AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Take a bite of that. It’s to die for,” he said, ignoring the remark and moving over to the coffee pot.
“To die for?” she repeated. “Then I will. Maybe I’ll get lucky and someone will burst in here and shoot me to get it.”
Carefully pouring two mugs of the steaming java, he carried them over to her, set them down, then quickly fetched the cream and sugar.
“I’m going to make you a deal,” he said, lowering his voice. “Eat the cheesecake and drink the coffee with me, and—“
“And what?” she shot back, cutting him off. “You’ll give me back my key? Fine, I’ll take a bite and a sip, then go.”
“Eat the cheesecake and drink the coffee with me,” he repeated patiently, “and I won’t put you over my knee and spank you for being so rude.”
CHAPTER TWO
Watching a pink blush cross Eleanor’s face, and her red-rimmed eyes grow predictably wide, Noah had to stifle a chuckle.
“Who the hell do you think you are?” she finally exclaimed. “You can’t talk to me like that!”
“I just did. What’s it going to be? Enjoy that delicious desert and coffee, or get your butt spanked.“
She took a breath, narrowed her eyes as if scrutinizing him, then picked up the spoon and scooped up a bite of the cheesecake.
“Good, right?” he asked, taking a mouthful himself.
“Yeah, it is actually, very good.”
Pouring cream and adding sugar to her coffee, she took a swallow, then another, and ended up drinking half the mug.
“Do you want to talk about why you’re so upset?” he asked, softening his voice.
“That’s the last thing I want to do,” she replied, vehemently shaking her head. “Shit. I shouldn’t have done that.”
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah, just a bit dizzy. I need my keys,” she muttered, abruptly sliding off the barstool. But as she stood up, she teetered. Grabbing her arm, he caught her just as she was about to fall.
“You’re not drivin’ anywhere,” he said firmly. “Sit back down for a minute, then I’ll take you home.”
“What about my car?”
“You can take a taxi out here in the mornin’. Now get back on that bar stool.”
“You sure are bossy,” she grunted. “Are you like this with every girl that has one drink too many?”
It was a fair question. He wasn’t, but there was something about her he found uniquely appealing.
“To be honest, I don’t usually offer to take them home, but I do call them a cab. I’ll do that for you if you prefer.”
“Not in a million years, I hate cabs.”
“Really? Why?”
“Being in the back seat of a car at the mercy of some stranger who’s supposedly harmless because he happens to call himself a taxi driver is just plain stupid. No thanks.”
“I’m a stranger.”
“No, you’re not. You work for Alan. He wouldn’t have an axe murderer behind the bar.”
“How do you know Alan?”
