Admittedly, it frightened him. He had feared this for the past year. Not the opportunity to hold her in his arms and partake in the most passionate kiss he ever experienced, but her reaction to it. He knew Sonya’s puzzling dislike for the opposite sex.
Sure she boasted about how she delighted in their presence and took satisfaction in their desire, but once she was done with them she cast them aside as if they were a pair of well-worn socks. She took more gratification from keeping a silly pair of underpants.
He was never able to get close enough to delve deep inside her mind. She would never have allowed it. Instead, all he was able to do was sit at a safe distance and not appear a threat. The other night, as he held her in his arms and released pent-up emotions he had held in check for so long, he became a threat. She was reminded that he was a member of the opposite sex. There was no turning back the clock, no erasing the memory from her mind, she would re-evaluate their relationship and more than likely toss it aside. Probably already had. He just hadn’t received his notice.
The door to the lab opened and Jamie stuck in his head. “I’m headed for lunch. Want to join me?”
Blinking hard from staring at the computer screen for so long and pulling his mind out of his dark reverie, he nodded his head and followed the intern out of the Institute. There was no sense worrying about it until the time came when Sonya deemed their friendship was over. Until then, he would take whatever she was willing to give.
* * *
Sonya exited the deli shop and was hit by a blast of cold wind. The few free strands of hair that had escaped her loose bun, flew about her face. Lord it was still so cold and she wished the warm weather would hurry up and arrive already. She had packed away most of her winter garments and didn’t fancy the idea of digging them back out.
About to make a dash down the street toward Tristan’s bar, she came to an abrupt halt when she noticed Daniel and his intern, Jamie, approach. She froze at the unexpected wave of heat that disabled her at the sight of him. “Daniel.”
Both men came to a halt in front of her, blocking her exit.
“Sonya,” he returned her greeting but said nothing else.
She was a tall woman and easily matched their height, but she felt an overwhelming sense of being dwarfed. Jamie offered her a brief smile then shifted his glance between the silent duo. He looked all at once uncomfortable before he abruptly excused himself, telling Daniel he would find them a table inside.
Left alone, Sonya’s eyes danced around her surroundings trying not to allow her eyes to linger on his person. Which was hard-pressed to do. He appeared rather rugged looking in a stylish lambskin jacket and casual khaki pants. She hadn’t even realized he owned a leather coat. He obviously had a thing for the expensive material.
She suddenly wondered what he would look like under that jacket and the shirt beneath that. She couldn’t allow her mind to stray dangerously in that direction.
Groaning, she tucked a loose piece of hair behind her ear and told herself she needed a man soon or she would scare poor Daniel away.
“How are you doing?” They both asked in unison.
She grinned.
He smiled.
Their eyes met, and for the first time she noticed the unusual color of his. Neither blue nor grey, they reminded her of a piece of metal or tin and, contrary to what she thought before, there was a definite hint of glimmer to them. Probably a result of his glasses. She idly took note of how low they sat on the bridge of his nose and itched to reach up and push them into place.
As if reading her mind, he did just that then shoved his hands into the pockets of his coat. The weather was cooler than usual for this time of year. By this time, winter garments had been exchanged for summer clothes. However, he still wore a long sleeve sweater under the lambskin coat.
A breeze swept through the small alcove where they stood and ran its icy finger along her bare arms. Unlike Daniel, she was eager for the warmer weather and refused to put another heavy item of clothing on. However, it was days like today that she almost wished she had. Or at the least, brought a jacket.
“Are you cold?”
She gave an unconscious nod and ran her hands over the goose bumps on her arms. Then started when she saw him reach up and begin to unzip his coat. “What are you doing?”
“Loaning you my coat.” He had finished unzipping it and was shrugging his arms out of the sleeves before she thought to protest.
“You don’t need to do that.” Her eyes became agitated.
“The hypothalamus in your brain hasn’t delivered impulses to your skin.” At her frown, he gestured to her goose bumps. “The hairs on your arm are still lying flat. They trap more heat when they stand on end.”
“Oh. I didn’t know that. I thought it would be the other way around.”
“A common misconception.”
“Won’t you need it?”
He gestured toward his sweater. “I’ll be perfectly warm.”
She reached out to take the jacket without really being aware. She could do for the warmth. It was bigger than she thought when she shrugged into it, as it fit him to a tee, however on her it hung large and loose. She grinned up at him as the sleeves slipped below her fingertips. He grinned in response. Her insides did something unusual. Maybe her lunch didn’t sit very well. Involuntarily, her hand clapped over her stomach to quell the feeling.
Daniel noticed. “Did you get something to eat?”
She gave him a lame nod.
He eyed her closer. “Are you all right?”
Again she nodded.
Satisfied she wasn’t going to say anything further, he nodded as well then glanced inside the deli where Jamie waited. “I suppose I should get going. I’ll see you around.”
“Of course.” She regained her senses, giving herself a mental slap across the face. What was wrong with her? Just because the feel of his lingering warmth in the soft material of his coat felt like an intimate touch to her overly sensitive skin, didn’t mean she couldn’t become immune to the feeling. “I’ll have to return your coat.”
“Right.” He stared down at her, then unexpectedly reached out and drew the lapels together around her neck. His eyes met hers momentarily, before explaining, “There’s a closure in the storm flap.”
She didn’t move. As he worked on the collar she could feel his fingers gently brushing the underside of her jaw. They left tiny sensations along her skin. She had an uncanny urge to turn toward his touch and place her lips against his hand. Closing her eyes, she forced the image from her mind. The other night she had thought bestowing a mere kiss on Daniel would have been harmless. However, she had discovered quickly that it wasn’t. She certainly could not allow that to happen again.
“Are you sure you’re all right?”
She slowly opened her eyes, not wanting to release the image quite so soon. Then giving a shaky grin, she said, “Yeah, just don’t order the tuna salad.”
He smiled and his eyes seemed to absorb her as she stood engulfed in his large jacket. An overwhelming urge to draw him close and kiss him senseless had her taking a step back.
“I have some left over beef stew, did you want to come by and help me finish it tonight?”
Yes, that sounded safe and friendly and harmless. Exactly where her relationship with Daniel ought to be. He was not her type. He could never be her type. Women like her never got men like Daniel. He was smart, educated, and decent. She was an almost-thirty-year-old college drop-out who couldn’t get her life together if she was given a step-by-step manual.
Her life consisted of parties, drinking, men, and fun. And not necessarily in that order. She didn’t have time to coddle a sweet and gentle man who believed women deserved respect and that everyone should be treated with the morals and ethics from which he was raised.
The door to the deli opened and Maura and Audrey made an exit, smiling up at Daniel. They didn’t appear in the least bit surprised to see him. She figured they must have been watchin
g through the deli’s many glass windows.
Maura greeted him first. “Hey, Daniel.” Then shifted her attention to Sonya who was enveloped in his leather coat. “Warm?”
Sonya narrowed her eyes in warning to her friend’s taunt. “Yes, thank you.”
Daniel had only met Maura the few times. Mingling with Sonya’s crowd was not permitted, but Maura, on the other hand, was far too nice of a person to snub him deliberately. She had always made it a practice to go out of her way to be friendly.
“How come you haven’t come around the bar lately?” Audrey asked with the slightest trace of a smirk in her smile.
He chuckled. “I have the distinct feeling I’m not quite welcome.”
They exchanged smiles and Sonya stiffened. “Daniel, your friend is waiting.”
He glanced back at her and she forced a cold and determined expression on her face. She didn’t want him there. Didn’t want him getting along with her friends. She knew the instant when he had read her thoughts as an offended look briefly entered his eyes before he blinked it away and muttered, “Right.”
He offered the other two women a nod of farewell, shot an angry glance at Sonya, then went into the deli to meet Jamie.
Sonya noticed his deliberate snub and frowned at his retreating form. He was angry with her again. This time she was not certain for what. But that old feeling of hating when he was mad resurfaced. Tonight when she went over to his place for dinner, she would straighten everything and get their relationship back where it belonged.
That was if she was still invited. He didn’t mention it again before he left and it was possible that he regretted the offer in the first place. Well, that was too bad. Sonya was going whether he wanted her or not.
“I’ll call you later in the week and finalize the details for the weekend.” Maura’s voice drew her from her thoughts.
“Sounds good.” She nodded absently then bid her friend goodbye. Audrey fell into step beside her and together they returned to the bar located on the main street. After finding a safe place to store Daniel’s leather jacket, Sonya searched out her friend. She was in the kitchen filling a tray of clean dishes. Picking up a tray herself, she joined Audrey beside the steaming glasses.
“Can’t I convince you to reconsider the long weekend?”
The girl gave a short apologetic shake of the head. “I already told you, Tristan is short staffed.”
Sonya ignored the pang of guilt. “But you’ll have so much fun and you deserve the break.”
“Truly, Sonya, it’s not because I don’t want to go.” She told her over her shoulder as she examined glasses for spots before placing them on her tray. “But my car is on the fritz again and I wouldn’t have wheels to get there.”
“You could pool with me.” The flicker of hope lit her eyes, but the petite blonde simply shook her head.
“I have to work both Friday and Saturday night. I wouldn’t be able to come until at least Sunday morning, but with my car at the shop I’m stranded.”
She frowned. “I could always come back and get you.”
Audrey threw her a grateful look. “That’s good of you but very inconvenient. I couldn’t ask that of you.”
Her shoulders slumped. The idea hadn’t really appealed to her as well considering the drive was a three-hour commute one way. However, at the prospect of spending the weekend with Maura and her love-struck boyfriend, she was becoming desperate.
“Besides, didn’t you say it was a two bedroom cottage? Where would you put me?”
“My room is big enough for the both—” She began but was interrupted by someone clearing their throat behind them.
They both spun around to see Tristan standing in the entrance, his arms crossed over his chest. Sonya was awed once again by his flawless male aura. Her smile appeared automatically.
“Have clientele moved into the kitchen?” He gave them a gentle smirk but with a hint of authority.
“No, of course not.” Audrey was first to react, quickly gathering her tray up to make a hasty exit.
Tristan’s teasing grin disappeared.
Sonya ignored her friend’s sudden show of anxiety and turned to their boss with a set of imploring eyes instead. “Tristan, why won’t you let Audrey have the weekend off? She works hard and rarely takes any time.”
His eyes shot to the topic of their discussion. “She never requested it.”
Her frown was instant and she tossed an accusing glare at Audrey. However, it made more sense. Audrey was far too considerate to put her own wishes first.
“It’s an annual tradition. My best friend and I book a cottage along the beach at Grand Bend. I invited Audrey to join us this year.”
“Sonya.” Audrey uttered, her voice quiet but edged with warning.
She ignored it. “Can you spare her this one weekend?”
His eyes remained strained on Audrey’s downcast face. “I believe she’s scheduled to work this weekend.”
The girl pushed past Sonya to cast apologetic eyes upon their boss. “It’s all right Mr. Mann—”
His brow arched with what looked like a reprimanding scowl, haltering her mid speech.
“—I mean Tristan. I had no plans on going.”
“You don’t work Sunday or Monday. Why don’t you join your friends then?”
For a short uncomfortable minute the duo stared into each other’s eyes, then Audrey jerked herself away. It was Sonya who cared to explain. “Her car isn’t working. If she came Friday she could hitch a ride with me.”
He studied the women for the longest time giving Sonya hope that he was considering the scenario and possibly in her favor. At last he spoke. In doing so, however, completely shocking both of them. “I have a place up there and was planning on going up Sunday as well. I can drop Audrey off.”
The tiny kitchen went completely silent. It certainly wasn’t what she had expected. The gesture was sweet and considerate but wouldn’t do her any good. That still left Friday and Saturday night alone with the lovebirds.
“That isn’t necessary—” Audrey began, but Sonya broke in.
“That won’t do!”
He pulled his eyes away from the blonde to give Sonya an exasperated look. “It’s the best I can do. You already requested the weekend off from the moment I hired you. That leaves me short a waitress on one of my busiest weekends of the year.”
She clenched her jaw and pursed her lips. He was being unreasonable. Maybe if she used a little female persuasion, she might get him to change his mind. Sliding up to him she dropped a hand on his arm and leaned in close. “Just this once?”
“Sonya, please.” Audrey silently pleaded from behind. The small hint of anger went unnoticed by Sonya.
Tristan stared down at the hand covering his arm and the provocatively closeness of her body. He took his time surveying her completely, lingering on her bosom beneath the thin material of her blouse. At last his eyes continued until they met with eyelashes thick in black mascara and fluttering in what she hoped was her best alluring manner. Sluggishly, he raised his face and looked over her shoulder at the woman standing and observing them.
“If Audrey would like to have the time off, she’ll have to come and ask me for it.” Then turning his gaze back to Sonya, gave her a wink before turning and left the women looking blankly after him.
Chapter 7
Audrey turned a set of glaring eyes on her friend. “How could you have done that?”
Sonya didn’t feel any better. It certainly wasn’t her intention to put her friend into an uncomfortable predicament. She would have to go and clear the matter with Tristan. His flirting was far too inappropriate for someone as sweet as Audrey. “I’m sorry, Audrey. I’ll go and talk to him.”
“You’ll do no such thing.” She angrily threw down her tray, thankfully minus any glasses. “You’ve got me into enough trouble as it is. I’ll clear this with Tristan.”
She watched as her friend marched angrily out of the kitchen. Sighing heavily, she wi
shed Audrey well. Though their boss was a huge flirt, he was pretty harmless. If anything, he may tint Audrey’s cheeks a shade pinker.
Feeling selfish, Sonya didn’t care how Audrey convinced Tristan to let her go. Just as long in the end she was allowed.
It wasn’t until thirty minutes later that Audrey finally resurfaced. Sonya was actually beginning to worry. It wasn’t her intention to get her friend into trouble and she knew Audrey needed the job. She couldn’t risk losing it.
When she did see Audrey emerge from the ladies room, she hurried over to her side. “Where have you been? Not with Tristan all this time?”
The girl’s eyes looked slightly glazed and as predicted a hint of pink colored her cheeks. She blinked at Sonya then cast her eyes away as if she were hiding something. Sonya felt the first pang of trepidation.
“I’ve got the weekend off.” She cleared her throat and straightened her already straightened blouse.
Sonya’s eyes grew in excitement then just as swiftly to anger. “What did he make you do?”
“Nothing!” Her friend cried in disgust, her eyes shooting to Sonya’s face then just as quickly away.
“Just like that?”
“Sort of.” Her friend looked agitated as she nervously shifted from one foot to the other.
“Audrey, what aren’t you telling me?”
“He did some rescheduling so I could get the whole weekend off.” She stopped fidgeting long enough to stare into Sonya’s face. Then she spat out quickly as if afraid she may chicken out, “And, um, he invited us to stay with him at his cottage.”
The wave of relief she felt, had her exhaling heavily. She didn’t know why but a fear had gripped her chest and wasn’t willing to let go. “That’s it? He’s asked us to be his guest for the weekend?”
She nodded.
“I thought he needed to be here, “his busiest weekend of the year?”” She repeated his words.
“Apparently, he’s leaving Tony, the night manager in charge.”
Misunderstood: In Love with the Nerd (The Miss Series Book 2) Page 10