AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The diner was empty. With no one to watch, she gripped a fistful of his T-shirt and yanked him toward her. Life was too short. “You know this is a terrible idea, right?” She looked at him and saw the matching passion in his eyes.
“Yes, but I don’t give a shit.” He leaned forward and pulled her into his arms. Any thread of common sense was gone. She crushed her mouth against his. The kiss was soft but demanding, and when he grabbed a fistful of her hair, she had no choice but to deepen their connection. He tasted like sweet peppermint with a hint of whiskey. She ran her tongue along his lower lip and pulled it into her mouth to savor its suppleness. His moan coaxed her to give more and take more.
She ran her hands up his chest, exploring every peak and crevice his defined muscles created. When she reached his shoulders, she skimmed her palms over them and clasped her hands behind his neck.
He broke the kiss and inhaled. A storm brewed in his eyes. His need was as strong and impatient as her own.
“You’re so beautiful.” He leaned in and nipped at her lips. “What are we going to do about this?”
She licked where he left a delicious sting. “Neutral zone,” she said shakily. “This is a neutral zone. Here we meet in the middle.”
“Perfect.” He cupped the back of her head and pulled her in for a slow, panty-drenching kiss. When he released her, she was shaking. In all her years, and there were over thirty of them, she’d never been kissed like that.
The bell above the door rang, and they both jumped. Midge shuffled in with a smile on her face. She looked at Beau, then back to her. “I see you met Bobbie.”
Heat rushed to her cheeks. She couldn’t believe she’d been caught making out at work.
“Yes, ma’am. Thanks for the suggestion.” Beau slid into his space and turned to face the counter. He looked like a child in a timeout.
She should have been mortified, but she wasn’t. Kissing Beau was natural and right. “Midge, this is Beau. He came in for pie.”
Midge cocked her head. “I bet he did,” she said with a chuckle. “Beau, you be good to my girl. I may be old, but Colorado is an open-carry state, and I’m still an excellent shot.”
Midge walked past him and ruffled his hair before she disappeared into the kitchen. Bobbie slid from her stool and followed her. When she entered, she found Midge putting slices of pie into a to-go container. “A kiss like that is wasted in a diner.” She pointed in the door’s direction. “Have fun.”
She entered the dining room with several containers in her hands. “Midge kicked us out.” She handed the top container of cherry pie to him. “Here’s dessert.” She tucked the other boxes under her arm before taking his free hand and pulling him out the front door.
He stopped outside and gave her a look that could simmer her blood. “That makes you the main course because I haven’t eaten yet.” His voice was half purr and half growl. But it was all sexy. “Where are we going?”
“Home to my apartment so I can feed you.” If his kiss showed his hunger, he had been starved for an extended time. Her pulse quickened as shivers of awareness skittered across her skin.
She turned left and headed toward the numbered streets, stopping at the corner to feed the group of homeless men huddled in an entryway.
“Thanks, Bobbie,” Joe said as he took the Styrofoam containers from her hand.
“Stay safe, Joe,” she replied. She did her best to offer everyone warmth and compassion; feeding Joe and his buddies had become her Tuesday ritual. She didn’t know where they ate the rest of the week, but they would sleep with full bellies on this day.
Beau remained quiet, but she imagined he had questions. She laced her fingers into his, and for the first time in a long time, she felt young and carefree with a man who made her heart flutter and her knees weak.
“Looks like you have a fan club.”
“They have to eat too.” She glanced back at the men devouring the meal she’d brought.
“It would appear you’re feeding the neighborhood tonight.”
She shrugged; feeding the homeless was something she did without thought. “It’s what I do. Enough about me. How was the rest of your day?” Had he thought of her as often as she had him?
He slowed his pace and twisted his torso like he was trying to ease the tension in his back. “Oh, you mean after some demonstrator stalled my project and provided great fodder for the press? After my boss came into the office and told me not to screw around where I earned my money? Just peachy.”
“Pete Schiff came to see you?” She wanted to scream. “I’m sorry, but I’m not letting up. The man is pure evil. Please understand. I need to do this.” She looked into his eyes. The same eyes that were filled with passion moments ago were now steely blue. Not sexy heated blue, but angry, stormy blue. “I have to stop them from destroying other lives.”
Beau growled, “Obviously, we are not in the neutral zone.” He dropped her hand and leaned against the brick building where they’d stopped. “I get that you’re angry and hurt. But do you understand I need this job to survive? I have more than me depending on it. I support my mother, and there is a crew of fifty who depend on a paycheck from this job to feed families. Can’t you lay off a bit?” His tone was a combination of pleading and demanding, and she didn’t know how to respond. All she knew was that the night had taken a different turn, and her hopes for an evening filled with passion fell to the dirty sidewalk at her feet.
She reached for him and placed her palms flat on his chest. “I’m sorry about your family and your loss.” She pressed her forehead against his breastbone. She understood his pain and hurt. He stiffened and stepped away.
“What in the hell do you know about my family?” The hardness in his voice surprised her since she was trying to be considerate.
Her voice rose like a thermometer on a hot day. “Unlike you, I did my homework. I know about your father dying in the tower. After seeing a picture of your mother, it’s obvious she didn’t recover.” She hated they were back at the place where irritation and anger ruled.
