Page 61 of Invisible String (The Underground #1)
I can’t remember the asshole’s name. He goes in for a hug, then glances at me standing next to her and goes pale. He looks me over like he’s sizing me up.
“Professor Shithead, good to see you. Now, my lady and I are going to sit. The host is waiting to seat us.”
Rainey pulls my hand, and we walk to our booth. Some people around us gasp, and some laugh. Once we slide in, she bursts into laughter.
“Professor Shithead? God, that was funny.”
My hands run up and down her soft-as-silk thigh. “When’s the last time you saw him?” Not because I’m jealous of him, but because I don’t trust him.
“Well, I’m pretty sure it was when I yelled at him. He wanted me to go out with him, and I told him to leave me alone.”
The urge to grab him by his scrawny neck and dunk his head in a big bowl of pasta is petulant, but fuck, would it be rewarding.
“He was probably looking for a professor-student fantasy.” She shrugs. “Lana’s words, not mine.”
Now that makes me want to bash his head on the table until I knock his teeth out.
“You’re my fantasy, not his or anyone’s.” I pick the menu and flip through it, my brows pinching. The thought of that makes my skin crawl.
Rainey cups my chin, averting my gaze toward her.
“To others, you’re like a grumpy, slash, scary guy, but to me, you’re like a cute, soft, and cuddly teddy bear.
” She gives me a dopey smile. “I’ve always liked that about you.
You reserve that side of you for me. I like being the only one having that side of you.
You know.” Her voice softens. “I like every version of you. I always have.”
My lips slant on hers for a short and sweet kiss. She’s so wholesome and perfect.
The server walks up and leaves a basket with a loaf of bread at the center of the table. Then he takes our drink order. I smother a slice of bread with butter for Rainey, then one for myself. It’s been on my mind to ask her this question about college, but it hasn’t been the right time.
“Have you thought about going back to school for psychology? Or is running the café what you want now? I’m only asking because you were so passionate about becoming a psychologist.”
Her soft, rose-petal skin under the palm of my hand urges me to move higher on her thigh.
“I haven’t thought about it in a long time.
Lana and my sister have mentioned it, but I’ve been too busy to think about myself.
” The server places our iced tea and water on the table.
“I dropped out because my mom got sick, and I didn’t want money from my dad.
He paid for college, and I didn’t need for him to ever throw that in my face.
I worked at my mom’s bakery until she closed, and I sold it and got the money to start a business.
The bakery is for my mom to keep her legacy alive.
She taught me everything about baking and cooking. ”
Her lips hug the straw, taking a sip of her tea.
“But is that what you want?” I know deep down it isn’t.
Rainey is an incredible woman. Her heart has always been my weakness.
She loves so freely and gives it at no cost. She once told me she wanted to become a psychologist to help people and make the world a better place.
I believe she would. She changed me in ways I never thought possible.
Rainey brings the good in anyone. She’s the sunshine that illuminates a plague of shadows.
“You know I love to bake. I enjoy working at the bakery and owning it.” She plays with the hem of her sweater.
I start to speak, but I’m interrupted when the server arrives to take our order. We tell him what we want, and I include some appetizers. Once he leaves, I turn to Rainey.
My lips brush her cheek. “That’s not what I asked.
Is this what you want? Do you see yourself doing this for the rest of your life?
I know you love baking, the atmosphere of the café, and being an owner of one, but what does my girl want?
Not what others desire for you, but deep in that beautiful heart of yours, what do you want? ”
She tilts her head and casts a soft gaze over me, then takes a strand of hair that fell to the side when I slicked it back. She puts it back in place. “I lost myself when I returned to school that summer. I only lasted a couple of months.”
My throat works knowing I’m the reason behind it.
“My mom became ill, and not wanting my father’s money was a good reason to quit.
To answer your question. Yes, I would like to be a psychologist, a child psychologist, but that will have to wait.
I don’t have the money for that, nor the time.
I just bought a house on my own, and I don’t want to sell the café.
I love it, and it means so much to me, so it’s impossible to have it all right now. ”
My resilient woman has always aimed to be independent, refusing to rely on her father’s wealth, especially because of his disrespectful behavior toward the family.
My thumb strokes the bottom of her chin.
“You can definitely have it all. The sky is the limit. Aim high, baby. Let me take care of it. We bump Isabella up as the manager and hire the most experienced high-grade chefs. You’ll have enough staff members.
You can check in when you’re available. As for school, I’ll pay for all of it.
Even the staff members of the café. I’ll take care of it. ”
“Max.” Her voice cracks, and her eyes water.
“Let me. I’ve busted my ass fighting in the Underground to make money to start a life and build my company. Now I’m going pro, something I’ve dreamed of. I didn’t build this for myself. I built a life for us .”
“What if you never found me?”
I smirk, then kiss her nose. “I’d always find you. I just didn’t know how long it would take.”
“Max, I appreciate your kindness. It’s sweet, but I can’t take your money.”
I laugh, and she scowls at me. “It’s fine. I’ll give you time. What’s mine is yours. It’s not my money, it’s ours.”
Her lips press on that damn straw again. It makes me want to rip it out of her mouth to choke her with my tongue.
“What’s mine is yours, huh?” Rainey’s voice is laced with a seductive drawl.
“Yes,” I respond to whatever she’s thinking.
“So, if I say I want to drive your car, you’ll say yeah?”
I thought when she said anything, she was talking about my dick. She can have that. It’s hers, but my car? Hell no. I press my lips, thinking of how to lay it out for her that her driving is—well, it sucks—without hurting her feelings.
The server sets the bruschetta sampler on the table. I nod and thank him and grab one to feed it to Rainey. She takes a bite.
“Remember, being a passenger princess has a lot of perks.”
She raises a brow.
“You can read and snack. Breast massages. My hand will be on your thigh, and if you need me to go farther up, consider it done.”
She takes another bite.
“It also comes with an exclusive bonus perk.”
She smiles while chewing.
“Blowjob—”
She starts choking.
I pat her back and hand her water. “Jeeze, Rainey, are you okay?”
She’s giggling.
“Exclusive for whom? Sounds like it would be an exclusive perk for you.”
I lick my smile that mirrors hers. “Of course, for you. It’s a passenger-princess exclusive perk. Me leaning back, one hand on the wheel, the other wrapped in your hair. In contrast, your lips are tightly secured. It’s a great perk.”
“Hmm…could it be you don’t want me to drive your car? You don’t trust my driving?”
The servers expertly balance our warm plates, their hands steady as they set them on the table. The aroma wafts around us.
Rainey digs into her steak salad, turning her body slightly to face me, waiting with a smirk on her pretty face.
“Trust? Of course I do. Maybe after some driving classes, we can reevaluate it,” I tease.
“It’s okay. I get it. I drive like shit.” She doesn’t take offense. Maybe it was because of the flashback I had years ago with her. “I like the passenger-princess perks so much better.”
“Ahh, the bonus one, right?”
She nods, her smile illuminating the area around us. “Yeah, maybe after this.”
“Ma’am, check, please. Pronto,” I joke.
Rainey leans her head on my shoulder. Fuck, does that warm my scarred heart. She’s the only person I would do anything for. I’ve had many dreams throughout the years, but this one is the one I wished for.
Her—always Rainey.