Casting Stones (Stones Duet #1) (10 page)

Unbelievable! I want to grab her face and kiss her smartass mouth or bend her over and redden her perfect ass. I nod. “Cool. Saturday it is.”

Her small body moves in close to my ear. I bend at the waist to accommodate the difference in our heights and listen to what she has to say.

“And just so you know, I don’t put out on the first date.”

Using my tongue, I move the mint to the other side of my mouth as I pull back and smile, looking straight into her green eyes. “Neither do I.”
Liar.

When the bus comes into view through my peripheral vision, I smile and jog outside. I glance back as I board the bus to find her smirking at me through the front window of the diner.

Remy

I GLANCE AT
the mints by the register and smile, remembering how his tongue moved and his minty breath tickled my ear. I exhale a quiet sigh after he boards the bus.

“I knew it!” Jenna shrieks in my ear. “I knew you liked him.”

“Jenna, it’s dinner. It’s not like I agreed to marry him.” I wipe down the counter as the familiar feeling of sadness fills my heart. Growing up, I remember my mother used to tell me about a man she once loved. She said they were soul mates destined to be together. She couldn’t understand how one day he was whispering words of love and marriage and gone the next. He didn’t even say goodbye; he just left.

I remember how much I hated the man named Remington.

“I WAS GOING
to call you last night, but I realized I didn’t have your number.”

I grab the pad from my apron and scribble numbers down on it. “Here you go.”

Shane’s eyebrows furrow, his blue eyes a sea of confusion. “There are only six digits here.”

“You look like a smart guy. I’m sure you can figure it out.” I walk away to tend to my other customers.

Every day this week has been the same as the day before. Shane comes in. We make small talk while he eats his breakfast until his bus arrives. I can’t help the way my eyes wander to his lips every time he takes a bite of the blueberry muffin or opens his mouth to sip the black coffee.

“One for the road,” he chuckles as he reaches into the bowl for a mint.

I miss him the minute he strolls out to catch the bus. I know that he knows I watch him as he stands there. I don’t even look away anymore when he catches me staring; I can be forward when I need to be.

When he finally texts me, I ask him how he figured out my phone number. His reply is quick and simple.

“I asked Jenna.”

The texts we exchange are fun and flirty.

Shane: Want to play a game?

Me: How can we do that? You’re there and I’m here.

Shane: I want to get to know you.

Me: Okay. What do you want to know?

I can feel my heart beat harder as the blood begins to flow faster. I don’t think I want to play this game.

He explains that he’s going to name some things he likes and I have to reveal what I like in the same category.

Shane: I like bacon and onion pizza.

This is easy.

Me: I like plain cheese pizza.

Shane: I like dogs.

Me: I like cats.

Shane: You do? Why? They’re useless creatures. And they’re snobby.

I laugh and tap a response.

Me: I thought you could only respond with “I like?” Cats are sweet, quiet and low maintenance.

Shane: Sorry. I like that you can play with dogs.

I can’t resist.

Me: Do you like to play with pussycats, too?

I wait and wait for his response.

Me: I like that you’re speechless. Goodnight, Shane.

I glance at the time and realize how late it is. I drift off to sleep for the night and awaken bright and early to a new message.

Shane: I like you.

While riding my bike during my daily commute to work, I mentally compile a list of all the things I’m starting to like about him. It’s as if I’m preloading the cannons to fire back answers the next time we play his silly game. I like the way Shane makes me feel. He makes me feel like a normal twenty-six year-old. The butterflies that dance in my stomach when I see him make me giddy. The simple touch of his hand when he thanks me for breakfast makes me feel special. The longing stares and the licking of his lips make me feel sexy. And to be honest, it’s nice to feel something other than despair.

I DON’T KNOW
if the rush of excitement fizzing through my body is because it’s Friday morning and I get to see him, because today is my last day of summer classes or because I’m going to dinner with him tomorrow night. I wish I could just close my eyes, wiggle my nose and fly past tonight.

“I need your address so I can pick you up. Is 7:00 okay?”

I swallow hard, nerves colliding with anxiety.

“Actually, you don’t need to pick me up. I can just meet you.” I state firmly, leaving no room for discussion.

He eyes me suspiciously. “I don’t mind.”

“Wait, you have a car? Then why do you take the city bus to work every day?”

“Actually, I have a truck and taking the bus is easier than driving in morning traffic. I kind of like looking around getting to know Boston.So… your address? ”

“Are you gay?” I question and my mouth drops open. I can’t believe I came right out and asked him that. “Are we going to talk fashion and stuff tomorrow night?”

“Uh…no to both.” Shane’s face indicates that he has no idea where that question came from.

“Bi?” I ask.

“No! Why would you ask me that?”

I shrug and wrinkle my nose. “You’re just kind of…sweet.”

One eyebrow arches upward. “And that would make me gay or bisexual?”

“No. I’m sorry. I’m not judging you.” I stammer, “I mean if you are, you are. I am just…curious.” I offer by way of apology. I shift my weight from side to side feeling all kinds of uncomfortable right now.

Shane leans over and whispers in my ear. My face turns bright red and my mouth drops open.

He pulls back to look at me. A scorching blue stare penetrates right through me.

“Okay then!” I look down and mumble quietly. I press my lips together tightly to suppress a smile.

“Address?”

After finally gaining my composure, I take a deep breath and insist that we meet because I live across town and traffic is bad on a Saturday night. He tells me that he’s not too familiar with the local restaurants, but someone from work recommended a sushi bar uptown.

“I love sushi!” My eyes widen and I hum with delight. “Let’s meet here and then we can hop on the train.”

“What are you doing tonight?” he asks, pulling out some money to pay for his breakfast.

I start to ramble, my eyes dart everywhere just so I don’t have to look at his handsome face. “I have a few things to do. I have to finish a paper. I’ve got some laundry to do. Pay some bills. Stop by the grocery store.” I take a deep breath when I finish. “How about you?”

“I was supposed to go home to see my sister, but her girls have a nasty stomach bug so I’m not going anywhere near them.One of the guys I served with is in town so I might take him out for a few beers and show him around town after football practice.”

“Football practice? Wait. You were in the military?” My face displays confusion.

“Yeah, I work in a school and I was in the Army. Didn’t I tell you that?”

I wave a playful finger at him. “No, you definitely didn’t tell me either one of those things. We didn’t get to that in the “I like” game I guess.”

“I’m the assistant principal at Fenway High School.”

“You’re lying!”

“Scout’s honor.” He puts three fingers in the air and grins.

“I graduated from there.”

Shane’s eyebrows reach his hairline and his Adam’s apple bobs as he swallows hard. “How long ago?” He’s probably wondering if I’m underage or something. It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve lied about my age.

“A
long
time ago. Like ten years ago.” I smile, putting his mind at ease.

“Well, it seems we’ve still got a lot to learn about each other then, huh?” He glances at his watch.

“Guess so.”

“I’ve got to go. I’ll talk to you later.” I notice his tongue slips through and wets his lips as his eyes drop to my mouth. I find myself mimicking his actions. His face slowly tilts; his blue eyes pierce my greens as his mouth moves closer with some hesitancy. I know he wants to kiss me and as much as I shouldn’t kiss him just yet, I want to. I
really
want to kiss him.

As he moves in slowly, my eyes close and my lips part waiting to feel his soft touch. I feel his warm skin brush against my cheek.

“One for the road.”

His hand brushes past my shoulder as I hear the crinkling of the plastic wrapper.

“Remy! Order’s up!”

My eyes snap open then narrow when I see his mouth transform into a sexy smirk. I release the small breath I was holding.

“Bye, Remy.”

“HOT DAMN, GIRL!
You were great!” Cindy says, applying another dab of shimmer to her eye shadow.

“Right,” I snort with derision as I nod and accept her compliment but cringe inwardly, knowing that this isn’t what my advisor meant. I pull a fluffy white towel down from the cabinet and turn the shower on, hoping the hot water will make me feel clean again.

“Did you see him?”

I turn back with a quick glance, “No, I don’t think he was here.”

“Good! Be careful, sweetheart.”

“I always am.” I close the dingy plastic shower curtain behind me, blocking out the image of the man who wants to make me his.