Free Casting Stones (Stones Duet #1) by L. M. Carr Page A

my rent and tuition, it’s not really going to do me any good.”
    My jaw nearly hits the floor as I stand there in disbelief, wondering if I can possibly feel any more humiliated. I can’t believe that I misjudged this one. The word “bitch” enters my mind until her eyes light up with humor.
    “Relax. I’m just messing with you.”
    Relief settles over me as I shake my head and narrow my eyes, trying to figure her out. Her eyes are playful, sparkling with mischief as she grins. The words fall out before I give them a second thought. “Let me take you to dinner on Friday night.”
    “No—“ she offers a crooked grin and shakes her head.
    “Lunch?” I counter quickly, sensing her humorous tone.
    “I can’t—”
    “Coffee?” I ask quickly, knowing that my time is limited and the bus will be here any minute.
    “I don’t drink coffee,” she states plainly.
    “Really? I’ve never heard of someone who doesn’t drink coffee.”
    “I doubt that,” she replies. “And what I was going to say before you rudely interrupted was that Saturdays work better for me.” Her words hang in the space between our bodies.
    Unbelievable! I want to grab her face and kiss her smartass mouth or bend her over and redden her perfect ass. I nod. “Cool. Saturday it is.”
    Her small body moves in close to my ear. I bend at the waist to accommodate the difference in our heights and listen to what she has to say.
    “And just so you know, I don’t put out on the first date.”
    Using my tongue, I move the mint to the other side of my mouth as I pull back and smile, looking straight into her green eyes. “Neither do I.” Liar.
    When the bus comes into view through my peripheral vision, I smile and jog outside. I glance back as I board the bus to find her smirking at me through the front window of the diner.

 
     
    Remy
     
    I GLANCE AT the mints by the register and smile, remembering how his tongue moved and his minty breath tickled my ear. I exhale a quiet sigh after he boards the bus.
    “I knew it!” Jenna shrieks in my ear. “I knew you liked him.”
    “Jenna, it’s dinner. It’s not like I agreed to marry him.” I wipe down the counter as the familiar feeling of sadness fills my heart. Growing up, I remember my mother used to tell me about a man she once loved. She said they were soul mates destined to be together. She couldn’t understand how one day he was whispering words of love and marriage and gone the next. He didn’t even say goodbye; he just left.
    I remember how much I hated the man named Remington.
     

     
    “I WAS GOING to call you last night, but I realized I didn’t have your number.”
    I grab the pad from my apron and scribble numbers down on it. “Here you go.”
    Shane’s eyebrows furrow, his blue eyes a sea of confusion. “There are only six digits here.”
    “You look like a smart guy. I’m sure you can figure it out.” I walk away to tend to my other customers.
    Every day this week has been the same as the day before. Shane comes in. We make small talk while he eats his breakfast until his bus arrives. I can’t help the way my eyes wander to his lips every time he takes a bite of the blueberry muffin or opens his mouth to sip the black coffee.
    “One for the road,” he chuckles as he reaches into the bowl for a mint.
    I miss him the minute he strolls out to catch the bus. I know that he knows I watch him as he stands there. I don’t even look away anymore when he catches me staring; I can be forward when I need to be.
    When he finally texts me, I ask him how he figured out my phone number. His reply is quick and simple.
    “I asked Jenna.”
    The texts we exchange are fun and flirty.
    Shane: Want to play a game?
    Me: How can we do that? You’re there and I’m here.
    Shane: I want to get to know you.
    Me: Okay. What do you want to know?
    I can feel my heart beat harder as the blood begins to flow faster. I don’t think I want to play this game.
    He explains that he’s going to