Mike's Way Back (Finding Perfect) by Amy Gregory Read Free Book Online Page B

say? I’ll bring you a latte from next door, or maybe even buy you lunch if you are able to leave the store at all.”
    For several quiet moments Taryn watched Gabby’s face. Her eyebrows went from up high in what looked like astonishment , then her brow furrowed and her eyes narrowed in suspicion. Finally, with another roll of the eyes, Taryn watched Gabby resign herself to the fact that Taryn wasn’t going to give up.
    “Fine.”
    “Thank you very much. I promise not to take too much of your time.”
    “Whatever. I have a high school boy who comes in around three after school lets out. Come back then, I’ll take you on a quick tour, and then we can grab a Coke at Jenny’s and you can ask me whatever it is you’re wanting to know.”
    Taryn held in the face-splitting smile in favor of a cool nod with a hint of a grin. She had a feeling Gabby was just humoring her and wouldn’t appreciate the happy dance she so badly wanted to do. “I’ll see you then.”
     
    ~~~
     
     
    “Mike.” Jeff said as a greeting. Short and to the point as usual.
    Mike let the heavy door close behind him and crossed to the bar where Jeff already had a beer uncapped for him. “How’s it going man?”
    “Can’t complain.” Jeff held his water glass up to toast Mike’s bottle. “The boys are looking good in this series. Two more games and they’ll sweep it.”
    He met the bartender half way to toast. That was one thing Mike could count on. They would always cheer on the same team, so he knew Jeff would have the television in the corner tuned to the channel their favorite team was on. They were the lone outcasts in town who weren’t diehard Royals fans.
    Mike looked over his shoulder to catch the score. His Yanks were on fire. That made their yearly trip to New York to catch a game even sweeter. They had been making the pilgrimage for so long they considered it tradition. Over the years, they began taking it to an extreme, staying at the same hotel, eating at the same restaurants, even going as far as ordering the same food year after year. In return for their dedication and crazy superstitions, so far the Yanks had never lost a game that Jeff and Mike attended. They gloated over the win for a week after returning home, at the very least. They both received a ration of shit from everyone, but it made the experience just that much more fun. “Hey Jeff, we need to figure out what game we’re going to and get it booked.”
    “I’ve got some dates for you. I’ll email info, and you let me know when you can get away from the station.”
    “Will do.” Mike grinned.
    The friendly petite waitress walked his way with a round tray full of dirty plates and empty glasses. She was several years younger than Mike’s early thirties. He'd guess maybe twenty-five or so, but what he found endearing was her ever-present smile. Jeff had gotten lucky when he hired Kelly.
    “Hey, Mike…” The cat-like grin was a dead giveaway.
    He proceeded with caution, drawing out the one word response in more of an I know you’re up to something . “Yes?”
    Sure enough, Kelly’s grin widened. “Your new friend is over there.” She nodded to the back of the bar.
    Mike followed Kelly’s line of sight until his eyes spotted the back of a honey blonde head. He watched for a minute as she ran her hands through her hair, pausing midway through as if she was thinking, then she bent back over her work. She was in another skirt, short, but professional and sexy as all hell. Her legs were crossed and Mike watched what he could see of her bare leg. Tapping her foot in the air, her heel was out of the pump and she was balancing the cherry red stiletto on just her toes.
    Damn .
    He tried not to be obvious about the air he was dragging through his nose. It had been a very long time since a woman had taken him from zero to hard with as little as the swing of a shoe on a foot. Turning back to Kelly and Jeff, Mike quirked an eyebrow and asked for his meal to be