Free Morning After (A Reynolds Security Novel) by Melissa Hale

it. I just had to preserve the moment."
    "What?" She asked right as he snapped a picture with his cell. That earned him another glare but he could see her struggling not to smile.
    "I can barely walk today, thanks to you." She said and he grinned again. A man standing nearby snickered and Erica realized what she said. She flushed a deep scarlet but she smiled. Ethan felt something deep inside go a little gooey.
    "I stopped by to see if you needed a lift to the DMV today." He said coming to her rescue by changing the subject.
    "Nah, Suzy is going to drive me. Thanks though." She handed him a lidded cup and flashed him a bright smile. "Better get to work." She said and winked at him; actually winked. He was nearly giddy as he walked back to the truck. She might say they weren't dating, she might say she wasn't interested in casual sex. But he was making headway anyway. She was softening toward him.
    Erica tried not to sigh like a school girl while she watched Ethan walk away. He was back in a suit, his usual workday attire but it fit him like a glove and as she watched his broad shoulders and long legs she knew what it was to feel a powerful surge of lust.
     
    Ethan forced himself to stay at work till four-thirty. He had never been so drawn to a woman. He wanted to just camp out in her shop and watch her work. Even serving coffee was fascinating when she did it. It was disgusting; he knew it and he didn't care. The only thing that kept him parked in his office all day was the idea that he didn't want to scare her off.  He didn't know all the dating protocols; he had never bothered to learn. He didn't really do relationships; when faced with when to call and the proper waiting period after a date before asking for another, he was completely clueless. He thought he had heard three days was standard somewhere. He couldn't wait three days, but he couldn't camp out in her shop either. He didn't want her to think he was some crazy stalker, but at four-thirty he could go down there, four-thirty was the normal time, it was routine. Four-thirty didn't say that he was completely smitten with someone he'd only spent one weekend with; one amazing weekend.
    Ethan could see how tired she was the minute he stepped into the shop, despite the fact that she was smiling as she waited on her current customer.  The next thing he noticed was that she appeared to be working alone.
    "Hi." Her eyes lit up when they landed on him and his chest swelled. She finished her current order before making his.
    "You all alone back there?" He asked looking toward the doorway to the back room.
    "Yeah," She sighed. "Cindy is taking some night courses at the community college. I sent her home to study. She isn't used to working so many hours."
    "When is Zoe due back?"
    "I am not sure. She needs to be with her parents for as long as they need her. I have already put in a couple calls for some temporary help."
    "How can I help?"
    "Go sit down and drink your coffee."
    "Ah come on. I may not know the difference between a mocha and a latte but I can take out garbage, or sweep the floor."  Her eyes held his for a moment and a smile slowly lit up her face.
    "You're going to take out the garbage in your suit?" The amusement was evident in her voice.
    "Yes." He crossed his arms indignantly. He didn't wait for her to make up her mind he just started emptying trash cans. He had seen her go through her close up routines enough times that he knew what to do and just did it.
    When they were done he felt a pang of disappointment that he had no more reason to hang around.
    "Did you get your license?" He called out.
    "Yes," She popped up from behind the counter. "I scored a hundred on my driving test, thank you very much."
    "Very impressive," He smirked. He wanted to ask her out again but he really wasn't prepared for her to turn him down again. "I am starving. Want to grab a bite to eat?" He hoped he sounded more casual than he felt.
    "Can't." Her voice muffled again as she