AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I love this café. The floors are blue and white tiles that are laid down in an old checkered style like those authentic black and white ones in diners. Bistro tables are set up all on the right side, and the left is made up of cases filled with pastries and desserts, including pies, cakes, cookies, cupcakes, and donuts. It’s a haven for those in need of a sugar pick-me-up.
Unwrapping my scarf, I start to walk towards the counter, but when I look up, I freeze on the spot.
He’s here.
What the fuck?
Shouldn’t he be working?
I haven’t mentally prepared to see him yet.
No. I’m not ready.
He’s not facing me, though, so if I back out slowly, he doesn’t have to know that I was ever here.
But of course, my plan is ruined the second Courtney spots me over his shoulder.
“Ashley?” she asks, smiling, surprised to see me.
The man who’s occupied my every thought and dirty dream for the past seven months stiffens, and slowly turns to face me.
The breath I’ve been holding suddenly rushes out of me as our eyes lock. I definitely wasn’t ready to see him yet.
My chest tightens as his eyes run up and down my body, feeling them on me as if I were naked, and he’s remembering everything we did in explicit detail.
When his eyes meet mine again, they’re darker. Fuck, he’s even more handsome than I remember. My fantasies haven’t been doing him justice.
“Ashley.” His voice flows over me like a warm breeze on a summer afternoon, and a shiver runs down my spine. Just my name from his lips is enough to make my blood rush–pounding in my ears. No man has ever made me feel like this, and I hate it. He makes me feel weak and vulnerable, and those are two things that I most definitely am not.
He’s watching me, waiting for me to say something.
“Ryan,” I manage to say, despite the fact that it feels like my throat is closing.
He takes a step towards me, and I resist the urge to take one backwards, staying planted where I am.
“You’re back.” He smirks, and my eyes dart down to his delicious lips that I’ve been dying to taste again.
Clearing my throat, I look back up, and see that his eyes are even darker. He knows exactly where my mind went. “I’m just here to visit Ally.”
“How long are you here?”
“I don’t know.”
“Where are you staying?”
“Dottie’s cottage.” Why am I answering all of his questions? It’s none of his business.
“Alone?” His voice drops an octave, and I suddenly snap out of the spell I’m under.
“That’s none of your concern,” I tell him, finally finding my voice. Steeling my spine, I walk past him and towards Courtney, but his spicy scent fills my nose, and I all but stumble the rest of the way to the counter.
“Hey, Ash.” She smiles, her eyes holding a knowing look.
“Hey, Courtney. How have you been?”
“I’m good. How are you? What brought you back?”
“Uh”–I shift my eyes to the side–“I just needed to get away for a little while.”
