Maya And The Tough Guy Read Online Free PDF Page A

relief.” She was out of bed, dressing.
    This was weird because Janice was the most laid back woman he’d ever met. She slept with other guys besides him. Sex was always casual with her. He swung his legs out of bed, disposed of the condom, and pulled on his boxers. “I don’t know what I did to piss you off—”
    “You’re in love with that girl—Maya—aren’t you?”
    He froze.  
    She closed her eyes and took a breath. Then she went back to dressing. She put her straight, blonde hair up in a ponytail. “Listen, Jayce, you know I’ve got no problem with you being with other women. I don’t care. We’re friends with benefits, and it’s always worked out real nice for us. But the way it works is we’re honest with each other. And I don’t like feeling like I’m being used. Like you’re thinking of her when you’re fucking me.”
    “I wasn’t thinking of her.” He wasn’t not thinking of her either.
    “But you’re substituting me for her. Is that what I’ve been all along? A stand-in for Maya?”
    He shook his head and looked away. “Stand-in suggests I once had her and will have her again. She’s not mine. Never will be. I’m just trying to keep my head above water, Janice.”
    “So what’s changed? I’ve never noticed this before.”
    He shrugged and sat on the edge of his bed.
    “Is it ‘cause she’s getting divorced now? And you gotta hire her because you feel bad for her?”
    “I gotta hire her because I need another waitress and she’s just as good as anybody. Look, if you don’t wanna be with me over this, then just say so.”
    Janice twisted her lips in thought. “Probably be best to take a break.”
    “Great,” he groaned. Back to picking up strangers. For two years, now, Janice had been his go-to girl.  
    She kissed him on the cheek and left without a backward glance.  
    “Great,” he said again, shaking his head. He headed for the shower.
    Being Saturday, by five, the bar was already filling up. Jayce hadn’t even noticed Maya coming in. She’d have had to walk past the bar to the hallway to his right that led to his office and a small locker room for the girls. At five-fifteen, he realized he hadn’t seen her and began to look around. She was with Janice at a table, taking orders.  
    Her long legs were completely on display in the denim cutoffs she was wearing. Her tank top left a strip of flesh bare at her midriff and didn’t leave much to the imagination up top, either. He’d tried to get the girls to dress warmer in the winter, but the one time they tried, they claimed they made less in tips. He wasn’t sure. But at least it was warm in the bar.
    Janice hooked her arm through Maya’s and led her toward the bar. Toward him. He averted his eyes and pulled another beer for a guy at the end of the bar.  
    “Two Cosmos,” Janice called. He immediately grabbed a couple of glasses and got to work on the drinks. “Come on, Maya,” she said. “While he’s making those, we’ll get the beers. Like this.”  
    Jayce had his back to them, but he caught their reflections in the mirror behind the liquor bottles. Janice’s hand was low on Maya’s back as she showed her what to do. They smiled at each other. It might’ve been hot, but Jayce was struggling with deeper feelings.  
    He turned and set the Cosmos on Maya’s drink tray. She glanced at him, flashing him a shy smile, and then went back to work. As she walked away, he exhaled and realized he’d been holding his breath near her.  
    This was going to have to stop. He couldn’t be going tense and fluttery every time she walked by. He’d end up breaking something or hurting himself.  
    Throughout the evening, he couldn’t help watching her. More times than he could count, customers had to shout his name twice to get his attention. But, he was worried. After an hour, Janice had turned Maya loose, and every time she approached a customer she lowered her eyes, went all bashful, and wound up getting her ass