AllFreeNovel
Share Us
And I’m the only man that ever will.
CHAPTER33
Payton
Pressingthe lid onto Nero’s drink I try to decide what would be worse, having to call his name across the dining room or trying to catch his attention silently, but having to look at him.
Truly, it’s a lose-lose situation.
The decision is made for me when I glance up and find Nero staring right at me.
Freaking hell.
I can feel his gaze like a weight draped around my shoulders. It’s heavy and uncomfortable. And it makes me hate how good looking he is. It makes it all so much worse.
Here I am, barely-there makeup, plain gray shirt, hair in a not-so-cute messy bun, and an apron. Not exactly looking my best.
Nero says something to the other man at his table. The mayor. Because whatever it is that Nero does for a living, he knows the mayor. And the mayor knows him well enough to call him by name and make a comment about Nero being out late.
Considering how we met, I don’t really doubt him.
My internal thoughts distracted me, so I’m still holding the cup when Nero stops opposite me at the counter. It’d probably be weird now to set it down rather than hand it to him. So, reluctantly, I hold out the latte. One hand flat under the bottom of the cup, the other holding near the top, giving him plenty of space to take it from me without our hands touching.
He uses both of his hands to take the drink from me. His fingertips brushing against the backs of my hands as he does.
My teeth clamp down on my lower lip, biting back the pathetic sound that wants to crawl out of my throat. Refusing to let it free.
I want to feel his touch again, so badly. And I feel so weak for desiring something he clearly doesn’t want to give.
“Payton.” His voice is quiet, lowered so no one can hear him call me by name. “I––”
Whatever he’s about to say gets cut off when the front door is pushed open. Nero closes his mouth and takes a step back, distancing himself from me. Again.
I swallow. “Your food will be ready in a minute.”
He nods and goes back to his table.
When Jean shouts his name for his sandwich, I block out his movements as he rises to get it.
I pretend he’s not a dozen steps away while I help the next customer.
I tell myself that I’ll get over it, him, soon.
I’m busying myself by wiping down the coffee station when my phone vibrates from inside my apron pocket.
Mostly, I use my phone for entertainment. I don’t really have anyone, that isn’t working in this very café, who would call or text me.
With my brow scrunched together, I pull out my phone, seeing a text from an unknown number.
Unknown: Eyes up, Baby.
My eyes snap up. Nero is sitting at the table, with his phone in his hand. The Mayor busy on a phone call.
My phone vibrates in my hand.
Unknown: Keep acting like we don’t know each other.
Unknown: I’ll explain later.
