BWWM Interracial Romance 6: Her Protector Read Online Free PDF Page B

corporate attorney now, making a killing—living in Connecticut.
    The conversation started to wind down, and Adriana realized that the lunch rush was dying. It was about time for her to head to the office in the back and get to work on the books, no matter how little she wanted confirmation that they hadn’t made enough during the shift to cover costs.
    “You know, it’s been really good chatting with you,” Sawyer said, his gaze level on her face. “I forgot how much I liked talking to you.”
    “Me too,” Adriana admitted. She hadn’t really and truly thought about Sawyer in years; even when she had come back to help her parents out, Desiree had been more on her mind than Sawyer had—which she found strange now, remembering that she and Sawyer had almost ended up dating when they were in high school together. It had been during their senior year, and they had hedged around the question their entire high school career—and at the last moment, they had somehow managed to both chicken out yet again. Adriana was never entirely sure why it had happened that way; maybe they were both worried that it wouldn’t work out and that was what held them back.
    “I was wondering—have been wondering, actually—would you like to see a movie, maybe grab a drink together sometime?”
    Adriana felt her cheeks heating up. “Well,” she said, swallowing against the tightness she felt in her throat. “We were always on the edge of going out in high school, right?”
    Sawyer grinned. “You’re right about that. I never could quite get up the nerve to really ask you. You were always too gorgeous, too good for me.”
    Adriana rolled her eyes and shook her head. “Please. You just wanted the easy girls. I was too difficult to get in bed—that’s why you didn’t ask me.”
    Sawyer shook his head. “I was willing to wait then and I’m willing to wait now. What do you say?”
    Adriana considered it for a moment. “I really shouldn’t,” she said, hesitating as she looked around the restaurant. She saw Sawyer’s hopeful, pleased expression fall. “No—not because of you. I just don’t know when I’ll be able to get away from here.”
    “You can find someone to manage for a night, can’t you? Or for the day and then Esther can take the night?”
    Adriana smiled. “Let me call you when I figure it out. I do want to go out with you—I really do. But it gets complicated around here. Give me your number and let me know when you’re off next.”
    Sawyer took the pen that went with the check and scrawled his number on a cocktail napkin, handing it to her. He stood up and Adriana stood with him, hesitating again for a moment—she didn’t know how to tell him goodbye. Before she could make a decision, Sawyer had wrapped his arms around her loosely and kissed her on the cheek.
    “Make sure you actually call me,” he said. “After all, I know where you live—I can get a warrant.” He grinned to emphasize the joke.
    Adriana laughed. “Corruption in the ranks of law enforcement!” she called after him as he made his way out of the restaurant. She looked at the credit card receipt; he had left a generous 25% tip on his meal, after insisting that she add her own soup to his tab. She was glad that she had tentatively agreed to his offer of a date—even if she wasn’t sure how she would manage scheduling it. She’d discuss it with her mom later.
    Adriana went back to her office after cashing out the tip on the check and dividing it among the servers and bussers on the floor.
    Becky, her wrist nearly back to normal, flashed a grin at Adriana, taking the couple of dollars. “He can come back anytime he wants,” she said. “And if I’m not getting to above myself, I think you agree.”
    Adriana had smacked her arm playfully and danced away from any further questions, retreating to the office.
    She sat down at the desk and found herself smiling still, thinking ahead to the date with Sawyer. She still wasn’t entirely