“Hey, Shane.” Manny was first to respond. “How are you?”
“Not too bad, thank you.” Even though I was looking directly at him, I could feel Rhett staring at me. “How are you?”
“I’m well thanks.” Manny looked at his friend and nodded toward me. “This is Shane. He’s one of the other owners of Coffee Beans & Love.”
“Oh yes. I remember you telling me that.” The man with the name I couldn’t remember looked around him. “Seems like you four are doing really well for yourselves.” He stuck out his hand. “Kyle. I think we’ve met once before.”
“I think so too.” I returned the handshake. “But it’s nice to meet you again.”
“It’s nice to meet you again too.” Kyle leaned his elbows on the table. “Rhett practically had to drag us out tonight. He insisted on coming here.”
Rhett coughed, crossing his arms under his chest. “They have good beer and good food.” He shrugged.
“And good service too,” I added, giving them a wink.
The men chuckled but Rhett only stared up at me. This was the first time I had seen him since our night together. The first time I had actually talked to him since then too. It was on the tip of my tongue to demand why he hadn’t reached out but at the same time, another part, a part that enjoyed being used, liked the fact that I hadn’t heard from him. It didn’t make sense and I couldn’t quite put my finger on why I sort of liked that he didn’t contact me.
“So...” I placed menus on the table. “What can I start you off with?”
NINE
Rhett
I should have contactedhim, but truth was, seeing Shane again, talking to him again, actually scared the shit out of me. I wasn’t sure how he would react after our night together. I had been rough. Rougher than I ever intended. I couldn’t control myself when it came to him and the fact that he took it like a fucking champ, sparked this need inside of me. I craved more from him, not just a random fuck at times. I wanted it all. But I had kinks, desires, and if I found out that Shane was only putting on a show and not actually into it like I thought he was, I wasn’t sure how I would react.
When Shane went to grab the beer we ordered, I tried my best to focus on what my friends were saying but couldn’t. My eyes flicked back to the bar every so often as my new obsession poured our drinks. He lifted his head, his gaze locking with mine. He licked his lips, his brows narrowing in the center.
My dick stirred. Fucking hell.
“So...this is new.”
I looked back at my friends, unsure as to which spoke. But both Manny and Kyle were staring at me like I had two heads.
“What do you mean?” But I knew what they meant. We had been friends for years. It also helped that Manny’s sons were best friends with mine and were part owners of Coffee Beans & Love. Kyle and Manny grew up together, so they were a package deal. I ended up becoming friends with both of them and three of us were hardly ever seen apart.
“You’re sleeping with a guy your son used to fuck,” Manny pointed out, sitting back in his chair and crossing his arms under his chest. “How does that feel?”
Kyle chuckled, watching the exchange between us.
My jaw clenched, a sour taste filling my mouth that Brady had Shane first. Fucking hell, I was jealous of my damn kid.
“It feels...it’s weird.” Figured there was no point trying to hide it. These two knew me too well, so it wasn’t like I could deny my attraction for Shane. I couldn’t keep a secret from them even if I wanted to.
“Brady’s happy though,” Kyle pointed out. “So really, his thing with Shane is over and has been for a long time. It means you have a chance.”
“I feel like we’re gossiping,” I mumbled.
“Nope. Not gossiping.” Manny sat forward just as beers were placed on the table between us.
My body reacted before my mind could catch up. Sweaty palms, racing heartbeat, hardening dick...this guy was my undoing.
“Thank you,” I muttered, not bothering to look up because I didn’t have to. I knew it was Shane standing at our table, ready to take another order. Manny and Kyle ordered some food, but I was lost in my own thoughts. I wasn’t hungry. Not for food.
“Can we talk?” a low voice whispered in my ear.
Jumping up from the table, I left my friends sitting there, probably wondering what the hell was going on with me, and trudged to the hall that led to the bathrooms.
Shane walked past me and stopped at a door that had a sign withEmployeesOnlyon it. He pushed it open and went into the room.
