I take in the line of parked cars. “Where’re you parked?” She points to a spot about half a block up from the shop and I extend my arm, allowing her to step ahead, then I match her stride.

When we approach, it’s the same car from the previous day. I let out a low whistle and run my hand over the sleek silver paint, then step back and admire the piece of machinery. “Nice car. What size engine?”   

“A six-point two-liter V-eight. She puts out about four hundred horses. I wanted a manual, which would have given me more horsepower, but this one kept coming up in the Internet search, so I decided it must be the one.” 

With raised brows, I turn in her direction. I’m met with crossed arms and a flash of pearly whites.  Her somber mood replaced with a sassy confidence that thickens my cock and deepens my tone. “Well, well, someone is quite the car buff.”

Still smiling, she glides past me and reaches for the door, but doesn’t get it open before I step forward and place a hand on either side, caging her in. When she turns in my arms, she rubs against me, and my shaft, almost at full mast, presses against the unforgiving material of my jeans.

She cranes her neck and brilliant emerald eyes, free from tears and full of desire meets mine.  

My tone is low and thick with lust as the last words are spoken, “It was nice seeing you, Lacy,” before I place my hands on the sides of her face and my lips descend on hers.

The kiss is tentative at first, but escalates quickly as electricity moves through me and our tongues tangle in exploration. I thread my fingers through locks of her hair and tug, eliciting a moan.  I’m on the edge of losing control as primal desire flows through me, hardening my cock until it’s begging for release. I consider taking her right here on the hood of her car, but she pulls away.

Her breathing is deep, erratic, and her words come out choppy. “I’m…sorry…but…I…really have to go.”

If it weren’t for Deloris’s voice in my head, reminding me I have a job to do, I would march Lacy’s fine ass to the passenger door, shove her in, and take her somewhere I can fuck her. Instead, I place a kiss on her forehead, then reach around and open her door.

Her face, flushed red from our kiss, she slides in the driver’s seat, and waits for me to close the door.

As she pulls away, I’m left standing in the empty parking spot, thinking about how the timing of our reconnection couldn’t be worse. I can’t let whatever this is distract me from the reason I’m in Savannah, but Lacy James is just that—one hell of a distraction.