AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Hey, why don’t we go out tonight?”
Chris cocked an eyebrow. “Y’all actually have bars here?”
Max tried to look offended. “Yes, we do. You know we do.”
“One that actually serves, not BYOB.”
“You’ve been here before, and we have been out to bars.”
“Yeah, but we had to go to Valdosta for that. And sorry, son, I’m not twenty-one anymore. I’m not going to Peaches.”
Max snorted at the name of the infamous strip joint just outside of Valdosta on the way to the Air Force Base. “No, just a regular bar.”
“Then you’re on. I take it you have room at your place? I mean, Anna isn’t going to complain if I am there, is she?”
“No. Besides, I can go to her place.”
“Ahh, so you are afraid to let me meet her. I understand your problem. I mean, youarea bit on the boring side, while I have all this hot Creole blood…”
“Fuck off,” Max said with little heat. Although the joke did scrape too close to his worries. Not only was Chris a lot like Anna in temperament, but Max had a feeling Chris’ tastes in the bedroom would probably appeal to her. Saturday night had proven that.
In fact, they were set to have dinner at her place that night. She had said something about it before she left.
Max pulled out his cell. “Let me—”
“Shit, you’re ruined.” Chris shook his head in mock disgust.
“What do you mean?”
Chris was already walking to the door when he said over his shoulder, “I’ll be out here flirting with Jeanine while you ask for permission for a boys’ night out.”
Max sighed. Hewasruined, and by a woman who probably didn’t even realize her own power.
* * *
Anna hummedas she walked down the sidewalk to her restaurant. After attacking Max in his office, she’d gone home for a quick shower and a bite to eat. More than an hour after the encounter, she was still happy. Even after Max called her to tell her he was going out with Chris, she held onto her excellent mood.
Hopping over a puddle, she laughed. She hadn’t felt this good in a long time. Well, for years. Sex had never been a hang-up with her. There was that one time, but who can claim any sex in high school was any good. Because most of the time you were having it with someone else in high school, who probably didn’t know any more than you did.
With all the other men she’d slept with, there wasn’t this connection. It should scare her, but she figured her little visit put them on equal footing again. Max needed to know he wasn’t driving the vehicle. At least not without some direction.
She was humming her favorite Barry White song when she opened the door. The lunch crowd had dwindled, but a few stragglers remained. It was a good sign for her plans that the college students from Valdosta had started frequenting her place. She smiled at a young couple, who looked to be from out of town, but when she turned toward the counter, all the good vibes she’d been feeling dwindled.
There sat Freddy slash Fred, with a smug smile curving his lips. “Anna.”
I should call Max.
The moment the thought popped into her head, she got irritated. She didn’t need him. She could handle this all by herself, although Max would be a sight handier at throwing the dickhead out.
“Freddy. What a surprise.” A normal person would catch onto the monotone. Once again, Freddy proved to be abnormal.
He chuckled in that good-natured way that never failed to make her skin crawl.
“I’ve been trying to get hold of you, and when I asked your girl where you were, she couldn’t tell me. So, I decided to stay.”
Anna glanced at Myra, who mouthedI’m sorry. Anna nodded to let her know it was okay and faced Freddy. As before, she was amazed he kept his mean nature so well hidden. After what he did to her in high school, it shouldn’t. Being older she could appreciate it more.
He stood and moved toward her. Again, she had to remind herself not to back up. She wasn’t the little idiot who was positive Freddy was in love with her. He didn’t have the ability to hurt her.
