Page 21 of The Playboy and the Waitress

“He means a lot to you, and I want to know more about your world. I would have preferred a cat or a dog…but my girl has a cow.”

I roll my eyes laughing, “Get on the damn four-wheeler, city boy; let’s get you home.”

CHAPTER10

Ihave tried on practically every piece of clothing in my closet, and now most of it is laying on the floor. This is something I haven’t done since I was a teenager. I have pulled my hair up and then put it back down.Why in the hell did I agree to this?Because he screwed your brains out and you were still in a daze.

You are a grown-ass woman there is no reason for you to be so stressed out.I keep talking to myself, ugh. Finally, I say screw it and pull out my favorite skinny jeans I bought off eBay, a pair of black boots, and a shirt that I got on the clearance rack at a local boutique. I throw on a couple of pieces of jewelry and pin my hair back on one side with one of Mom's pearl combs. I decide this is as good as it's gonna get.

I bend over, throwing all the clothes I had on the floor onto the bed, and start the process of hanging them all back up. I cuss under my breath the whole time because I did all of this to myself.

I hear his car coming down the driveway and I take a deep breath. This is the first time I have actually been out in the public with him and I'm not exactly sure how I should act. He knocks on the door just as I’m re-checking my lipstick. “Come on in,” I yell out.

I hear him walking down the hallway, “Where you at? I wore my jammies too, as you call them, so we would match.”

I stick my head out the bathroom door. I know my eyes are big as I comprehend what he just said. He sprints down the hallway grabbing me by the waist pulling me right up against him.

“Who is this vixen standing before me? I thought you were going to have cute little blue people on.”

“They didn’t want to go out today, so I gave them the evening off. You look extremely handsome, Mr. Hart. You know it’s hard for most men to pull off that dressed-up casual look, but you're rocking it this evening with that button-down shirt and those dark jeans.”

He pulls me over to the large mirror in the bathroom, his bright blue eyes staring back at me and our reflection. “I believe we complement each other rather well, Ms. Grey. I knew you had that outfit hidden somewhere.”

“You wouldn’t have said that twenty minutes ago if you had seen the floor in my room.”

He pulls my hair over to one side and gently kisses my neck, chill bumps break out all over me. “If we had more time I would enjoy seeing this outfit on the floor and you naked in my arms, but I’m not one to be late.”

“I just have to grab my purse and I’m ready.” I start to walk off when he pulls me back again.

“You are absolutely beautiful Jenna. You make me want to hide you from the world, to keep you untainted and for my eyes only.” He stares at me like he is memorizing my features. I don’t know what to say. I feel like he is trying to warn me, but that could simply be my own insecurities.

We head towards his car, and I almost stop. Everything has been too good so far, and I know in my heart this is going to be a turning point either good or bad. I will get to see the real Dage, the man he is in his world, not mine.

The drive seems to fly by even though the place is almost an hour away. We pull up and park in front of a winery. “Wow, this place is beautiful, look at that water fountain.”

“I’m glad you like it; I had that installed earlier this year. A friend of mine owns this winery, and we collaborated on the exterior design when he inherited the place. We meet here a couple of times a year, the place is really relaxing, and I thought the scenery would be more comfortable for you. My little country bumpkin.”

“Ok, city boy, let’s do this, but you should know I'm a cheap drunk. More than a couple of glasses and I’ll be dancing on top of the tables way too early in the evening.”

“I will keep that in mind. Cruz and Travis will have their wives with them. I have never talked to them much, but they seemed ok.”

“Doll, I talk to people all day, I can handle this.”

“If you feel uncomfortable at all, you let me know immediately and we will leave.”

He comes over and opens the car door for me, and we walk up the beautifully paved path headed towards the older log cabin. The grounds are groomed beautifully and the place screams money. We no more open the door than I hear a male voice yell out Dage’s name.

“Damn it, Dage, you made me lose again. All you had to do was wait twenty more seconds and it would have been free liquor for me the rest of the evening. But…no, you gotta be on time.”

“Creature of habit, Cruz, what can I say.”

The guy who had been teasing Dage since we walked in grabbed him hugging him, lightly pounding him on the back like guys do. When they separate he finally notices me standing by Dage’s side. “Who is this little beauty, Dage? I see you have been holding out on us. Especially, since I just received a phone call from your mother asking if I had seen you. It seems like you have stood up the last three dates she had prepared for you, and you’re not answering your phone.”

“Cruz, I would like you to meet Jenna.” He pulls me close to his side when Cruz opens his arms up to hug me. I stick my hand out, shaking his hand instead. “It’s nice to meet you.” I notice immediately that Dage doesn’t seem shocked by what his friend was saying, and that he didn’t want his friend to hug me either.

“Oh, Dage… I see you're not going to share this little morsel, what a shame. I do believe this is a first for you, my friend.”

“I keep hearing that,” I whisper to no one.

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