Total pages in book: 40
Estimated words: 38276 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 191(@200wpm)___ 153(@250wpm)___ 128(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 38276 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 191(@200wpm)___ 153(@250wpm)___ 128(@300wpm)
“So, you came all the way to my work to see if I was okay?”
“Yeah.”
We both stare at each other as it sinks in. I don’t know what to say, so I purse my lips, thinking it over.
“What are you thinking?” Callan asks, watching me a second before going in for more pie.
“I’m leaning toward the possibility that you are insane,” I tell him.
“Zoe, I was worried about you. That’s it. You don’t know me, so I get why you would be cautious. Yet, I need you to know that I’d cut my arm off before I’d hurt you.”
“I imagine that’s what every serial killer would say while trying to lure their victims into imminent doom,” I respond with a nod.
“I can provide several references, including the police commissioner of Miami along with several judges and other attorneys, if you’d like,” Callan offers.
I wince. “I don’t know that I trust anyone in politics or a lawyer.”
“You know I’m an attorney, right?”
“Yeah, that’s part of the problem,” I tell him, making him laugh.
“I’m starting to realize that breaking through your walls is going to be the biggest battle I’ve ever faced,” Callan grumbles, shaking his head.
“I’m not sure I understand why you’re even bothering to.”
“I know you’re special.”
I shake my head vehemently. “You just don’t give up.”
“If the reward is you, I never will,” Callan says solemnly. “Where have you been all day?”
“Right here,” I tell him flatly.
“You’ve worked all day?”
“The other waitress was a no-show, and I’ve had to cover for her all week. I get tomorrow off, though, and with my father out of town, I plan on sleeping all day.”
“You’re too young to be working yourself to death like this,” he says, shaking his head.
“I get you probably don’t understand because you can afford to waste thousands of dollars sending innocent flowers to their death, but some people have to work to keep a roof over their head.”
“Now you’re jumping to conclusions. Just because I have money in the bank doesn’t mean I always have. I’ve worked my ass off to get to where I am, Zoe. I wasn’t born into the life I have now. I even bussed tables at night while attending college during the day.”
His words hit me hard. Shame fills me as I realize I’ve been judging him from the beginning. I know I shouldn’t have. It just makes me uncomfortable that someone like Callan has been pursuing me so strongly. It just feels like there has to be a reason. I know I can’t be his normal type of woman.
“I’m sorry,” I confess softly. I don’t make excuses for it, and I don’t try to push it off because I’m actually sorry that I was being that judgmental when I hate when others do it to me.
“You can make it up to me,” Callan says, staring up at me thoughtfully.
“How?”
“I’ll let you know,” he says slowly, his smile stretching out. The mischievous glint in his eye tells me he will be letting me know soon.
Joe walks around the corner, wiping his hands on a towel before throwing it over his shoulder. He’s an older guy that tends to look grouchy all the time, but he’s a teddy bear of a man. Takes a while for him to show it. “Closing time,” he barks out.
“Oh, thank God!” I sigh happily.
Joe crosses his arms as he glares at Callan. “That means you need to go.”
“I’ll be leaving, but I want to make sure Zoe makes it to her car safely before I do,” Callan says. He’s not glaring like Joe, but there’s something in the way they are staring that makes me think that Callan doesn’t need to show aggression to be intimidating. He sets money on the counter, and I notice there’s way more there than the price for coffee and a slice of pie.
I start to help clean up the counter, but Joe stops me. “I’ve got it. I haven’t worked two shifts today. You need to go home. I’ll finish cleaning and then lock up.”
Those words are music to my ears, and I pull Joe into a tight hug. He goes stiff like he’s never been hugged before. I put both hands on his cheeks and stretch up on the tips of my toes and plant a big kiss on his lips so fast he’s not even sure what I did.
“I love you, Joe.”
I barely have time to squeak out my gasp of surprise before I hear this growl and I’m pulled away. I look at Callan like he’s grown a third ear or something.
“Grab your coat. Let’s get out of here,” he orders, his gaze pinpointed on Joe.
“I guess I’ll finish cleaning up,” Joe says, and I could swear he’s fighting laughter.
“You do that, Joe,” Callan says, and now Joe does laugh—loudly.