Page 9 of Pucks and Coffee

CHAPTER 6

Eliza

I almost drop my drink.

By the grace of God, I don’t, because that would have been tragic. I love my drink. But did Coleson really just ask me that? Before I can even answer or repeat what he said, the espresso machine steams behind him. I give Coleson a very ominous glare as his fluid gaze holds mine. He towers over me in that way everyone does, but with him, it is different. With his sharp gaze assessing me, I feel like he’s the hunter and I’m about to be the hunted.

I wouldn’t mind being his prey…

“Seeing someone?” I blurt out, my heart in my throat.

He leans his hip into the bar, his back to the other patrons of the shop. “Yeah. Are you involved with anyone?”

My heart revs up in my chest, and under his scrutiny, I’m breathless. “Why?” I find myself asking, and he chuckles softly.

“Come on now, McDavid. I know men ask you out. Don’t seem so surprised.”

“I’m not surprised at all,” I lie. “Is that what you’re doing, asking me out?”

He doesn’t even try to hide his smirk. “I am.”

I search his gaze, trying to see if he’s fucking with me. He hasn’t given me a second glance the whole time I’ve known him. We’ve only spoken about coffee stuff, and I’ve never felt like he was attracted to me. Of course I give him flirty grins and make sure my shoulders are back so that my chest looks bigger, but I haven’t felt like he’s noticed. I even wore a tight dress here one night on the way to a date, and he only looked me in the eye. His eyes have never lingered on me like they are now.

What has changed?

“I’m not involved with anyone,” I somehow get out, and he smiles like he just won the lottery. It’s a dazzling grin. All teeth and bright eyes. Heat gathers between my legs, and I brace my hand on the seat of the stool. “But I’ve sworn off dating.”

That has his grin faltering as his eyes bore into mine. “Sworn off dating? Why?”

“Because guys are stupid and waste my time.”

“True—and I don’t claim to be of the smart variety of dudes—but I would make it worth your time,” he tells me, a grin pulling at one corner of his mouth. When that happens, a little dimple forms, and I want to poke it.

Can I poke it?

Is that weird?

Focus, Eliza! He asked you out right after you swore off dating! You can’t say yes. It would go against your principles! Your dignity! I ignore my erratic thoughts and say, “Okay.”

You, Eliza McDavid, are an idiot.

Now, both dimples are flashing at me as he crosses his arms over his chest before leaning on the counter so that there is hardly any distance between us. If I moved even the slightest bit toward him, our noses would touch. As much as I want to lean forward, I lean back instead, putting space between us and trying not to sound too eager. “When?”

His brows knit. “That’s my line,” he chastises me, and I feel my cheeks fill with color. “Do you have plans tonight?”

“Tonight?” I squeak, and then I’m spiraling.

What will I wear? Do I have time to shave my legs? I haven’t waxed my pussy in months, so if this goes well, I’d need to do some bushwhacking so he can actually find my pussy… Wait. No. I’m not sleeping with him tonight, but I will one night soon. Should I leave my hair down? Shit, Lou isn’t here to curl it for me. Damn it.

“Yeah, tonight, seven? Here?”

“Here?” I repeat, and he chuckles softly.

His voice is liquid sex as he purrs, “You’re a damn cute parrot, McDavid.”

I need to bushwhack my pussy because if he ever talks to me like that again, I will be flat on my back for him. No, you will not, my brain tries to tell me, but my pussy roars back, Yes, she will! “Sorry, I just assumed we’d go out.”

He shrugs. “Remember, I want to make it worth your time. Let me cook for you.”

---