Page 29 of Desolation

My stomach growls just as Jimmy walks by my desk. “Wanna grab lunch?”

I’m about to say yes when my phone rings. I glance at the number and see it’s the VA hospital. I hold up a finger to Jimmy and answer. “Hello?”

“Hi, it’s Wendy.”

“Hello, gorgeous. How can I help you?”

“I just wanted to let you know that Mari just checked in.”

I smile into the phone. “Thanks, Wendy. See you soon.”

“Who was that?” Jimmy asks me.

“Change of plans, man. I need to go run an errand.”

“Okay. Want me to pick you up some lunch?”

“Nah. I’ll grab something later,” I say as I swipe my keys off my desk and head to the door.

I drive quickly to the VA hospital since I only have about an hour for lunch. Before I left last night, I told Wendy I would take her out for dinner if she let me know whenever Mari showed up. I know, poor taste, but I cannot get that woman out of my head. There is something about her that pulls at me. She almost seems familiar like we met before. And from the words she told me last night, I knew she would try her best to avoid seeing me. Hell, the woman slapped me. But I could also feel the reaction those words had on her as I was pressed against her body. She can pretend all she wants but I know I turned her on.

So yes, I bribed Wendy so as not to miss her.

I throw my Jeep in park, grab the bag of sandwiches I picked up on the way off the seat next to me, and jog into the facility making my way inside.

I stop at the reception desk and wink at Wendy as I toss her a sandwich. Since it’s lunch time, I head to the dining area and figure that is my best way of finding the olive skinned beauty.

I hear an airy laugh come from the corner of the room. Mari is sitting with Mr. Cartwell. He is telling one of his stories by his hand movements. He loves to use his hands to convey his stories. I smile as I watch Mari laugh. Her mouth is open wide revealing her white teeth. Her hair is thrown up into a messy bun on the top of her head with small tendrils falling down around her face. She is wearing an oversized t-shirt that falls off one shoulder, revealing her flawless skin.

I make my way over to the table and she spots me before I make it all the way. The smile falls from her face and a glare hits her eyes. I keep walking over and pull out the chair next to her sitting down, placing the bag of sandwiches on the table.

“Do you work?” she asks with a scowl.

“Nice to see you too.” I turn to Mr. Cartwell. “Good afternoon, Mr. Cartwell, how are you doing today?”

“Just fine until you showed up.”

“That makes two of us,” I hear Mari mutter under her breath,

“Oh come on, you both love that I am here. Besides I brought your favorite sub, Mr. Cartwell.”

He snatches the bag on the table and digs through it.

“I’ll just be going now,” Mari says as she goes to stand.

I grab her arm and pull her back in her seat. “Nonsense. I am surprised to see you here but I brought extra sandwiches. I know you said you were busy today but now you can be busy and eat. Hate for you to wither away before our date on Saturday.”

“I never agreed to a date.”

I shrug as I pull a sandwich out of the bag for both of us. “You didn’t say no either.”

“Yes, I—”

I hold up a hand cutting her off. “You said you weren’t interested in a relationship. I wasn’t asking for one. I was asking for dinner or lunch, hell, I would even take coffee.” I smirk at her thinking of the other thing I offered. “Or…”

Her cheeks turn a dark pink.

“You should just go out with the grumpy kid,” Mr. Cartwell cuts in. “Put him out of his misery.”

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