Total pages in book: 45
Estimated words: 42829 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 214(@200wpm)___ 171(@250wpm)___ 143(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 42829 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 214(@200wpm)___ 171(@250wpm)___ 143(@300wpm)
When the door shut behind Grey, Mack felt like the air was sucked out of the restaurant. He shook off the feeling of having just lost something and headed to check on his tables. Grey had shared he came in often. Hopefully, he’d get to see him again.
Leaving out the back door when his shift was over, Mack walked toward his temporary home. His last lover had kicked him out when Mack refused to participate in a three-way with a woman from his ex-lover’s office. A married woman…
Mack’s sexuality was fluid. He’d had both female and male lovers. Not many. He was picky.
He needed something better than just being someone’s side piece or third. Maybe what he wanted wasn’t out there.
Circling around the building to reach the street, he joined the stream of people walking purposefully downtown. Most had finished their days and were heading home or to a restaurant or bar. His required white shirt and black slacks fit in fairly well with the suit-wearing crowd.
Appearances could be very deceiving. Working in an office would be Mack’s worst nightmare. After floundering at school despite actually trying, Mack had no interest in learning a trade. He wasn’t good with tools. What he was good at was working with people. Being a server was perfect for him.
Good food brought out the best of most people. Unlike that woman with Grey today. He’d sent her away. The handsome man’s radar about people was spot on. Mack was still reeling from his comment about being Little. How could he know?
He loved the smiles he received and returned them with genuine warmth. Mack was aware others considered him good-looking. He worked out frequently and ran every day. The complete opposite of stuck-up, Mack didn’t feel superior to anyone. He was simply a guy with good genes.
When type-A personalities approached him for his looks, they enjoyed having him around. Mack was fun, entertaining, and loyal. Despite his commitment to them, each one hadn’t considered a long-term relationship with Mack when they found out he had no drive to change careers. Dating a server didn’t have the boastability of going out with an executive or another professional.
He shook his head at that thought and felt Poutine shift in his bun. Sorry! Mack quickly grasped the mound of hair as his other hand unfastened the hair tie. He released the rest of his hair to stream down his back as he helped Poutine escape. After checking to make sure the otter was alright, Mack raised her to his lips for a kiss before tucking the hand holding the petite stuffie into his pocket. Having Poutine with him made Mack feel better, so the small otter went with him everywhere.
Distracted by this rescue process, Mack wasn’t focused on the people around him. He’d just rewound his hair into a messy bun when a familiar man stopped in front of him. Mack tried to finish securing his hair quickly. Locks of hair cascaded to his shoulders, foiling his efforts. “Hi, Grey. I’d offer my hand, but I have a rebellion brewing here.”
“No problem, Mack,” Grey said with a low chuckle that made Mack’s heart beat a bit faster.
He made himself concentrate and, thanks to years of practice, got his hair secured at the back of his head. “Rebellion squashed,” he joked.
“Is your shift over?” Grey asked.
“Yes. I’m on my way home. I hope you are, too,” Mack said with a smile.
“I am. I don’t suppose you have time for a drink.”
Mack hesitated. Grey was likely to choose somewhere exclusive, where the drinks would be expensive. He needed to keep his tip money. Besides, this guy seemed to deduce things about him that Mack didn’t need him to know.
“There’s a coffee shop on the next block. Let me treat you to something with way too many calories and whipped cream on the top,” Grey offered, seemingly reading Mack’s mind.
“Oh, you don’t have to pay for mine,” Mack said automatically.
“When we are together, I will take care of you. I’d like to talk to you. Will you take a chance?”
Staring into those gray eyes, Mack couldn’t tell him no. He didn’t want to. Spending time with this magnetic man suddenly sounded better than anything. He forced himself to be nonchalant. “Okay.”
“I love your enthusiasm,” Grey teased. “Come on. It’s around the corner.”
Mack loved the warm hand Grey pressed to the small of his back lightly to guide him to the coffee shop. Once inside, they made their selections and took chairs at a table in the back where they could talk as they waited for their names to be called.
The hubbub of conversations and people moving around created a privacy bubble around them. No one was listening or could hear the next table’s discussions clearly. Mack relaxed against the back of the chair. This was a perfect place to get to know each other.