Blue Persuasion Read Online Free PDF Page B

Judy.”
    “Why?” I took the rag from the sink and used it to wipe the bar between us.
    He stopped my hand, and held it in place under his. “Why did I let her drag me here? Or why should we be friends?”
    “Either ... both,” I said, looking away. My heart raced at his touch and caused my face to blush. Wetness gathered between my thighs and when I glanced up at him, I knew he could tell. I crossed my free arm across my errant nipples.
    His expression remained unchanged. “You know why.” He lifted his hand off mine.
    Only I didn’t, but I remained silent. Maybe he could feel me, like I felt him. But if that were the case, he sure hid it well. “And if I say no?” I threw the rag down in the sink underneath.
    He shrugged and shook his head as if it mattered not a bit to him either way.
    “Well if it matters so little to you,” I flung at him, waving him off. I rang up his two beers and placed the receipt down in front of him.
    “That’s not what I said. You’re tough.”
    “Life has a way of doing that.” So many thoughts raced through my mind: my brother’s friend, my father’s client, my mother’s boyfriends, my floor mate in college and others. Too many fucked up scenarios to process.
    As if Tate could read my thoughts, his voice filled with compassion. “Yes, it does.”
    “So...” I said, waiting for him to pay and leave.
    “We could go out with Cat and Kevin.” He took his wallet out of his back pocket and left it on the bar, unopened.
    “Sounds too much like a double date.” I watched a server I didn’t know leave a check for the couple across the way.
    “We can hang out in a group?”
    I looked back toward him. “I don’t know anything about you, Tate. How about we start there?” My phone vibrated and I said, “I’ll be right back.” I pushed through the swinging kitchen door, pulled out my cellphone, and saw messages from Cat and Bond.
     
    Bond: Let’s shoot for Monday night. Can’t wait to see it and you. ;)
    Catherine: Give him a shot. You won’t regret it.
     
    To Bond I typed:
     
    Me: Perfect. I’m off Monday.
     
    And to Cat I texted:
     
    Me: I already do.
     
    Back out front, before I could say anything, Tate started, “I’m forty-three, I teach English and writing classes at FAU, and I’m healthy.”
    I scanned him up and down, taking in his shoulder-length, shiny, rich brown hair and imagined the tattoos that lay underneath his tight red T-shirt and relaxed-fit, black jeans. I scrunched my nose and upper lip. “A college professor? Really?”
    “Don’t sound so surprised.” His expression remained neutral, but I got the feeling he was impressed with himself, or maybe he just liked surprising me.
    “Well ... you look more like a Rough Rider than a teacher. Do you like it?”
    “I love my work and I used to be a biker, but I don’t think you mean the Rough Riders who were the first United States volunteer cavalry.”
    I burst out laughing over my faux pas. “Holy moly,” I mumbled and laughed some more.
    He seemed to be struggling not to laugh with me. He continued, “Outlaws, Warlocks, or another motorcycle gang is probably what you were going for. I was part of a group of bikers, but we had no crest or creed other than drinking too much and fighting too often.”
    “Were they all Native Americans?”
    “No, but we were all young and dumb shits at the time.”
    I laughed again, and this time he joined in.
    His laughter transformed his face, causing his dark eyes to sparkle. The moment passed too quickly.
    “Do you still ride?” I asked.
    “Yes, but not as often anymore. I make sure to do the charity runs like Toys for Tots and love to take a long ride on a cool winter’s day. Did you know you crinkle your nose when you’re thinking?” He didn’t wait for me to respond. “Cat tells me you’re working on a novel. What do you write about?”
    “That’s personal.”
    “Oh. I was under the impression that you’d like to publish your work