Gone (Sons of Judah MC Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

wouldn’t be able to stop him.
     
    Of course, she didn’t want to stop him.
     
    Yes, she did.
     
    He grabbed her hands and squeezed them. “You’re a beautiful, talented, and exceptionally witty woman. There is nothing wrong with not being able to cook.”
     
    Funny that he should say it. Ned always made her believe that any flaw she had was a major blow to his expectations. “You’re too sweet.”
     
    He let go of her hands, and at that moment, the waiter brought their food. She’d ordered swordfish, and it looked as good as any she ate in a Michelin star restaurant. Of course, Ned only went to the top restaurants in town. Anything less than that wouldn’t do. Stacy ate her food. She closed her eyes and enjoyed each bite.
     
    “This is called perfection. I am surprised more people don’t know about this place. This food is as good as any I have eaten in the best restaurants in town.”
     
    “And I’m mighty glad to hear you say that,” spoke a voice. She turned her head to look at the short woman who stood next to their table. Her mass of white hair was tied in a bun behind her head. She wore a simple, white apron over a black dress. Stacy pegged her to be about fifty, or perhaps a really well-preserved fifty-five. “Marco, you’ve brought us a real treat. Who is this lovely lady who knows the value of good food?”
     
    “Stacy, Mia. Mia is the head chef here.”
     
    “I am the only chef in there.” She pointed a finger at the back of the restaurant where the door to the kitchen was located. “You must bring her here more often.”
     
    “I’m working on that.”
     
    “Not that there is a woman in this world who can ignore this devil when he sets his mind on her, but you fight him real good, young lady. He is a keeper, but only for the right woman.”
     
    “And since you won’t have me, I have to look for her elsewhere,” said Marco in a jovial voice.
     
    “Oh, I think your quest might be near to the end.” Mia winked at Stacy. “Now I’m sending you both my newest creation. It’s devilish chocolate cake with a slight hint of honey, a true work of art. Tell me how it was when you’re done.”
     
    He patted his stomach. “If I continue to eat here, I will have to increase my exercise regime.”
     
    She patted him on the cheek. “And then you will be even more gorgeous than ever before. Now, take care. Enjoy your date.”
     
    When she walked off, Marco cleared his throat. “Mia is a friend. She doesn’t spare her comments, but when it comes down to it, she will stand in front of someone whom she cares about to take a bullet for them.”
     
    “Then, she is the best kind of a friend that a person can have,” said Stacy. She was actually a little amused to see his friendship with the woman who was at least a decade older. The fact that he shared such a good relationship with her showed that he was capable of making meaningful and loving connections with people. Everything about him surprised her. It was probably because she’d judged him too harshly before.
     
    He was a kind, sweet man.
     
    And if he ever realized that she thought of him that way, he would probably kill himself. She was quite positive that it wasn’t the image he was going for. What’s more, he would use her soft heart towards him to seduce her. The man might be cute as a puppy, but he was dangerous. She was a fool to think he couldn’t hurt her. A man like him had the power to reduce her to someone who wasn’t capable of having thoughts on her own. Marco was a forceful man. She didn’t want his type in her world. He was sure to do what Ned did…and that was to control her.
     
    And yet he was so cute. She wanted to gobble him up in one bite. The moist, chocolate cake appeared before her, and she picked up her fork. “This looks delicious.”
     
    “Oh, I am sure it tastes better than it looks, much like you.”
     
    Stacy didn’t reply, as she took a bite from the cake. He was trying to flatter her,