Sting by Jennifer Ryder Read Free Book Online

to her. After putting down the milk jug she slips her delicate fingers in my grasp. “Nice to finally meet you, Willow.”
    “And you are?” She raises a suspicious eyebrow.
    “As much as I love you calling me Brown-Eyes, I’m Ryan.” I flash her a wicked smile, and watch as the colour prickles at her cheeks.
    “Well, Ryan . Why don’t you take a seat, and I’ll bring it out in a sec.”
    “Sure.” I pull out a white chair at a nearby vacant table and make myself at home, sitting with one leg crossed, my ankle resting on my thigh.
    Moments later, Willow breezes across the room and places a coffee cup on a saucer in front of me, and another small plate with a yellow cookie on it.
    “I, ah, thought you might like to try one of these. We just whipped up a fresh batch of lemon and macadamia nut cookies.”
    I eye her suspiciously. Lemon is my favourite. “Thanks, I’d love to. I’m big on lemon.”
    She smiles, and her shoulders sag. “Yeah, me too. They’re made from my home-grown lemons, although hopefully they grow a bit better next year. I think I need to give them some more TLC.”
    “So did you grow up in Freo?”
    Her smile drops and she directs her gaze away for a moment. Her shoulders stiffen. “Ah, no,” she says, and turns to leave.
    What did I say wrong? One second she’s smiling, and the next she can’t wait to leave.
    “Wait,” I say. I’d grab her hand to stop her, but after yesterday, I don’t wanna spook her.
    She swings around to face me. “Something else I can get you?” she asks, and blinks a few times in quick succession. Damn, those lashes.
    “I’m sorry if I was out of line yesterday,” I apologise, ignoring her question.
    “Don’t be silly. I should be the one apologising. I’m sorry I caused a scene.”
    ‘What did he do to you?’ I wanna ask. Instead, I’ll try a different tact. “Is there anything I can help with?” Someone I can look into? Beat half to death, perhaps?
    A soft smile spreads across her lips. “I’m fine, but thank you. I appreciate it.”
    “Anytime.”
    I admire her pins as she walks away, and wrap my mouth around the cookie. The tang of the buttery texture melts on my tongue. Damn . This woman can cook too.
    This, here, is serious dick-hardening material.
    ****
    WILLOW
    Since I found out his name yesterday, it’s been on my mind. Somehow, he’s not just a customer anymore. Somehow, it’s more personal now.
    And here he is again.
    I pour his third coffee for the day. The tingling in my body intensifies. If I didn’t know better, I’d say it’s a side effect of all rational thought leaving my body.
    The more time I spend around him, the more my body reacts. It’s stupid. Seriously stupid. Maybe I should throw myself at him, get this giddy-girl-crush feeling out of my system, and we can both move on. The past has proven that relationships and I aren’t friends. I miss intimacy, but I don’t want to get close. It’s a double-edged sword. Close means questions. I hate lies, so the less I have to tell, the better.
    Perhaps a one-night stand will do it?
    Ah, who am I kidding? I’ve never had one before, so what on earth would make me want to do it now? The potent sexuality radiating off this guy is slowly turning me stupid. With a wink, and a flash of a dimple here and there he has me wanting to do things that never would have otherwise entered my mind.
    I glance at the clock, noticing it’s after five p.m. “You know, with this much coffee, Brown-Eyes, you’ll be up all night.”
    “I’d argue that sometimes that’s not a bad thing.”
    Sugar . Why did he have to take my thoughts straight to the bedroom? I close my eyes briefly and try to bring my mind back to business. Coffee. Right .
    “Just take it easy, before you get hooked.” I secure the lid to his takeaway drink, and pass it to him.
    “Too late. I’m already gone for,” he drawls.
    Holy sharks.
    I want to know more about Ryan. It’s driving me crazy, but I know never to