The longer I sat at the table waiting for her to come, the more I lost what little control I had left.
Today had been one long meeting hammering out the minutia of the contract. Parker had trapped me in a conference room at the casino for eight hours staring at spreadsheets before he finally set me free.
He had wanted to "celebrate" the end of negotiations by taking me to Reese's Pub, the local watering hole, but I'd refused, claiming to be leaving right away.
When in actuality I was booked at the bed and breakfast tonight and I intended on spending it with Charlie in my bed. Whether we even got to partake in the breakfast was another matter entirely.
The knowledge that I was going to see her again had my hands shaking. I clenched them together so tightly my knuckles went bone-white. There was no reason why I should be so on edge except.
Except she told you to get out. What makes you think she wants to see you again?
I brushed that nagging thought away. In the history of my life thus far, there had not been one woman who's ever been disappointed to see Jameson Tellar.
Charlie's not like those other girls.
That was a thought I definitely couldn't brush away. Fuck, maybe I should have picked up some flowers or something. Written a little note on a card, apologizing. But what was I apologizing for? I didn't actually do anything wrong. Leaving wasn't actually wrong.
It just felt that way.
Especially when I saw her charging towards me, head down like a bull ready to gore me through the heart. I straightened up, then thought better of it and leaned back casually, then decided I looked like a dumbass and leaned forward.
So much for trusting my gut. This girl had me doubting every single thing I ever did.
"Hi can I help you?" she asked, still staring at her feet.
I wanted her looking at me. I wanted her eyes wide while I fucked her. I wanted her lips parted and gasping while I made her come again and again on my tongue. I planned on making a speech. But when I saw her standing there, words failed me.
"You can let me see that pretty face," I heard myself say.
Her head snapped up. "Jameson," she exhaled.
Eagerness pumped in my veins. "What time do you get off?" I asked.
So much for sweet talk.
She blinked. "What?" she asked and I mentally cursed myself for not being smoother.
But the thought of actually being able to take my time with her tonight had turned me into some kind of grunting pig. "What time are you done? Here?"
Her face hardened a little. "What are you doing here?" she asked, tossing her head back so that her curls danced around her face.
My cock was already straining against my pants just at the thought of sinking my fingers into those curls. "Isn't it obvious?" I asked, leaning forward with a wink.
She stepped back. "You left."
"Yes." This wasn't going how I'd pictured. "And then I came back."
"Why?"
I threw up my hands "For you, Charlie!"
She reddened. "No. How long are you here?"
"I'm here for as long as I need to be. Now, what time do you get off?"
My perky waitress chose that exact moment to appear at the side of my table. "Have you had time to look at the menu?"
"No," I snapped. "I haven't."
"Jameson," Charlie winced, lowering her voice. "You need to order if you're going to stay here. You're going to get me in trouble."
"I'll order everything on the fucking menu if that's what it takes. I'm not leaving unless you come with me."
"This is crazy."
"It is," I agreed. "But I'm okay with that. I need to see you."
"How long are you here?"
"Does it really matter?"
"Yes," she hissed. "It does matter."
"You don't want to see me again?"
I could see her jaw muscle tighten and the way her throat bobbed as she swallowed. "It's a simple question, sweet thing," I said. "If you don't want to see me again, then tell me."
"Jameson."
"Answer the question, sweetheart. Wasn't it good?"
Her breath caught. "It was..."
"It was very good." I leaned forward, catching her hand. "And that was just up against the side of a building." She reddened at the memory and I felt my cock somehow get even harder as I thought about it too. "Imagine what we could do with space. To, you know...spread out."
Her eyes snapped up at me and she clapped her hand over her mouth. I sat back and stared at her. "Are you? You are. You're laughing."
She clapped her other hand over her mouth but still, that wild, breathless sound escaped. And I felt my own mouth starting to twitch. "This isn't a laughing matter, sweet thing," I tried to growl, but my own laugh bubbled up and choked me before I could finish my sentence.
"Holy..." she wheezed, wiping the tears back from her eyes, then her words got caught up in a giggle again. "You were so serious!"
I snorted. "I thought this was a pretty serious matter."
She licked her lips and looked at me coyly. "And here I thought we were going to just have some fun."
I sat up straighter. "That sounds good to me, too."
She nodded. "Then meet me in the back in forty-five minutes." Her eyes flicked down to my empty table. "Eat quickly."
"Oh, I'll be eating something," I murmured, running my finger down her arm. And I was so fucking thrilled I didn't even mind that she burst out laughing once again.