Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 66642 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 333(@200wpm)___ 267(@250wpm)___ 222(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66642 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 333(@200wpm)___ 267(@250wpm)___ 222(@300wpm)
“Are you ready to order?”
“I’ll take a BLT,” Baylin ordered. “What about you, Jody?”
“I’ll take the steak and eggs.”
“How would you like your eggs?”
“Over medium.”
“How do you like your steak cooked?”
“Medium,” he managed to croak out. Why in the hell hadn’t he ordered the same as Baylin?
“All right, I’ll give the cook your order. Just let me know if you need more coffee.”
Jody’s eyes never left Baylin’s, feeling a cold sweat run down his back. What the fuck was going on with him? The whole time the waitress had stood next to the table, he felt as if she were giving off a static charge. If he didn’t know his soul mate wasn’t supposed to appear in his life for another year, he could swear she was the one destined for him.
Picking up his cup of coffee, he put the waitress out of his mind. He had to deal with Baylin, sure his reaction to the waitress was only an intense physical attraction. Silas had warned him last year when he had stopped by unexpectedly to borrow his truck and found him with Mina that he was treading on thin ice where women were concerned. He had listened and stopped going into town to find the sexual release the women offered.
“I’m sorry I’m cramping your style.”
His jaw clenched at the snide way Baylin was glaring at him.
“I wouldn’t let you cramp my style if I were interested.”
He had meant to wait until after they ate to talk to Baylin, but the way she was talking to him had him responding in kind. He didn’t like being unkind, but when push came to shove, he was no pushover.
“You brought me here to break up with me, didn’t you?”
At Baylin’s raised voice, Jody looked toward the counter, seeing the waitress waiting on a lone customer. “Lower your voice.”
“Don’t want your waitress to hear?” Baylin’s voice grew louder.
Jody leaned over the table, keeping his voice low. “If you think you can embarrass me, you won’t. The only one who will be embarrassed is you. I’m a Coleman—I’m used to being trash-talked. Are you?”
Baylin’s jaw snapped shut.
He used the opportunity to say what needed to be said.
“To break up, it would mean we are a couple—we aren’t. I made that plain from the get-go. I wasn’t looking for a commitment. What we did have was an arrangement that neither of us would get serious, both times we talked about it. You agreed each time. You’re the one who is trying to take it from the bedroom to a relationship I clearly said was never going to happen,” he told her coldly.
“Here you go.”
Wanting to bite his tongue off when he looked up and saw the waitress standing there with their food, Jody had no choice but to brazen it out. “Thank you, Rowyn.”
Frowning, he looked away to stare down at the food she had placed in front of him. Why did her name sound wrong on his lips? He had noticed her name sewn onto her uniform top when she had first come to their table. That was why he had been reassured she wasn’t his soul mate.
“Is something wrong with your food?”
Jody raised his eyes back to hers.
Her friendly smile was gone as she stared back at him.
“No, it looks good. Thank you,” he lied, looking away from the rare steak and runny eggs.
The waitress gave him a disparaging look before shifting her gaze to Baylin. “Is your food okay?” she asked sympathetically. “I can get you something else if you want.”
“No, it’s fine.”
His lips tightened at Baylin’s tearful expression. He should be the one crying. At least her burnt bacon didn’t look like it was about to jump off her plate and start running.
“Can I freshen your coffee?”
“No, we’re good,” Jody answered for both of them.
The waitress gave Baylin time to gather herself, which Jody would have thought was sweet, if he wasn’t coming across as the bad guy by breaking her heart.
The waitress ignored him, waiting for Baylin’s answer.
“I’m fine. Would you mind bringing me a to-go box? I’ve lost my appetite.”
“I’ll be right back.”
After giving him a warning look, the waitress briefly left them alone.
As soon as the waitress’ back was turned, Baylin gave him a feline smile. “Good luck getting into her panties now.”
Picking up his fork and knife, he started eating, afraid if he didn’t keep his mouth full, he would say something he would regret.
From the way the waitress stared at him when she returned to the table with the to-go box, Baylin had accomplished her goal.
“I’ll take the ticket.”
Lowering his fork carefully to his plate, Jody caught Baylin’s gaze. “I would stop while you’re ahead,” he warned, which had both women looking at him warily. “You can give me the ticket when I’m ready to leave.” Remembering his manners, despite how angry he was, he gave the waitress a dismissive nod.