Cuffed: A Novella Read Online Free PDF Page A

Shane I was just happy I had something to do
other than replay our conversation over and over in my head, looking for some
hidden meaning that wasn’t there.

 
    Toby recognized me as I approached and met me halfway with a
hug that was just a tad too close for someone I had just met. He smelled
faintly of sandalwood, which was a pleasant surprise.

 
    “Shall we,” he asked placing an arm around my waist and I
resisted the urge to pull away. I was slightly uncomfortable with his touchy
nature.

 
    Once inside the restaurant, Toby thankfully let his arm
drop, most likely because we had to walk single file behind the hostess to
reach our table. Toby pulled my chair out for me before sitting down himself,
was he for real? Did he actually act like this or was he just trying too hard
to make a good impression? I’d never seen anyone do that before, movies didn’t
count. I found it slightly awkward.

 
    Toby made small talk about his day while we waited for our
server to appear. Luckily, he seemed content to chatter away without much input
from me. My thoughts were still stuck on Shane and why he wanted to talk about
Friday night.

 
    Shane? Was I hallucinating? It was as if thinking about him
had drawn him to where I was. He was taking a seat two tables over and slightly
behind ours with the blonde from Saturday morning. I pinched myself and looked
back up, nope, Shane was definitely here, staring at me intently. Why did he
have to pick the same restaurant I was at? It wasn’t that small of a town.

 
    Just then our server arrived cutting off Shane from my line
of sight. We both ordered the chef’s chicken special and I ordered a glass of
wine. I would definitely need some liquid encouragement to get through this night;
I just wouldn’t drink the entire bottle like before.

 
    I focused on Toby while we waited for our meals, refusing to
acknowledge Shane’s presence. Toby was a decent guy, he just wasn’t Shane. I
wanted to bang my head against the table. It just wasn’t fair. This could have
been a decent night if Shane hadn’t shown up at my house and then again here at
the restaurant.

 
    I picked at my meal when it arrived. I’d lost my appetite
the moment I’d seen Shane and the blonde. I could feel him watching me as I sat
there trying to ignore him. I gave up trying to eat and put my fork down. At
least I’d have lunch tomorrow that I didn’t have to make.

 
    “Is everything okay,” Toby asked looking concerned.

 
    “I’m fine. Just not as hungry as I thought,” I said forcing
a smile. It wasn’t his fault that Shane had ruined my night.

 
    “Would you care to dance?” Toby asked. I was caught between
not wanting Toby to touch me again and wanting Shane to see me in the arms of
another man. My desire to show Shane that I could care less about him won out.

 
    I nodded and stood up from the table. Toby put his hand on
the center of my back and guided me to the small dance floor in the corner.
There was an elderly couple in the middle of the floor, swaying back and forth
to the classical music the pianist was playing. Toby took my hand and pulled me
close, invading my personal bubble, again, leaving barely an inch of space
between us.

 
    “Umm Toby,” I started, trying to find a way to tell him I
needed more space without hurting his feelings as we started a slow two step.

 
    “Excuse me,” a voice I knew all too well interrupted. Toby
paused our movement to acknowledge Shane.

 
    “Can I help you,” Toby asked, his voice deepening and his
hold on me tightening.

 
    “I’d like to cut in and dance with the lady if she’s okay
with that,” Shane said ignoring Toby, watching my face as his words registered. Was he serious? He showed up with his own date and now wanted to cut in
while I was dancing with my date. This was outrageous! I could feel my cheeks
heating in anger.

 
    I felt Toby’s grip on me loosen as he turned to Shane, “Now
look here, the