Page 29 of Unhinged Cain

“I bet he’s a pretty boy with a sizeable package.” Jorge bit his lip, and I laughed as heat crept up my neck.

“Is it obvious I’m that shallow?”

Jorge made a face and waved his hand in my direction. “Darlin’, shallow has nothin’ to do with it. You don’t think we have all been bamboozled by a sexy bod, a pretty pair of eyes, and a totally delectable sausage.” He smiled wide, and I burst out laughing. “But Sugar, let me tell ya’ a little somethin’ I’ve learned over the years. Your happiness is worth more than all the complications in the world. If this boy is bringin’ your inner diva down, then it’s time to send him packin’. You feel me?”

The door jingled, and I pushed away from the counter. “Yeah, I do. Let me get this customer. There has to be at least one order tonight that I don’t screw up.”

“Have at it.”

Still smiling, I made my way over to the customer that was waiting quietly by the register. I really knew it was time to say goodbye to Peter when my first assessment of the stranger was that he was fit and tall, making my heart pound a little harder. The guy was looking down into his wallet as I stepped in front of the keyboard to place the order.

“Welcome to Mode. How can I help you this evening?” I said, but my smile slipped as he lifted his head.

The blue eyes I couldn’t forget were staring at me. The image of this man standing next to the tow truck raced through my mind like it was yesterday and not the night Peter and I were heading back from spring break. This man’s face haunted my dreams. I sucked in a sharp breath and held it as we stared at one another longer than was appropriate.

The corner of his mouth curled up with a half smile, and I wasn’t sure if it was meant to be sexy or unnerving, but to me, it was both. My pulse was racing through my body faster than if I’d run a marathon, and my hand shook slightly as it hovered over the cash register. His eyes moved slowly to my hand and then back up to my eyes, and I couldn’t decide if I wanted to melt into a puddle of wanton desire or turn and run for the hills and never look back.

“Do I have something on me….” His voice was everything and more than I could’ve imagined. It was rich with a hint of gravel that was rubbing me in all the right ways. His eyes darted to my name tag, and it was only then I realized how hard my nipples were. I prayed he couldn’t see them. “Kirby?”

“Um…” I cleared my throat and braced both hands on the counter to try and stop the subtle tremble that felt like it was also scrambling my brain.“No, of course not. I’m sorry. It’s just I think I’ve seen you before.”

“As long as I was memorable,” he smirked, his blue eyes were filled with humor, but something else lurked under the gesture. I bit my lip as a sudden and very unexpected surge stormed through my body and ended right between my legs.

What the hell was it about this guy?

“With eyes as nice as yours, I don’t think I’d be able to forget,” I said and internally groaned. It took all my willpower, but I finally managed to break the stare and look at the numbers and words on the touch screen that barely made sense.

“I could say the same about yours. They’re a really unique color.” It wasn’t what he said but how he said it that had me shivering with emotion.

I licked my lips and cleared my throat as I tried to make it work, but only a squeak came out, and he smiled wide. He was beyond sexy, there was something about him that was all-consuming and commanding, and it called to me like a fucking beacon in the night. I took a deep and steadying breath.

I can do this, don’t make an idiot out of yourself. At least no more of an idiot than you’ve already made.

Smiling, I looked up and dared to lock eyes with him once more. “Thank you, but they’ve been more of a curse than a blessing.” He furrowed his brow and looked like he was going to say something else, but I figured it was safer to move on from this topic that felt way too intimate and personal. “What can I get for you?”

He didn’t look up at the board as those magnetic blue eyes continued to bore holes into me. It felt like he was trying to communicate with me telepathically—like he was trying to will me into understanding something, but the signal wasn’t clear enough.

“I’ll have a large coffee, one sugar, and a splash of cream, and I’ll also have one of your raspberry sour cream muffins.”

“Good choice. They just came out of the oven and are my personal favorite. That will be eleven seventy-five, please.”

He pulled out a twenty and handed it over, but he spoke again before I could get him his change. “Keep the rest.”

“Thank you, that’s very generous of you.” I put the tip in the colorful jar that Jorge had put rhinestones all over, picked out the largest muffin, and was happy to get it in the bag and not drop it on the floor.

I handed over the bag, and a ripple of excitement soared through my body as his finger gently brushed mine as he took the offering. The touch was so mild that I barely felt it, yet it seemed more intimate than any interaction I’d ever had with Peter in the bedroom.

Swallowing hard, I tried not to notice Jorge staring at me from the sitting room area as he cleaned off tables. “Sorry, I forgot to ask. Would you like to stay or go?”

“I have to get back to work, so I’ll take it to go. Thank you.”

Nodding, I turned and grabbed the paper cup. “What do you do for work?”

“I have a car shop. I guess you could say I’m a grease monkey.” His voice changed subtly and dropped a little lower. “I’m good with my hands and really like to get them up in there.”

I was officially a pervert because all I heard was, I want to stick my fingers in your pussy and then fuck you senseless. My cheeks were flaming hot by the time I had his coffee made, and I turned around to face him. As odd and intense as this interaction was, I couldn’t deny that I didn’t want it to end.

Holding out the cup, I offered him a smile, but just then, the door opened. He looked to the door, which showed off the side of his neck. Gasping as I stared at the Joker clown tattoo on his neck, my hand let go of the coffee, and it hit the counter and burst open. I stupidly reached for it as if I could save it, but the coffee splashed all over my hands and arms.