Page 55 of His Flash Mate
“How’s your mom?”he asked as I approached.
“Good.The bruising is pretty rough.So is sitting still.She’s not really good at it.”
“You get that from her, then?”
“I do.What can I get you?”
His gaze searched mine.“A repeat of Friday night?”
After the previous day’s dismissal, I wasn’t sure if he’d bring up our time together, and I hated the flicker of happiness I felt because of it.
“Unfortunately, that’s not going to happen before my surgery.Maybe after, if you don’t mind being on the receiving end next time.”
His gaze never wavered from mine as I waited for some reaction to that statement.The one he gave wasn’t the one I expected, though.
“For you, Sophia, I’ll take whatever you’re willing to give.”
The disenchanted, withered organ in my rib cage stirred at the sentiment behind his words.Thankfully, I was good at ignoring it when it pulled at me.
“Excellent.Tonight I feel like giving an olive martini.”It was the opposite of the sweet drinks he usually went for, just like his response.
“Have you decided if you’re going back to Steele?”he asked.“Or did the way they treated you turn you off from the company for good?”
Usually, my one-night stand foreplay involved a lot of touching and kissing.Apparently, on Friday, there’d been a lot of chatting too.Something I rarely did.I went in for stress relief, not therapy.Not tattoos either, but evidently Friday was about breaking tradition.
“I’ll go back.The pay’s too good to walk away.”
“If you need more?—”
“Don’t.”The firmness in my tone and the sharp look I gave him shut down the rest of his offer.“I don’t use people.Well, not for money.”
“You can use me however you want,” he said, spreading his hands out in a gesture of welcome.“Any time.Anywhere.”
“You’re extra flirty tonight.You should try the blonde at that table over there.”
He didn’t even look!
“I’m not interested in the blonde.”
“Why me and not her?”
He studied me for a long moment before finally breaking eye contact to look at the finished drink I was holding hostage.
“I sure am thirsty.”
“You’re lucky I’m handing it to you nicely,” I said.
Then I walked away and flirted with every guy and girl who needed a drink refill.I didn’t look back at Konni once.
Mom texted at nine that she was going to bed, and I told Uncle Jay I was leaving early.He nodded and signaled he was fine with it.Konni wasn’t sitting near the end of the bar but standing there like a sentinel.Or maybe a sexy fly trap, since, as soon as I got close, my steps slowed.
The corners of his mouth curved up slightly.“Leaving?”
“Yeah.And I don’t need company or someone to walk me out.If I did, I’d ask my uncle.”
Konni nodded and glanced back at my uncle.I did the same and saw he’d turned his body to watch us even as he talked to a customer.
“He’s very protective,” Konni noted.
