Desire

by Cassie Verano

  “I’m not the one that needs help. You need to get control of that beast. And if you can’t handle him, you shouldn’t be walking around with him!” he grumbled, a scowl masking what I suspected were normally attractive features.

  “He’s not a beast, and again I’m sorry. I don’t know what got into him. He’s typically an angel and easy to handle. But...those are his favorite treats,” I said, pointing to the pastries Bear had just about polished off.

  Nothing more than a grumble deep in his throat did he offer up.

  “I’ll go and buy you more to replace those and a new coffee,” I offered.

  “Can you buy me more time? Huh? Because that’s about the only thing that I need this morning!” His deep voice thundered in the early morning.

  I allowed a brief smile to pass over my lips. “Sorry, but that’s one thing I can’t do.”

  “Then, it’s whatever.”

  “I can get your dry cleaning bill,” I suggested.

  He stopped dabbing at his suit and threw me a ridiculous look.

  “Look, lady. Your dog cost me a damn hour out of my morning. I’m about to be late for a meeting. So, if you can’t fix that, there’s nothing else you can do. But get that beast under control.”

  “I apologized,” I said with a slight bow of my head. “I’ve tried to replace the pastries and coffee. You’ve turned down all my suggestions, I’m not sure what more I can do,” I said.

  It was my fault, but the guy didn’t have to be a jerk about it.

  He shook his head, furiously. “There’s nothing you can do but control that beast. I don’t have time for this,” he muttered as he brushed past me, heading down the hill.

  I spared a glance at Bear and shook my head. I made my way to where he sat, happily licking his chops. “That was not good, Bear. You can’t attack strangers and steal their breakfast,” I chastised.

  My sweet baby looked at me with a beatific look on his face, as though all were right in the world. I guess for him it was.

  I sighed and pushed up from my kneeling position and headed into the coffee shop.

  “Silver!” Tiffani called out from behind the counter, where she was sliding the card of a current customer.

  Tiffani Bush, the owner of French Toast, had jet black hair cut into a bob with bright red bangs. She sparkled with jewelry; her left ear covered in piercings, and one in her lip, and two in her nose. Tattoos covered her right arm in a sleeve, and she had one of a beautiful purple dove on the right side of her neck. Although eccentric, Tiffani was a sweetheart, and everyone loved her.

  “Hi, Tiff,” I greeted with a wan smile.

  “I saw that. I’m sorry, are you okay?”

  I glanced over my shoulder, worriedly at Bear. “I’m fine, but I don’t know what got into Bear.”

  She chuckled as I stepped to the counter. I didn’t have to give her my order; it was the same every morning. I watched as she poured my coffee and called out my request for an egg white sandwich to Jeffrey, her assistant, who was prepping food in the back.

  “You know how he loves those apple streusels. The funny thing is, when the man ordered them, I thought about Bear. And I knew it was time for you to make an appearance. I can almost set my clock by you,” she said, with a smile and a glance at the clock.

  “Yeah, well, you have customers walking out of here with those treats all the time, and he doesn’t attack them. It’s not good for business, Tiff. I’m sorry,” I said as I shook my head again and glanced out the large glass window at Bear once more.

  Tiffani waved a hand at me. “Girl, please. The way that man got bent out of shape, he’s probably an ass anyway. If he had just come back in here, I would’ve replaced them free of charge. He deserved somebody to shake up his day,” she said with a twinkle in her eye and a hint of a smile on her lips as she handed my cup of coffee to me.

  I pulled my credit card from my fanny pack, but she waved it off as I extended my hand towards her.

  “No. This morning, you need a good deed. This morning’s meal is on me,” Tiffani said with a wink as she headed to the rear to pick up my order.

  I glanced around the coffee shop. There was always a slight lull in business around this time of the morning. Tiffani’s shop was extremely busy from five to shortly after seven. Then patrons slowed up until eight when business picked up again.

  I took note of a businessman who glanced away as soon as I looked at him. I was sure he saw what happened to me, and probably heard, too, because the man’s deep voice was loud. There was a small group of teens sitting near the rear which appeared preoccupied with their phones. Close to the window was a young couple, appearing to study. But unless the subject was anatomy, I wasn’t sure how much studying they were accomplishing. Books wide open on their table, they were attached at the lips.

  “Here ya, go,” Tiffani said as she handed me two separate bags. One held my sandwich and the other Bear’s usual morning treat.

  “Tiff, he’s already had like four. He doesn’t need another one,” I said as I shoved the bag back in her direction.

  “Silver, give this to that baby. He hasn’t done anything wrong. He can’t help if he loves my treats. All the boys do,” she said with a naughty wink as I shook my head and laughed.

  “But, he can’t—”

  “Just give it to him later,” she said with a wave of her hand. Her attention had already turned from me as she greeted the next patron walking in the store.

  “Thanks,” I called over my shoulder as I headed for the door.

  I quickly left the coffee shop, knowing I had to shower, shampoo, dress, eat, and get Bear to daycare before my day could properly begin. Lucky for me, the daycare was across the street from my office building, which was a three-minute drive or ten-minute walk. My meeting was at nine-thirty, and I had less than two hours to get there.

  I unraveled Bear’s leash, and when his head bobbed up as he sniffed his bag, I gave him a firm “No.”

  He hung his head slightly, and I felt somewhat bad for fussing at him, but I had to discipline him.

  We jogged the last several hundred feet to my apartment building at the foot of the hill. All thoughts of Bear’s poor victim had flown from my mind as I began to ponder again on what techniques the marketing team could employ to help boost sagging sales.

  Other Books by Cassie Verano

  SIMPLY SEDUCTIVE SERIES:

  Elevated Seduction

  Synful Seduction

  Privileged Seduction

  Enchanted Seduction

  SAVANNAH PASSION SERIES:

  Greyson: A BWWM Romance

  Anton: A BWWM Romance

  Rhys: A BWWM Romance

  THE SONS OF VICTOR BLACK SERIES:

  Explicit: The Sons of Victor Black: A BWWM Romance

  Allure: The Sons of Victor Black: An Interracial Romance

  Smooth: The Sons of Victor Black: A BWWM Romance

  LOVE DESIRED SERIES (coming):

  Hidden

  Harmony

  Undeniable

  JOIN MY MAILING LIST

  STAY CONNECTED AND get updates on new releases, upcoming projects, giveaways, teasers, sales, and more when you join my mailing list:

  CLICK HERE

  If you haven’t read the short story, Elevated Seduction, in the Simply Seductive series, you can grab your free copy by signing up for the newsletter above.

  Want more romance? Click the links below.

  Synful Seduction

  Greyson

  ABOUT CASSIE

  Cassie Verano pens romance for readers of all cultures and backgrounds. Her love of romance is borne from the beauty and joy she sees in the relationships around her. She enjoys creating works of fiction about women discovering true love and women who aren’t afraid to explore their sexuality.

  As a professional administrator, she dreamt of the day she could toss her paperwork aside and craft stories that inspired love and romance in the hearts of women around the world. As a wife and mother
, she enjoys playing quirky games and singing with her family.

  This southern belle is a native Georgia Peach, who enjoys reading, writing, and trying different cuisines from around the world. On rainy days she can be found cuddling under a blanket with a good mystery book in her hands or watching a romance movie on Hallmark or LMN.

  Connect with Cassie at one of the links below. You’ll also receive news and updates about new releases, upcoming projects, giveaways, teasers, sales, and more when you join her mailing list:

  Newsletter: Cassie Verano

  Like: Facebook

  Website: http://www.cassieverano.com/

  Email: cassiepensromance@gmail.com

  Acknowledgments

  To my readers,

  Desire is the first book in The Love Desired series. This series, originally called Black Coffee series, is comprised of men of color and the way that they love and the women they fall in love with. The people in their lives may not always celebrate their choices, but the heart won’t be satisfied until it gets what it wants.

  I hope you enjoyed Desire and getting to know Zymir’s laid back and casual flow paired up with the feisty, sassy, Karina. Sometimes, it takes the strong, silent type to calm down a strong woman that may be a bit overwhelming to others. But as with most strong men, Zymir was patient enough to see through the façade Karina erected. His patient demeanor enabled him to see through her hurt and pain and find a woman who, like all of us, just wanted to be loved.

  Please continue to share your encouraging emails, honest reviews, and thoughtful feedback with me. They help me formulate what I will give you next. And by the way, I’ve already started outlining the next series, Love to the Rescue, a Rescue Workers series.

  To my FB group Passionately Seductive, and Beta readers, you ladies are everything! You’re my tribe, and I appreciate you for hanging in there with me through the ups and downs.

  To my family and friends, you are my world, and I love you until eternity.

  To my lover, my husband, and my friend, you’re all that I need. I cannot imagine anything without you being a part of it. Your love is amazing, Prof!