Page 20 of Needing More
Vic picked up his coffee and stepped back.
Sapphire couldn't hide the disappointment on her face. She wanted to talk more about this. She needed more time to convince the man that her idea had merit.
Seeing her expression, Vic grinned. "I'll think on it."
Hope surged through her. "You promise?"
She expected him to smile or laugh or tease her about her eagerness; she did not expect the sudden sober look he gave her. Something unreadable drifted across his expression as he looked back at her, spearing her into place. Sapphire stood there unable to move with her breath caught painfully in her chest.
What was this?
The bell above the door jingled brightly and the spell broke like a bubble. Turning on his heel, Vic walked to the door. His broad back and long black hair were the only things she could see as he nodded politely at the customer walking in and slipped out the door behind them.
Sapphire sucked in a breath and tried to smile at the customer as she took their order. What was that feeling? Why did he look at her like that? Such a deep penetrating look, almost intimate. It felt wrong and right at the same time. Shaking her head, Sapphire forced the feeling away. It was all in her head.
A few hours later she heard the first thump above her head and smiled. Her heathens were waking up. Picking up a bag of French Roast and another bag of Red Velvet Arabica she poured each one into their own brewers and pushed them to start. She would have their coffees ready when they come down along with two zucchini bread mini loaves she set aside just for them.
Going to the door that led up the stairs, she unlocked it with her keys. She stood on the bottom stair and shouted up. "I got your coffee and breakfast down here."
"And I got something for you right here," Joel shouted back.
Sapphire laughed and shook her head. Jokes, his bike, and sex were all that man thought about.
With her hand still on the doorknob, she considered yelling something back to tease him when she heard the bell ring behind her. Sapphire looked over her shoulder and stilled.
Standing in front of the door was a wall of a man dressed in dusty jeans and equally dusty boots, and a checkered blue and white shirt that clung to his chest. It was the cowboy hat that really stole her attention, though. Sapphire couldn't stop the pull of a smile at the corner of her lips as the man tipped his head and pulled the hat off. It was just like what they did in the movies.
With his golden hair revealed and falling partially in front of his face he straightened and gave her a questioning look.
Knowing she probably looked like a weirdo, Sapphire quickly gave him a polite smile and indicated toward his hat. "I don't think I've seen anyone actually wear one of those until now."
The stranger chuckled, flashing her a handsome grin. "Try working all day in the sun and you'll wear one real fast."
Sapphire could only nod dumbly. She knew she looked like a starstruck moron right now, but she couldn't help it. This guy was very good-looking, uncommonly so. This damn town needed to be studied. She was convinced there was something in the water producing hotties.
Cocking his head to the side, the man let his eyes trace her from head to toe. "I take it you're the one and only Sapphire I've been hearing so much about."
Sapphire frowned, and up above Joel's voice echoed down from the top of the stairs. "Who the fuck-"
They both heard the heavy footsteps stomping across the floor above heading toward the stairs. The stranger smiled, flashing his white teeth, and stepped closer to her.
"Can you do me a favor and play along?" he whispered when he was right in front of her.
With the steps coming closer they both turned to see Joel at the top of the stairs. Reaching over her head, the stranger grinned up the stairs at Joel as he held onto the open door by its edge. A grin that was nothing like the soft polite smile he had given her seconds before. This one was cunning and sharp and filled with wolfish male satisfaction.
"Garrett, don't you fucking dare!" Joel shouted, realizing the man's intention.
Sapphire watched Joel's face harden into anger as the man closed the door in front of them both sealing off Joel on the other side.
Taking her key that was still hanging from the lock, the man, or as Joel called him, Garrett, locked the door before looking back at her with a contented smile.
Realizing how close she was to him, Sapphire stepped back until the door was at her back.
"Now where were we," he began. "I was wondering if you and I-"
Something slammed against the door behind her and Sapphire cried out in shock. With Garrett blocking her, she was sandwiched between him and the door.
"Joel!" Sapphire yelled back as another vibrating slam shook the door behind her.
