Page 4

Gwen

T he next morning, I woke up in my bed with a pounding headache. The first thought that entered my mind was the man at the club last night. Talk about eye candy. He was buff, and the black button-up dress shirt and dress pants had me in a chokehold. Not to mention, I noticed the tattoos trailing up his hand and past his sleeve. Dark-haired, mysterious, and completely unexpected.

I needed to get the thought of him out of my head. No man like that would want a woman like me someone who’s been dragged through the dirt. Someone who is not the "take-home-to-your-mom" type of girl. I drank more than I should have last night. Do I regret it? Absolutely not. The only thing I regret is not taking that man home with me. Well, maybe going home with him. Bringing him to my mother’s house wouldn’t have been a very good idea.

Shaking my head, I tell myself to focus. I need to get things on the ball. This money needs to be put in a better place, and I need to stop touching it. A knock on the door startles me. "Yeah?" I holler to the other side of the door. In walks my mother, a coffee in one hand and a book tucked under her arm.

"Good morning, sunshine. Get some aspirin and a coffee. I have some good news for you." She smiles as she walks out the door. Good news? What good news could my mother possibly have for me? I guess I’m about to find out. It’s been one week since I left Jameson and strolled back up to my mother’s front door. I figured by now someone would have shown up to convince me to go back to him. Not a single soul.

I actually haven’t even thought about him. Maddie has been keeping me busy, riding around with her, seeing the people and places I have missed for so long now. I guess I pushed it to the back of my mind.

Sliding up my joggers and throwing my hair into a ponytail, with last night's makeup still smeared on my face, I make my way to the kitchen. A fresh cup of coffee waits for me on the counter. Picking it up, I breathe in the scent of French vanilla creamer, a chill running down my spine. God, I missed coffee.

My mother smiles at me, maybe noticing how much I missed this. "Sooo good," I murmur, taking a hot sip. "One of my good friends has offered to give you a job," she says, watching as I sip. "You start in two hours at the diner." She takes a sip of her own coffee, casual as ever. "Alright, thanks, Mom. How did you get me a job so fast?"

"She’s a good friend and needs some help. The last waitress is off having her baby, so it kinda just worked out." She shrugs. "Um, what do I wear?" I ask, because honestly, I have no clue. "Throw on some jeans and a decent shirt. Definitely not the jogging pants you have on now." She scrunches her nose in disapproval. My mother would never be caught dead in lazy clothes. Meanwhile, I could live in leggings or joggers.

She drops me off at the diner on her way out. The owner is inside, waiting for me. I guess she knows a little about my situation at least that I’m here to stay and need to make some cash. She has a warm smile and deep wrinkles, the kind that come from a lifetime of dealing with people. You can tell she’s owned this place for years. Her kindness radiates like a light in the darkness. As soon as I step through the door, a bell chimes above my head. She spots me instantly. Her name tag reads Lori.

"Oh, hi, honey! I know your mom said you needed a job, and I needed help. I’m so glad you’re starting today. By the way, my name is Lori I own the place." She smiles and gives me a wink.

"Let me show you around. It’s really simple. But if you have any trouble, just holler at me, and I’ll help. Lunch time gets a little crazy around here." She leads me through the small diner, pointing out the kitchen, the storage area, and the counter.

I’ll be wiping down tables and taking orders. Seems easy enough. Definitely a new step in this new me. Customers come and go, ordering breakfast scrambled eggs and toast, pancakes, and endless cups of coffee. Early bird construction workers, grandpas and grandmas catching up over their morning brew. The clock moves faster than I expected. Staying busy keeps my mind from wandering, and I actually like it. Seeing new faces, moving, working it gives me something to do, something to pass the time.

One hour turns into three, and its finally time for a break. I call back to Lori, "Do you care if I take my break now?" She yells back, "Okay, sissy!" I head to the back entrance, stepping into the parking lot. Sitting down on the pavement, I pull out my smokes, sticking one between my lips and lighting it. Inhaling, the familiar burn in my lungs calms my nerves. Another trait my mother would disapprove of. Another dirty little secret I keep to myself.

This is good for me. This is how life should be. I take one last drag, exhaling slowly before standing up. Dusting myself off, I head back inside. That fifteen-minute break didn’t last long. Repositioning my ponytail, I walk back inside. “The table over there is yours, sis,” Lori tells me. I grab a menu and head that way. As soon as I reach the table, I ask, “What can I get ya this morning?”

Setting the menu down, the man grabs my wrist. I’m met with a deep golden-brown stare. Still holding my wrist, he says, “This is beautiful work, princess.” His lush lips curl into an evil smile. “A rose is the perfect flower smells so sweet, yet if you get caught with the thorns, it’ll bring blood.” Grinning, he rubs his thumb over it.

“Roses are my favorite,” I say shyly. “Who would have thought we’d be meeting again? I was hoping to have a proper greeting in the daytime less intoxicated.” I can’t help but smile a little. “First day on the job, and you found me. Dominic, isn’t it?” I ask. “It is. Dominic Costello.” He brings my hand up to his mouth and ever so gently kisses the top. Instantly, heat pools low in my body. His eyes meet mine as he looks up. I pull my hand away, embarrassed by how hot my face feels just from his touch.

“So, what can I get you this morning?” I ask, curious about what he’ll actually say. My mind is in the gutter, and I don’t think I can pull myself out. “Coffee. Black.” He never takes his eyes off me as he answers. I turn on my heels so fast I nearly trip. I can’t get away from this man fast enough. I’m here to fix my life, not complicate it more. He’s gorgeous, tattooed, and looks like his shoelaces could cost a thousand dollars. He is way out of my league. This man is what dirty, nasty dreams are made of.

I need to keep my mindset straight I can be whoever I want. My past is my past for a reason. At the counter, I wait for his coffee and then make my way back to his table. His sleeves are rolled up, and he’s focused on his phone. As soon as he sees me with his coffee, he sets the phone aside and takes the cup. I stand there for a second, unsure of what to say. “How’s the coffee?” I ask. Taking a sip, he nods. “Perfect.” He flashes that devilish smile. Goodness, he’s a sight to see. I smile back. “Is there anything else you need?”

“As a matter of fact, there is.” His voice is smooth, certain. “I was hoping you could give me your number. That is, of course, if you’d like to accompany me to the business gala next weekend.” This can’t be real. He wants me to go with him. He’s so proper, yet he’s like a stone wall unmoving, impenetrable. He isn’t really asking. He’s telling me. And I’m a little taken aback, unsure of what to say. “Um, well, at the moment, I don’t have a cell phone,” I admit. “I just moved back into town to stay and help my mother. I haven’t had time to get one yet.” It’s partly true. I planned on getting one soon.

“I see. Well, how about this? On Friday night, I’ll pick you up from your place, say around eight o’clock. Be ready it’s an elegant gala. Lots of big names from all over will be there,” he states. “I can do that.” Why am I smiling like a middle schooler being asked out on a date? He stands, taking one last drink of his coffee before grabbing his suit jacket. He’s tall way taller than me as I look up at him. He throws some cash down on the table, winks, and walks off.

I can’t help but watch his ass in those pants. Good lord, I know that man has to work out. This is not the type of man I’m used to. Then again, the man I was used to was a twig compared to this Hercules who just walked out of the diner. Every woman in here, old and young, watched him. His presence is undeniable. He owns every place he walks into.

And apparently, I’m going to be his plus-one this weekend in front of some very important people. This could end badly. Or this could be exactly what I need a perfect opportunity to fake it till I make it, as some would say.

After a few more hours and a lot of orders, my shift is finally over. I actually love working at Lori’s. I never thought I’d enjoy something like this. Doesn’t hurt that Dominic showed up today that was definitely the highlight of my day. Smiling, I wait for my mother’s car to pull up. The moment I slide in, I notice how tired she looks. “Well, how was your first day? Did you like Lori?” she asks.

“Yeah, it’s definitely been interesting, to say the least.” I chuckle. “I’m so glad you liked it. It’s a good start for you here getting back to knowing everyone in town, starting off on the right foot. New people, better people in your life.”

It crosses my mind for a second would my mother know anything about Dominic? I push the thought away. I don’t want to give her anything to stress over. By the time we arrive home, my feet ache, and I know my bed is calling my name. I open my bedroom door, strip off my clothes, and grab a T-shirt. Lying in bed, with everyone else asleep, I can’t help but wonder...Did he know I’d be there today? That has to be crazy thinking. He only just met me last night. There’s no way he could have known. My dreams will be haunted by this brute of a man covered in tattoos.