Page 8 of Hale Damage
“What’s your biggest fear?” I ask.
“Not being successful,” he says immediately, and then he looks almost chagrined at his admission.
“At work?”
He nods. “I’m supposed to take over my family’s business when my dad retires. It’s a lot of pressure, and I don’t want to fuck anything up.”
He doesn’t offer more about his occupation, and my brain tries to decide exactly what his family’s business is. It seems important to him, so it’s probably a small business like a family-owned restaurant or hardware store. My mind decides on the latter. Don’t ask me why because there’s a certain refinement in the way Joe carries himself, but the inner workings of my brain aren’t always logical.
“I want to own my own bakery one day. I’ve been working to save up for it.”
Joe looks excited about the idea. “I would be your best customer. Itry to eat healthy most of the time, but I always crave something sweet in the mornings.”
“Good. I’ll open it up right beside your hardware store.”
He rears his head back in confusion. “Hardware store?”
I wave my hand. “Or whatever your business is. My mind went immediately to a hardware store for some reason.” I giggle and pick up one of his hands, kissing his fingertips. “Maybe because you have big hands. They look very capable.”
His smirk tells me he’s thinking of all kinds of capable things his hands can do, and none of them involve hammers and drill bits. Stroking his knuckles down my cheek, he fills his next words with innuendo. “Maybe you’ll find out later.”
“Check, please!” I tease, pretending to call for the waitress. I notice she doesn’t miraculously appear like when Joe lifts his finger.
He laughs and threads his long fingers between mine. “So we’re just Hardware Joe and Baker Minnie,” he muses.
“A match made in small business heaven.”
Joe hesitates like he wants to say something, but with an almost imperceptible shake of his head, he seems to dismiss it. “And what’s your greatest fear, Minnie?”
With my free hand, I pick up my drink and take a sip before replying. “Crickets.”
His laugh is rich and warm, like expensive coffee. “Crickets? Like the bugs?”
I shudder. “They are the most disgusting creatures ever. They’re so… crunchy. I don’t mind hearing them chirping, but if I see one, I legit freak out.”
“So am I to assume you won’t be serving chocolate-covered crickets in your bakery?”
I glare at him. “Are you trying to make me barf?”
“Definitely not.” He leans forward and presses his mouth to mine. “I don’t want tonight to end, Minnie.”
“I don’t either,” I admit against his lips.
Joe pulls back a little, his brown eyes holding mine. “I have a room at the, uh, the Hampton Inn. Would you like to come back with me?”When I swallow hard, he rushes to add, “Or we could just go grab something to eat if you want.”
“I’ve always been too chickenshit to have a one-night stand,” I admit. “I think I watch too muchDatelinebecause I’m convinced I’d be found dead in some random hotel room.”
His lips twitch. “What if I promise not to murder you?”
I narrow my eyes. “That sounds exactly like something a serial killer would say.”
He puts on an expression of mock offense. “You think Hardware Joe would hurt you?”
A giggle escapes from my mouth, and his eyes fall to my lips. “Well, you probably do have a nice selection of hammers and tarps.”
He kisses me again, searing my brain as his hand lands directly on my upper thigh. “I need more time with you, Minnie, somewhere quieter. We don’t have to go back to my room if you don’t want to.”
“There’s an all-night restaurant down the block. Why don’t we start there and see where it goes?”
