Page 26 of My Casanova

I looked at Smoke expectantly. I was trying not to freak out by the fact that I needed to work in half an hour, and I wasn’teven sure if I would make it. I assumed Stan was having the same predicament.

“He’s going to be late. He said he can’t stand at the moment.”

I looked at my legs. “I don’t know if I can either.”

Smoke chuckled.

Yeah, see, the man was downright gorgeous when he smiled. I knew I was a bit shaky being hungover, but it was a good thing I was sitting because that smile would have knocked me right off of my feet.

“Why don’t you finish your coffee? Then we can see how your legs are doing,” he suggested.

“Why are you being nice to me?” I asked.

He tipped his head to the side. “I’m just being me, angel.”

“You tend to all hungover women who can’t hang with the ol’ ladies.” I had learned that is what the girls were called yesterday. It sounded badass and suited all of them.

“You’re the first.”

“I’m the first what?”

He chuckled. “The first woman the ol’ ladies have gotten drunk in the middle of the day.” He leaned back. “Though, from the sound of it from Yarder, you and Stan were popping bottles and cutting cheese like it was a party.”

I groaned and took a sip of my coffee. “I will say I got a little caught up in all of the fun. Normally, we only sample two or three bottles of wine on a good day. I think we went through at least ten bottles yesterday.” Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t like they were putting a gun to my head to open the bottles. I did that all of my own free will, but it would not be happening again. At least not when I was working.

“Happens to the best of us.” He stood and headed into the kitchen.

I watched him. Confident in the way he walked. Tall. Strong.

I shook my head. I needed to get going. If Stan was going to be late, that meant I needed to be on time.

I finished my coffee, gingerly got up, and stood. The world swayed a bit, but it was manageable.

“You good?” Smoke leaned against the entryway into the kitchen with a cup of coffee in his hands. It was odd seeing my dainty coffee cup in his large, tattooed hand.

I steadied myself and nodded. “I think I’ll be fine as long as I don’t move too fast.” I pasted a smile on my face. “I need to shower and get to the shop.”

“Need help?” he asked.

I leveled him with my gaze. “I think I can manage washing my back.”

Smoke shrugged. “I was meaning do you need help at the shop, but I am willing to help with whatever you need.”

Cue me being hungover and now embarrassed. “Uh, I should be fine.” I shuffled toward the kitchen. Smoke moved in front of me.

“I can take that, angel.” He took the empty cup from me. His fingers brushed against mine, and I tried to ignore the warmth rushing through me.

“Um, thank you. I’m just going to shower and head to work.”

He nodded. “I’ll be waiting.”

I looked up at him. “Huh?”

He smiled sexily. “My bike is at your shop.”

Oh, duh. “Right, right. Um, just give me ten minutes and we’ll be out of here.”

He nodded. “Take your time.”

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