Wasteland by Lynn Rush Read Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Lynn Rush
way out of the contract controlling my existence.
To be free was all I wanted.
“This seat taken?”
Beka’s voice startled me, and the back of my hand grazed my cup, knocking it over. A stream of coffee spilled over the table and onto the floor.
“You really are a jumpy guy, David.”
I shot to my feet mindful of the dark puddle collecting near my shoes. “Beka?”
Her bright smile could chase the thickest clouds away. I’d not yet seen her in daylight, and she was even more stunning with the sun spotlighting her flawless, porcelain skin, and long straight nose. With her hair secured away from her face, her high cheekbones stuck out, demanding equal attention as her sea-green eyes.
“I saw you through the window.” She stepped over the pool of coffee. “How are you? Haven’t seen you in the club in afew days.”
“Busy.” I glanced out the window. “Work.” I’d lurked around the outside of the club and tried two different times to get into Beka’s apartment only to be detoured when either she or Russell returned home.
“I see.” She analyzed the floor, while my eyes were drawn to the outline of her ample chest beneath the fitted red blouse.
I steered my attention back to the coffee encroaching my shoes.
“So, what do you do for work that’s kept you so busy?”
“Research. Very boring.” I eyed the empty booth across from me, knowing I should ask her to join me, but also knowing I shouldn’t. “Want to sit?”
Her cheeks flushed, and she bobbed her head.
“Here, let me.” I took her shopping bag. “Don’t slip.”
“Thank you. I didn’t mean to startle you into spilling your drink.” She smiled, and the bright sun caught the corner of her eye, highlighting flecks of amber.
She slid onto the booth and settled in the middle. I threw a quick survey of the store. A man with silver hair, sitting two booths down, eyed me over the tip of his newspaper.
I set Beka’s bag beside the booth. If Gage located me, I’d simply say I was researching the club, investigating employees. Maybe Jessica Hanks was on the wait staff.
I settled back and tossed a pile of napkins on the spilled coffee. The desert suddenly claimed ownership of my throat. Although my assimilation into the world was nearly complete, Beka’s lilac scent still devastated my senses, and my fingertips ached to touch her.
She reminded me of an athlete in her khaki shorts and white tennis shoes.
“Hey there, sweetie. Can I get you anything?” the redheaded waitress asked, carrying a coffeepot and a glass of water. A young, pimple-faced boy trailed her, pushing a mop in front of him and went to work on the mess I had made.
“Water’s good for me.”
The waitress set a new coffee cup down and poured the dark liquid to the rim. A lanky, nearly bald man, carrying a tray of food took her place beside the table. “Hamburger and fries?” He lifted his chin in my direction.
“Yes.” He sat the plate in front of me and my other meal, chicken salad with ranch dressing, before Beka, then turned on his heel and left.
Her eyes went wide. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to barge in on you and your—” Her cheeks reddened as she glimpsed the departing waiter. “I didn’t realize you were sitting with someone. I—” She scooted to the edge of the booth.
I dragged the salad beside my burger and fries. “They are both for me. I am eating alone.”
She paused, one hand planted on the tabletop while she stared at my food. “Two meals?”
“Yes. But if you still want to leave, I will understand.” Please stay. But I knew she should leave. More for my sake than hers.
She slouched, letting out a long breath. “Gosh, I thought…”
“What?” I slathered ketchup over my fries. I sure missed eating while in punishment. In the last five days, I’d eaten enough food to feed a small country and relished every minute. The only part of the demon’s power I appreciated was the quick healing. My muscles had recovered
To be free was all I wanted.
“This seat taken?”
Beka’s voice startled me, and the back of my hand grazed my cup, knocking it over. A stream of coffee spilled over the table and onto the floor.
“You really are a jumpy guy, David.”
I shot to my feet mindful of the dark puddle collecting near my shoes. “Beka?”
Her bright smile could chase the thickest clouds away. I’d not yet seen her in daylight, and she was even more stunning with the sun spotlighting her flawless, porcelain skin, and long straight nose. With her hair secured away from her face, her high cheekbones stuck out, demanding equal attention as her sea-green eyes.
“I saw you through the window.” She stepped over the pool of coffee. “How are you? Haven’t seen you in the club in afew days.”
“Busy.” I glanced out the window. “Work.” I’d lurked around the outside of the club and tried two different times to get into Beka’s apartment only to be detoured when either she or Russell returned home.
“I see.” She analyzed the floor, while my eyes were drawn to the outline of her ample chest beneath the fitted red blouse.
I steered my attention back to the coffee encroaching my shoes.
“So, what do you do for work that’s kept you so busy?”
“Research. Very boring.” I eyed the empty booth across from me, knowing I should ask her to join me, but also knowing I shouldn’t. “Want to sit?”
Her cheeks flushed, and she bobbed her head.
“Here, let me.” I took her shopping bag. “Don’t slip.”
“Thank you. I didn’t mean to startle you into spilling your drink.” She smiled, and the bright sun caught the corner of her eye, highlighting flecks of amber.
She slid onto the booth and settled in the middle. I threw a quick survey of the store. A man with silver hair, sitting two booths down, eyed me over the tip of his newspaper.
I set Beka’s bag beside the booth. If Gage located me, I’d simply say I was researching the club, investigating employees. Maybe Jessica Hanks was on the wait staff.
I settled back and tossed a pile of napkins on the spilled coffee. The desert suddenly claimed ownership of my throat. Although my assimilation into the world was nearly complete, Beka’s lilac scent still devastated my senses, and my fingertips ached to touch her.
She reminded me of an athlete in her khaki shorts and white tennis shoes.
“Hey there, sweetie. Can I get you anything?” the redheaded waitress asked, carrying a coffeepot and a glass of water. A young, pimple-faced boy trailed her, pushing a mop in front of him and went to work on the mess I had made.
“Water’s good for me.”
The waitress set a new coffee cup down and poured the dark liquid to the rim. A lanky, nearly bald man, carrying a tray of food took her place beside the table. “Hamburger and fries?” He lifted his chin in my direction.
“Yes.” He sat the plate in front of me and my other meal, chicken salad with ranch dressing, before Beka, then turned on his heel and left.
Her eyes went wide. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to barge in on you and your—” Her cheeks reddened as she glimpsed the departing waiter. “I didn’t realize you were sitting with someone. I—” She scooted to the edge of the booth.
I dragged the salad beside my burger and fries. “They are both for me. I am eating alone.”
She paused, one hand planted on the tabletop while she stared at my food. “Two meals?”
“Yes. But if you still want to leave, I will understand.” Please stay. But I knew she should leave. More for my sake than hers.
She slouched, letting out a long breath. “Gosh, I thought…”
“What?” I slathered ketchup over my fries. I sure missed eating while in punishment. In the last five days, I’d eaten enough food to feed a small country and relished every minute. The only part of the demon’s power I appreciated was the quick healing. My muscles had recovered