Page 5 of Freaks Of Nature

I kinda like it.

“I’m Asher, by the way. You can call me Ash.” He extends a hand. An array of dark tattoos winds up his arms like sleeves, then disappears into his shirt. Even his fingers are inked.

“Emily,” I offer, sliding my palm against his.

“Nice to meet you, Emily.”

Our connection is brief. Car noise rises around us, and I glimpse a bar across the street. I didn’t realize I hit the main road.

Stuffing both hands into his pockets, Ash rocks on his heels. “So, where are you headed at three in the morning alone?”

“I was on my way home. I just got off work.” I hike a thumb over my shoulder, then realize I have no idea which direction the diner is. “But I think I got lost. Do you mind pointing me toward 32ndstreet?”

He squints one eye with a cute twist to his lips, then says, “I can do you one better. How about I walk you?”

My breath hitches at his suggestion. Is he offering in hopes to get lucky?

My lips part, but before I can decline, he tips toward me. “You know, just in case he comes back,” he tags on, brows arched.

Ash doesn’t blink as he holds my stare, and I find myself swept up by his charm. Warm vanilla and a mix of amber and oak invade my airways. He smells divine. I feel my conviction dwindling.

I weigh my odds. I’m already running from a stalker. What are the chances of me stumbling into the arms of another, or someone worse?

“I’d like that.”

Em

Ibus the last two tables after the guests leave. We get a steady flow of customers right until closing, which is a lot later than some other places. In the week I’ve been here, I’ve never seen it empty.

Laura eyes me suspiciously from the counter. “Don’t you look chipper for it being 2:30 in the morning. Wish I had your energy, girl.”

Laura is a curvy woman somewhere in her fifties, but from what I can tell, she has plenty of energy to keep this place running on her own.

She wears an apron and street clothes underneath like me. The diner is a casual, privately owned restaurant, not one of those corporate chains.

I like working here.

But that isn’t the reason behind the extra sway in my step or my grin as I gather the plates.

“If my sixth sense doesn’t lie, and it never does, I’d guess you still have plans tonight. A date maybe?”

“Maybe,” I echo with a teasing note.

Asher and I got to talking when he walked me home last night. My first impression of him wasn’t wrong. He’s laid back, funny, and a smooth talker.

He almost silver-tongued his way into my apartment.

Almost.

“So?” Laura prompts. “Who’s the lucky guy? Where did you meet him?”

I wouldn’t call himluckyjust yet, but he did offer to walk me home tonight too, so let’s see where things go from there.

“I bumped into him yesterday”—literally—“and we kinda hit it off,” I tell her. “He’s picking me up.”

“Oooh, what a charmer,” she drawls. “He handsome too?”

Hotis more like it. And that cologne of his… I feel my panties dampen just thinking of him and his big, strong hands on me again.