Page 32 of Shame

“I said, do we have an understanding?”

“Yesh!” he shouts through his fish lips.

I smile, letting go of his face and patting his cheek.

“Good boy, Norman. I’m so proud of you for making the right decision.”

I turn to Cora, take her hand, and guide her out of the kitchen. I feel her hesitation, but she follows me. When we’re out by the bar, I stop and turn to her, letting all my anger from that situation slide right off. I swipe the flowers from the countertop and hand them to her.

“Got these for you, sweetheart.”

Her jaw drops open, but she isn’t looking at the flowers. She’s looking at me. Still shocked, maybe? Or she hates the flowers? I can’t tell.

“Do you hate them?” I ask, frowning. Maybe she’s allergic? Shit, I should have asked.

Cora blinks a few times, then shakes her head. There’s a frown on her lips—soft beautiful lips I can taste, but then it turns into a smile.

“I think you made him pee his pants,” she says quietly, and I can’t help but laugh.

“Less than he deserves,” I say, urging the flowers toward her.

She looks at them as if she’s only seeing them just now, her eyes lighting up.

“You got these for me?”

“Sure did.”

She takes them, holding them to her chest. “Thank you.”

“Any time.” I glance into the kitchen, and she does the same. Norman isn’t where he was, probably hiding in the bathroom to change his tighty whities.

When Cora turns back to me, I meet her gorgeous eyes.

“What are you doing tonight?” she asks.

“Going to see you.”

“Nine o’clock?”

I hold her chin, running my thumb along her bottom lip, watching as they part and wanting to dive in and kiss her. I hold myself back though because she’s working and I don’t want to upset her by making a scene in front of everyone. Not yet anyway. Once she realizes that we’re meant to be together, I’m gonna kiss her silly everywhere.

“Can’t wait,” I say, dropping my hand and heading out the door.

Nothing wrong with making the woman want me a little either.

Chapter Ten

Cora

I can’t remember that last time I dressed up to look nice. Could have been my graduation. In fact, I think it was. I’ve been dealing with Dad’s health for so long that the last thing I worry about is me. Or at least how I look. I get the bare minimum of my own attention. It’s been years since I got a haircut, put some makeup on, or wore clothes that weren’t for the diner or needing to be comfortable at home. Even when I have to go out, my hair is usually in a messy bun and I’m wearing something two sizes too big.

And though Shark has already seen me in not so great outfits, after what he did for me today, I feel like I should try a little harder to impress him. Or maybe not so much impress him, but reward him? Ugh, that sounds awful. I’m dressing up to show off my body as a reward for what he did for me today at work—like borderline prostitution. Rewarding him with mybody? Yet, couples do stuff like that, right? They play games like that and it’s okay.

But you and Shark aren’t a couple.

No… we aren’t.

I’ve never cared much about dating or sex. Never found it all that appealing, though maybe that was because there isn’t much to pick from in a town like this. At least there wasn’t when I was younger. But these biker guys are kind of hot…

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