Page 17 of Hungry Hearts

CHAPTER FIVE

I WAS HOPING SEEINGMaiain the daylight would curb my mini obsession for her. Hell, instead, it made me want her more. It wasn’t the ambient lighting from the bar last night that played tricks on my mind.

Yeah, we fucked with the lights on in the hotel room, but I had already been so hard and hungry for her. For a fleeting moment, I thought it could have been my cock making up this attraction to her.

I wanted it to be the head in my pants instead of the one resting on my shoulders that craved her. It would be a lot easier. My cock, I can tame and control. Much to the guys’ disbelief. My brain, however, I have no control over.

It’s only been four hours since I woke up and found her missing, and five minutes since I left her salon, but it feels like forever since I’ve touched her. Kissed her. Inhaled her scent.

Pushing open the door to Roast & Toast, I scan the coffee shop for an open table and find one toward the back. I sit so I’m facing the door and tap my fingers impatiently on the tabletop. If I wasn’t so desperate to see Maia—fuck, I want to be inside her again so I can cry out her name as I come with her clenched around me—I’d appreciate the eclectic shop.

With the bulk of my time spent at Four Aces, I don’t get out as much as I’d like. My apartment in the Seaport district is a nice escape. When I first bought the place two years ago, I thought I’d have more time to check out some of the hole-in-the-wall eateries around the city.

But I work long hours, not leaving much time for relaxing and exploring. Do I have to be in the kitchen every night? No. Do I want to be? Most of the time, yes, and it’s not because I’m a control freak.

When I first opened Red, I wanted to make sure every plate was served with my stamp of approval. Relinquishing control was hard. It wasn’t until a year in that I took a night off here and there, and only because the guys pressured me to cut back hours.

Granted, they didn’t cut backtheirhours until they found women to make it worthwhile, women they wanted to spend their time with. Me? Sure, I’ve cut back my hours here and there, but not forawoman.

The door to the coffee shop opens and my angel-devil steps in, nervously looking around. She spots me and pauses before zigzagging through the tables. I stand and hold out a chair for her, waiting for her to sit.

“I haven't ordered yet. Wasn’t sure what you’d like.”

“Oh. You don’t have to—”

“Maia.” Fuck, her name sounds good on my lips. “What would you like?”

“A chai tea, please.”

I brush my hand across her shoulder and go to the front to place our order. We’re past the morning coffee rush, so it doesn’t take long for the barista to make her tea and my French roast. When I return to the table, Maia looks a little more relaxed, until I take a seat across from her and open my mouth.

“How are you not married?”

She flinches and nearly knocks over her tea. “What?” Her eyes grow wide with fear.

Fuck. Is this why she was so nervous at the bar last night and then spread her legs for me? “Tell me you’re not. Or engaged. Is there another guy?” Fuck me if there is. I don’t cheat and I don’t steal women from other men. I have morals. They’re not always high, but they’re not hovering at the bottom either.

“No.” She locks her hands around her cup and lowers her eyes to the table. “No, I’m not...with anyone.”

“Sorry. I guess I should have asked last night. I just don’t understand how a woman as beautiful as you can be single.”

Maia looks up at me, her chocolate eyes no longer nervous. “Isn’t that a pick-up line you should have used on me last night?” She hides her shy grin behind her cup and takes a sip of her tea.

I chuckle and we sit in silence for a few minutes while we sip our drinks. “Are you not a coffee drinker?” I ask, breaking the quiet.

“I’m an absolute grouch without my carafe of coffee in the morning.”

I nod toward her tea. “You don’t seem grouching to me.”

“I’ve already guzzled it.”

“Is that why you escaped from my clutches so quickly this morning?” I rest my elbows on the table and lean forward. I don’t buy theI had to workexcuse, but I also want to keep things light between us or I fear she’ll retreat. “Because you didn’t want to scare me away with Maia the caffeine dependent wench?”

“Wench?” She laughs instead of being insulted, which makes me like her even more. “I said grouch. But if you call me that or a wench in the morning before I have my coffee, I can’t be held accountable for my actions.”

“I appreciate the tip for the next time we have a sleepover.” She blushes and my dick twitches. “Not that there will be much sleeping.”

She reaches for her hair and twirls a long chunk around her finger. I’ve seen girls do the same move in a poor attempt to seduce me. With Maia, it’s completely innocent and turns my dick rock hard.

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