Page 21 of Hungry Hearts

“All of them?” I laugh.

He nods. “I didn’t know your preference, so I ordered a variety pack. There’s French roast, breakfast blend, medium roast, hazelnut, vanilla, Colombian special, a latte, and a chai tea in case you’ve already had your vat of caffeine for the day. Take your pick or drink them all.”

“You... wow.” I clasp my hands together in front of me and look up at him. “That was very sweet and very over the top. Roast and Toast is expensive. You didn’t have to do this.” He makes liking him so easy, and the embarrassment of picking him up in the bar and asking him to be sinfully dirty with me in bed melts away.

He lifts a shoulder. “I’d rather take you out for breakfast or, to be honest, make you breakfast in bed, but I guess this is the next best thing.”

Instead of being embarrassed like I was yesterday, I’m flattered. It’s been a long time since I’ve been hit on like this. Actually, I’ve never been hit on like this.

“My morning was crazy. I’m only one cup of coffee in, and half of that is still on my kitchen counter.”

“Well, then.” He lifts the tray. “Take your pick.”

“I’m surprised ‘what’s your favorite coffee’ wasn’t in your barrage of questions.” I take the cup of hazelnut, careful not to tip the tray.”

“Good pick. Also shows we’re perfectly compatible.” He wiggles the bag I didn’t notice under the tray. “Creams and sugars are in here.”

“Why don’t we go inside so you can set those down.”

“I thought you’d never ask.”

I turn to the door and remember I don’t have the keys. “Um, keys?”

“They’re in my front pocket.” He juts his hip out for me. “I swear I didn’t have this move planned either, but I’m not ashamed to admit I’m not mad about it.”

I look from Ryder’s full hands to his pocket, while also trying not to notice the bulge behind his zipper.

“My hands are full, Angel. It’s not like there’s anything down there you haven’t touched before.”

Holy crap. Any minute the fire department is going to come screeching down the street to put out the flames bursting inside me.

“I meant your keys. Get your mind out of the gutter.” I tilt my head up at him and raise a brow. “Yeah. Forget I said that. I love when your mind is in the gutter.”

I tentatively step closer and hook two fingers into his front pocket. The keys are too deep. I can’t access them and need to slide my entire hand in. I move to his side so I have a better angle and accidentally brush my boob against his elbow.

“Fuck. I really like your hand down my pants.” He lets out a guttural sigh and I gasp. “Sorry. My friends are always on me about my lack of filter and told me one day I’d meet a girl I really like and my mouth would drive her away. Sorry, Maia. I swear I didn’t do this intentionally.” His eyes are closed and his jaw is tense like he’s in pain.

“I believe you.” I loop my middle finger around the key ring and slide them from his pocket.

The beverage carriers hide my view of the front of his jeans, but I’m pretty sure the bulge I noticed a minute ago has doubled in size. Stepping away from him, I quickly unlock the salon and hold the door open for him.

Ryder opens his eyes and stays on the sidewalk. “I’m respecting your boundaries, Maia. I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable in front of your employees.”

“They won’t be here for another hour.”

He hesitates before brushing past me. Once we’re both inside, I lock the door behind us. He sets the drinks on the reception desk and tucks his hands in the front pockets of his jeans. My eyes can’t help following his movement where I see I was wrong in my estimate.

The bulge is at least triple in size. He adjusts himself and clears his throat. “Eyes up here, Maia, or I’m gonna think you want to give me a hand here.”

My eyes instantly flick away and I stare past him at the washing station.

“Fuck. I did it again. You’re not like this. You’re at work and I’m disrespecting you. I swear I don’t mean to. I’m mostly kidding, but if you called my bluff, I wouldn’t be mad about it either. Fuck. Filter, Ryder.” He closes his eyes and shakes his head.

The fact that he’s struggling so hard and is trying to be respectful has me softening. “I don’t want you to filter who you are for me, Ryder. Honest and authentic is what first attracted me to you.”

“About that.” He lifts his baseball cap and runs his hand through his hair before returning it. “I’m not exactly who you think I am.”

My heart drops into my stomach. I take a step back from him. It’s like a scene from a movie, or a book. I’ve read about mafias, mobsters, and gangsters. Is he a criminal? He’s too pretty to be one, but that’s how they get you to trust them.

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