by Loni Ree
At six-fifteen, we lock the shelter, and I find Slater standing next to a huge black truck. As he walks up and smiles at me, his smile turns my mind to mush, and I force myself to concentrate. “I have my car here. Would you like to follow me home and drop it off, or do you want to bring me back here later?”
He seems to consider my dilemma for a second before smiling at me. His handsome smile sends chills down my spine, and I nearly melt on the spot. “Why don’t we drop your car off now. I hate the thought of you driving home alone late at night.” Then he follows me to my car and opens the door for me. After I settle behind the wheel, Slater surprises me by grabbing the seatbelt and leaning over me to fasten it. “I want to make sure you make it home safely.” He kisses the tip of my nose before backing out of my car. As I watch him stroll back to his huge truck, I wonder if I’ll have the strength to drive to my apartment since my legs are still melted puddles of goo from his small kiss.
The entire drive to my home, I watch the rearview mirror to ensure Slater is still behind me. When we pull onto my quiet street, I breathe a sigh of relief and pull past Mr. Henderson’s beautiful colonial style home. I see the curtains jiggle in the front window, so I’m sure Mrs. Henderson will be full of questions tomorrow morning. As Slater parks behind me, I take a deep breath and give myself a pep talk. It’s been so long since I’ve been on a date; I’m not sure how to act.
I almost jump out of my skin when he suddenly opens my door and reaches in to unfasten my seatbelt. “I was just thinking that it would be nice to change out of these puppy smelling clothes. Would you mind?”
My heart thunders in my chest as his breath brushes the side of my face before he kisses my ear and whispers, “Do whatever you need to get comfortable. We have plenty of time.”
I barely manage to shake my head in agreement before leading him into my small home. Since I work extra hours most weeks to pay off my student loans, I don’t need a huge place to live, so this tiny little apartment is perfect for me. The Hendersons are like surrogate grandparents to me and always treat me like a member of their family. Seeing the huge man walking into my pink living room causes a giggle to escape my throat. When he turns and frowns, I apologize, “Sorry, it’s just funny to see you in my pink, frilly living room. Kind of like seeing you holding the little Pekingese dog.”
His stunning brown eyes narrow for a second before he marches over and drops down on my minuscule loveseat then points at the worn floral material. “And how do you know I don’t have a sofa just like this?”
His playful smirk eases my tension, and I scoot around my old scarred coffee table to sit next to him. “So, tell me, do you have a floral couch?”
I’m not prepared for the electricity that flows through every inch of my body when his lips cover mine. My body melts into his hard frame briefly before he pulls away and touches his forehead to mine. “You’ll have to come to my place for dinner and see for yourself. What are your plans for tomorrow night?”
I’m so happy he’s already asking me on another date and almost forget I work the next three nights. Hopefully, he’ll wait until I’m free. “I would love to see your sofa for myself, but I work the next three nights. Are you free Sunday night?”
Slater’s huge palm wraps around the side of my face as he smiles into my eyes. “I’ll have a hard time waiting until Sunday to see you again, but since you’re working, I’ll make the sacrifice.” Oh my God. My heart melts as my blood heats. To be sure I’m not dreaming, I sneak my hand around behind my back and pinch myself. “Now, go get changed while I have the willpower to let you off of this fancy sofa.” Giggling at his joke, I rush to my room and hurry through washing myself off and changing clothes.
When I’m sure I no longer smell like a kennel, I apply lip gloss and pull my hair up in a ponytail, and then I take a deep breath before walking back out into my living room. Slater looks up from his phone and smiles. “If my new little pet didn’t need supplies so badly, I’d keep you here all to myself this evening. But my friend just texted to let me know that Duchess ate all his steak for dinner and still acts hungry, so I think I definitely need to get her a few things.”
“We should go to Petland first before they close, and then we can get dinner,” I suggest as he’s helping me into his huge truck. Yet again, he leans over and hooks my seatbelt. I’m getting used to the gesture, but sparks of electricity still shoot through my body from his nearness.
Both of the teenage girls behind the counter at Petland stop talking and stare at Slater when we walk through the door. He put his arm around my shoulders after helping me from the truck, and my brain is still groggy from the endorphin overload. One of the girls blinks a few times then asks, “Can I help you with something?”
Slater shoots the girl his panty-melting smile. “No, we can manage on our own.”
It takes a while, but we end up with a basket full of supplies for Duchess. She’s getting a new bed, lots of toys, food, and treats. I insist on a pink collar with spikes on it, and Slater decides a crate is a must. In the back of my mind, I laugh knowing Duchess won’t spend a single night in that metal and plastic contraption.
After we load all our purchases into Slater’s vehicle, he apologizes, “Sorry, that took much longer than I expected it to take. You must be starving.” He helps me into the truck and hooks my seatbelt, then runs around to hop into the driver’s seat. “Do you have someplace in mind for dinner?”
I decide to see if he’ll take me to my favorite restaurant, Sunny Sue’s. He looks shocked for a second after I suggest it, then shrugs and starts the truck. Sunny is behind the counter, talking to a couple of regulars when we walk in. He looks between Slater and me a few times, and his brightly made-up eyes widen comically before he rushes around the side to greet us. “Well, hello.” He turns to me and shakes his finger before running his eyes up and down Slater. “Elyse, you didn’t tell me you were seeing such a fine young man.” The look on Slater’s face is priceless as the six-foot-tall black man, dressed in a light blue dress and tan high heels, slips between us and takes each of our arms before leading us to a table.
After Slater holds my chair out for me and I sit down, he sits directly across the table, and Sunny leans over to whisper in my ear, “That man is hot enough to melt the wig right off my head. You’re one lucky chick.” When I peek over at Slater, there’s a red blush staining his cheeks, so I realize he heard Sunny’s whisper across the round table. Sunny straightens up and smiles at us then gets our orders.
When Sunny’s partner, Sue, comes by with our drinks, she tries to be discreet, but it’s obvious she’s checking out Slater. My friends are doing a pretty good job of embarrassing me tonight. Sue finally looks over at me and smiles. “Where’s your shadow tonight?”
“She’s watching Netflix tonight.” Slater looks confused by our conversation, and I explain everything once Sue walks away. “I eat here at least two or three times a week with my best friend, Emerson. Sunny and Sue treat us like family.”
The rest of the evening, I tell him about moving back to Darian after finishing nursing school to be close to Emerson. My parents live in Washington State, and I have a love-hate relationship with them. Sadly, for most of my life, it’s been more hate than love.
“Do you like working nightshift?” Slater has a frown marring his handsome face after I explain my seven at night until seven-thirty the next morning hours.
I take a drink of my soda and smile at Sunny when he walks by to check on us, then I shrug. “I’m not in love with it, but new nurses don’t really get much of a choice. It takes a few years to build up enough seniority to get off of nightshift. Hopefully, soon, I can apply for a dayshift position. So, what about you guys? The whole town thinks you’ve got ties to organized crime, and that’s how you could afford to buy and fix up Jackman’s Garage.”
Slater blinks several times before throwing his head back and laughing. When he shares his own story, I realize how wrong the town is about the three businessmen. I
already knew he owned a custom auto shop in New York City with his two friends, but Slater explains they were wildly successful and walked away from that business extremely wealthy men. The crime and the hassle of living in the big city drove them to leave after they made their fortune. His friend’s cousins were raised in Darian. When Jackman’s Garage closed down, they convinced Slater to sell the business in New York so they could move here and open a new auto shop in the old building. Slater has a degree in business, so he takes care of all the shop business, while Zander is in charge of the garage and mechanics. Brock is in charge of the custom designs that they offer to select customers. They were inventive when they decided on the name of their new shop. They took the first letter from each of their last names—Slater Torrey, Zander Burton, and Brock Dravin—and ran with it.
He speaks fondly of his two friends, and we realize we have a lot in common. We’ve both been on our own since college. His dad died when he was in grade school, and his mom remarried. Her marriage lasted until Slater was in high school, then she died in a car accident. Since he’d never had a great relationship with his stepfather, Slater left for college and never looked back. He was lucky enough to meet Brock and Zander in a freshman English class. The three of them helped each other pass the class and became lifelong friends after the ordeal. They combined their love of cars and business acumen and opened their first garage right after college. As he makes me laugh with his stories, I fall more and more under his spell.
The night passes way too quickly, and I realize we’re the only customers left in the diner. Slater notices me looking around and smirks. “I guess it’s time for me to get you home.” Sunny refuses to let us pay for our dinner and gets Slater to promise to come back and bring his friends next time. During the drive to my apartment, my stomach begins to knot. I’m not sure what a man like Slater expects after dinner, but I’m sure it’s more than he’s going to get from me. I’m terrified tonight will be the last night I ever see him. That thought sends a shaft of pain right through my heart. A shiver passes through me as I feel his eyes moving over me across the dark vehicle before he asks, “Why are you suddenly so quiet?”
“I’m sorry to see the night end.” I decide to tell him part of the reason.
As we walk up the narrow stairs to my apartment, the knots twist and turn until I’ve worked myself into a near panic. Slater takes my keys and unlocks my door then wraps his palms around my face. “It’s going to be a long three days, but I look forward to Sunday night.” His lips cover mine, and all my nerves are forgotten as my mind completely shuts down from his kiss. When he lifts his head, he whispers, “Give me your phone so I can add my number.” I hand over my phone without a second thought, and he quickly types on the screen, then I hear his phone vibrate in his pocket. “Now, I have your number, too.” Slater turns to leave but only makes it down two stairs before he turns and runs back up to me. “I couldn’t leave without one more taste.” After his lips touch mine so softly, he’s off down the stairs again.
The next night, I walk into Sunny Sue’s, and Emerson is waiting for me at the counter. I can see Sue and Sunny have filled her in on my date from last night when she mouths, “You lucky bitch,” as I walk up.
After sitting next to her, I shake my head at the nutcase and turn to Sunny. “I’ll have my usual with a side of gossip, please.”
Sue bursts out laughing as she pours my diet soda and sets it in front of me. “Oh, sweetheart, you should know there’s no way you can bring a hot specimen of manhood like that in here and keep it quiet. Hell, Sunny wants to start a Facebook page in your honor.”
Emerson laughs before looking over at Sunny. “I’ll help you. This is definitely worth bragging about.” I roll my eyes at my best friend and make a note to change my Facebook password just in case she isn’t completely joking.
Dinner with my friends helps cheer me up, but I’m still upset at the thought of going three whole days without seeing Slater. I can’t explain what’s happening to me. It’s crazy for me to feel this strongly for Slater after spending only one evening with him.
Chapter 4
Slater
Walking away from her at the end of the evening was the hardest fucking thing I’ve ever done. Earlier in the evening, the little beauty burrowed her way into my heart, and now I’m having withdrawal symptoms. I’ve never experienced anything like this in my thirty-two years, and I didn’t truly believe it even existed. Fuck, she looked at me pleadingly with her big brown eyes earlier today, and I ended up caving and keeping the furball.
Zander’s front porch light is on when I pull up. He throws the door open on the first ring, holding Duchess. “It’s about time. Your little Duchess eats like a grown man,” he grouses as he steps back for me to enter. “You owe me two porterhouse steaks and a ribeye. And she fucking pisses herself if you yell at her.”
“You’re the dumb fuck who fed a dog three steaks,” I remind him. Then I look down at the dog in his arms. “Why did you yell at my dog?”
The asshole glares at me and shoves Duchess into my arms. “She stuck her beak into my plate and ate my fucking steak, too.”
Holding back my laughter, I look down at the dog and back at my friend. “She can’t jump that high. How did she get to your plate?”
When Zander flashes his middle finger at me, I have my answer. The ass let Duchess eat at the table, so he deserved to lose his steak. “Thanks for watching my dog.”
As I’m walking down his stone steps, Zander calls to me, “You can pay me ass or cash. I’ll take either.” After I hook the dog into the front seat with her new harness and doggie seatbelt, I flip off my friend over my shoulder.
Duchess looks at me sadly the entire way home, and I’m sure she’s protesting the new restraints. “Look, girl, your new best friend talked me into those. She said you needed to be safe in the truck.” The dog doesn’t look impressed with my explanation, so I turn on the music and ignore her pleading looks the rest of the way home.
Sleeping is impossible. Thoughts of Elyse continuously drift through my mind, hardening my cock and causing me to twist and turn until I give up and take a cold fucking shower. The icy water alone does little to bring me relief, and I’m forced to take matters into my own hand. After wrapping my tight fist around my cock, I close my eyes and easily picture Elyse’s perfect, curvy body. I pound my fist on the wall as my cum mixes with the water and slides down the drain. The relief only lasts a few minutes since persistent thoughts of her never leave my mind.
“That dog is still staring at me. It’s creepy,” Brock complains, and I turn to glare at the bastard. He’s complained about Duchess all day long, and I’m getting tired of the constant bitching.
“She’s trying to figure out when you’re going to grow a set of balls.” Brock flips me off before slamming out the door on his way to the shop. Maybe he’ll stay out there for a while and give me a reprieve from his attitude.
It’s one of the longest days I’ve ever experienced, and I’m wondering how I’m going to survive the next three days without seeing Elyse when Zander snaps, “Damnit, have mercy on us and go take the girl dinner and fuck her in a broom closet or something. We’re going to lose all our fucking employees if you keep growling at everyone.”
I glare at the fucker for a minute. “I didn’t know you were so concerned with my love life.”
He runs his hand down his face as he sits in the chair in front of my desk. To my surprise, my dog walks up and paws his leg, and Zander lifts her onto his lap. “I couldn’t care less about your dick and what you do with it, but you are steadily pissing off customers and employees with your piss poor attitude. So, either jack off until you have a smile on your face or go get the girl and find a closet.”
My head drops back on the chair’s headrest, and I sigh in frustration. “FUCK!”
“Exactly what you need.” The smartass smirks, and I half-heartedly flip him off. He’s right, though; I’m not going to make it three days without seeing Elyse,
but I have no idea how to manage some time with her. And I’m definitely not ready to explain all of this to Zander.
I’m sitting in my truck while parked in front of Darian Memorial, staring at the pizza on my front seat. I ended up explaining the situation to Zander so his nosy ass would watch my dog again. Brock sat by quietly until his brother started making asinine suggestions, then he stepped in and actually gave me a good idea. So, here I am with a pizza, hoping to see my girl for a few minutes. I know she works in the Emergency Room, and Brock called a friend who works at the hospital to find out when the best time would be for me to make my surprise appearance.
The older nurse sitting behind the computer looks bored when I walk up. She takes one look at the pizza in my hand and assumes I’m delivering it to an employee. “Do you have the name of the employee who ordered it?” The tired-looking woman barely glances up from the computer screen in front of her.
I give her my smoothest smile. “I’m actually here to see Elyse Sheridan. I wanted to surprise her with dinner.” Well, now I have her attention. Her eyes pop up, and she leans over the counter to look me over.
A huge smile breaks out across the nurse’s face before she winks. “I will make sure Elyse can take her break. That girl works so hard. She deserves a nice dinner. Follow me. I’ll show you to a breakroom.”
As I sit in the empty room, I begin to have second thoughts about this idea. I’m suddenly concerned showing up at Elyse’s hospital will seem too forward. Before I can worry anymore, Elyse walks through the door, and I forget everything at the sight of her gorgeous body. “Oh my goodness. What’s all this?”
