Free Take Me I'm Yours (Coffee House Chronicles) by Michelle Miles

glanced at the girl next to him who looked at Ethan with wide eyes. “She your girlfriend?” She nodded toward Blondie. “Did you already have her lined up or did you find her this afternoon after I turned you down?”
    “Ethan and I have been together for four months,” Blondie said, sounding defensive.
    “Wow, four whole months. I’m impressed,” Marion said. “Did he tell you he came to me earlier today wanting to reconcile?” She turned her gaze back to Ethan.
    Beside her, Graeme coughed to cover his smirk.
    “Ethan , is that true?” Blondie released his arm and stepped back from him, looking hurt. She crossed her arms over her much too ample bosom.
    His chiseled features turned stony, the muscle in his jaw ticked with his annoyance as he glared at Marion. Finally, he put on his best fake smile and turned to the girl, slipping his arm around her shoulders and pulling her close.
    “Of course not, sweetie. Don’t you recognize the cry of a desperate woman when you hear it?”
    Marion balled her fists, wishing she could punch in him that sardonic grin. “You—”
    “He’s not worth it, baby.” Graeme hugged her gently to him. “You know what a master manipulator he is.”
    “And I suppose you’re worth it?” Ethan shot back .
    “She’s w ith me, isn’t she?” Graeme said.
    Marion glanced at him to see his arrogant smile he flashed at Ethan. Her heart throbbed hard and she suddenly found him completely irresistible. All those feelings she had tried to suppress flooded up, threatening to overcome her. She had to get it in check and quick.
    “Come on,” Ethan said. “These losers aren’t worth our time.”
    Ethan stepped around them with the girl in tow who gave Marion a look of death. Marion wanted to shout something sarcastic back but couldn’t think of anything. If Delilah had been there, she’d have a ready comment. As the two walked away, Graeme hadn’t bothered to remove his arm around her waist.
    Marion giggle d. The farther away he got, the harder she laughed and pretty soon, she was overcome with gales of laughter. Graeme laughed too, whether at her or the entire situation she couldn’t be sure but she didn’t really care.
    “What did I…ever see…in that guy?” she asked between breaths. It was more a rhetorical question than anything.
    “I don’t know but calling us losers is like the pot calling the kettle black.”
    Graeme still held her close. She liked it. He was so warm and cozy next to her. She wanted him to keep her there for as long as possible but knew it would have to end sometime.
    “Come on,” he said. “Let’s get you home.”
     

Chapter Seven
     
    Marion woke on Sunday before the sun started streaming in her window. She glanced at the clock and groaned when she saw it was after seven. Why she found it difficult to sleep in on weekends was beyond her .
    Her day began early during the week when she would get to the gym and do her own work-out before her clients came for theirs. She started the day with a cup of coffee and toning exercises. On the weekends, after crawling out of bed, she’d do yoga to keep her muscles flexible and to find her center.
    But this morning, she couldn’t bring herself to get out of bed. Instead, she buried deeper under the blankets , pulling them over her head to block out the morning light. As she lay there listening to the silence of the house, her thoughts turned to Graeme. They would be visiting the art museum together and it made her smile. She really looked forward to spending more time with him.
    The way he held her against him last night when they ran into Ethan made her body tingle. She was certain she could still feel Graeme’s warmth and smell his cologne. He made her feel safe and warm. Deep down she knew the whole “let’s be friends” thing was a farce. And she intended to put an end to it.
    She could picture his face clearly with those pale blue eyes that were so striking she could get lost in them. She even