Rain by Michelle M. Watson Read Free Book Online Page A

can’t think through the thick
and intoxicating haze of Zack to be concerned about myself.   
    That
face.
    Those eyes.
    How
can I say no to him?
    My
eyes drift back to him.
    “Yeah,
sure, but I will kick his ass if he touches you again,” he pauses and his eyes
slowly scan over me, “I can only imagine what you’re hiding under that coat.”
    “Please
don’t,” I murmur, pulling the sleeves of my black pea coat down, even though
it’s absurdly toasty inside this small and intimate restaurant. “We can do it
tomorrow morning when he leaves for work. I want to make this as less difficult
and as less complicated as possible. I love him and I don’t want to break his
heart.”
    He
nods in agreement. “Eat your burger and I’ll give your phone back.”
    Snorting,
I say, “You know…I must have a thing for bossy men.” I pick up the cheeseburger
and take a huge bite. My eyes widen as the juicy flavors explode in my mouth.
    He
raises his brows. “Bossy isn’t bad…as long as you get it in doses. Safe doses. Zack doesn’t know how to control his anger.
Exhibit fucking A is that dark ass bruise on your neck,” he shakes his head and
the muscles in face tighten. “I know you’re not stupid so I’m at a loss at why
you’re still with him. The sex can’t be that good.”
    My
brows lift. “Though, it is pretty awesome,” I add.
    “Christ,
Rain. Look at yourself and tell me it’s ‘pretty awesome’ to have patches of
black and blue marking all over your precious body.”
    My
precious body!
    “You
think my body is precious?”
    He
rakes his hands through his hair, grave eyes on mine. “Yes, I do. Please don’t
tell me that’s the only thing you heard.”
    Guilt
masks my face for a moment. “It was. I’m sorry…But thanks.”
    “For what?”
    “For calling me precious. Thank you,” I
whisper, briefly closing my eyes as his words sink in.
    “You’re
stunning, Rain. Unbelievably Beautiful. You need to
know your worth,” he says quietly.
    When
I open my eyes, he’s gazing at me. This gaze is not a best friend gaze. It’s an
I-want-to-jump-you-right-here-right-now scorching gaze.
    Squirming,
I take another bite of the delicious cheeseburger. “ Mmmm .”        
    Tate
smiles and wipes ketchup off the side of my mouth with his thumb, sucking the
tiny dollop off. “Good, right?”
    “Uh-huh,
I haven’t had a cheeseburger in five months.”
    His
green eyes frost over and his expression is stunned. “Rain, Rain, Rain,” he
sighs. “You’re gonna to kill me. Yep. You’re gonna be the death of me. I knew it the first time I laid
eyes on your sweet face in high school five years ago. It was like a dagger
right through the heart.”
    My
lips twist to the side. “I hope not. I need you.”
    Laughing,
he leans forward and takes a chuck from the cheeseburger. “I wouldn’t know what
to do without you, cupcake.”
    “Why do you call me, cupcake? I never
understood your little pet name for me.”
    His
smile broadens, twisting my heart further more. “Because
you’re cute, small, and sweet as hell. You’re my little cupcake,
cupcake. How much do you weigh anyway, one ten?”
    “One
twenty-five,” I correct.
    Tate
unconsciously licks his lips, eyes growing darker. “You’re perfect.” 
    My
hearts begins to beat in my ears as my stomach flutters. “Tate, why didn’t we
ever happen?”
    He
shrugs and leans back in his chair, eyes locked on mine. “I guess wrong timing.
When you were single, I was dating what’s-her-face. Now I’m single and you’re
with a dummy. But I’d like us to happen, if you want to…I mean, I not trying to
push a full-blown relationship on you or anything. Hell, maybe I am. Whatever. Me and you, cupcake, equals perfection. Our kids
would be gorgeous.”
    “Yeah?” I ask, smiling
ridiculously.
    “Fuck
yeah,” he agrees. His phone rings and he frowns at the number, ignoring the
call.
    “Who
is that?”
    “Nikki.”
    “I
thought it was over between you