Wine and Whiskey (Surviving Absolution #1) by Nikki Belaire Read Free Book Online Page B

her ear. “Good.”
    Nick parks in front of a white stucco building covered with a
red and yellow vinyl banner announcing the grand opening of Soteria .
Small vases of wildflowers decorate the teak tables surrounding the exterior.
Cars snake around the empty parking lot, filling the drive-through line beyond
capacity.
    They mull over the menu, hand-written on a huge chalkboard
hanging behind the counter. Two teenage girls hustle back and forth between the
espresso machine and the drive-through window. A dour-faced boy slowly removes
trays of oversize muffins from a free-standing oven and places them on a metal
serving tray covering half the counter.
    As Shae places her order, the girl’s eyes widen in recognition.
Dread coils in her stomach. Nick seems indifferent to her celebrity, yet fan
interactions can become overwhelming. He may hate it as much as Evan did.
    The girl rushes to her co-worker and whispers while they work.
The other girl’s head flies up, and she looks at Shae. Making eye contact, she
quickly drops her gaze and nods to her friend.
    Nick leans down to her, a mischievous grin tugging on his lips.
“I think those girls are hot for me.”
    An unexpected yet sweet response to the craziness surrounding
her life, giving her freedom from the spotlight for a little bit. She elbows
him in the ribs, stifling her laugh. “Don’t be conceited. Maybe it’s Max.”
    Pretending to wince, he joins in her laugher. “Touché.”
    Warmth fills her body from his fingers trailing up and down her
back as they wait for their drinks. She concentrates on the skilled hands of
the barista expertly whipping milk into foam, trying to distract herself from
his touch.
    Nick lets her lead the way, and she chooses a spot in the back
corner. Three chairs, two zebra stripped and one pink, surround a table inlaid
with a black and pink checkerboard. She takes a small bite of her parfait as
Max sits down.
    “Next time, I’m picking the place. I need real food. I can’t
make it on muffins and yogurt.”
    Nick pats him on the shoulder. “Okay, Max, next time we’ll go
out for bacon and eggs.”
    “Don’t forget the sausage, biscuits, and omelets.”
    Her mouth begins to water thinking about it. “What about
pancakes or French toast?”
    Max points an approving finger at her. “Definitely. Maybe even
crepes.”
    A flash lights up behind the counter. One of the girls shoves a
phone in her pocket, her ponytail swinging as she pretends to busy herself with
stacking mugs. A streak of red runs up her exposed neck to the tops of her
ears, a symbol of her guilt.
    Shae’s stomach drops as her world ruins their breakfast. “Sorry,
guys. Your picture may show up on some gossip website in the next few days.”
    Max glances at the girls while they whisper. “I don’t know how
you do it. Doesn’t it piss you off being watched all the time?”
    She shrugs her shoulders as she stirs her fruit cup. It’s wrong
to complain about the downside of fame when she’s enjoyed so many benefits from
it too. “I’m used to it, for the most part. Fans usually just want a picture or
an autograph. The paparazzi can be pretty aggressive sometimes, though. I don’t
like feeling stalked.”
    Nick reaches out and takes her hand, rubbing his thumb across
her knuckles. “You don’t have to put up with that.”
    “Yeah, who’s your security guy?” Max leans in closer to her. “I
can talk to him about providing you with better protection. You shouldn’t have
to be afraid.”
    Their protectiveness makes her heart flip-flop. “Thank you, but
I’m okay. I stick with places they can’t bother me, like the gym, and use
bodyguards when I need them. It’s fine.”
    Max frowns in confusion. “Why can’t they bother you at the gym?”
    “Jason legally made it a members-only club, so they can’t come
on the property. Now, I can come and go in peace. I know it’s not fancy, but
it’s a haven for me.”
    Swallowing a bite of muffin, Nick shakes his head.