Finding Me Read Online Free Page A

I allow myself the fantasy and relax into his arms again. It’s weird how comfortable I am with him, though I haven’t known him for very long.
     
     

 
     
    4
     
     
     
    The sound of a ringing phone tears me from the most delicious, erotic dream. Slowly, I reach for the cordless on my night table – only to find someone’s arm instead. The events of last night come rushing back to me; eating pizza, talking, playing together…among other things, and my cheeks flush in embarrassment. I don’t even know his last name and I let him do things to me. Things no one else has done. Then I realize I’m naked under the covers. And my phone is still ringing.
    Finding my blouse, I shove it on before I answer, seeing from my display screen that it is definitely Melanie calling me back. She doesn’t waste any time. We spoke when I was still in Texas, and I told her I was open to working anywhere. Given my limited experience with hospitality employment, I thought it might be harder to place me than someone who had done this stuff before.
    “I’ve got you an incredible job lined up for you, Lacy!” Melanie exclaims through the line. “Remember how you told me you’d love some kitchen experience? To work with chefs?”
    “Yeah, I do.” For as long as I can remember, I’ve absolutely loved being in the kitchen. My mom is an amazing baker, but her everyday cooking always took more effort, and she always let me help. The earliest memories I have are in the kitchen or at the butcher or even a market. Mom and I used to go to farmer’s markets all the time to get the freshest fruit and vegetables, and I learned early on how to choose the freshest produce.
    From there it turned into a near obsession, cooking. Trying to make my favorite meals as healthy as possible, especially after Dad suffered a heart attack. I realized then that I didn’t know anything about my actual family health history and could have some underlying issue. I love fries and fried foods – who doesn’t? – but until I know that I don’t have a history of heart disease or anything else, I’m going to be careful, only indulging every once in a while.
    “Well, I’ve got you a month long position at an inn with a five star restaurant. The chef there, Rhys Mackintosh, loves taking on new staff and he has an opening right now. Have you got a pen and paper handy?”
    I fumble through my purse for those items and when I’m ready, she gives me all the details. I’m supposed to call Rhys and arrange my travel up there as soon as possible. My heart drops into my stomach and I keep myself intact while finishing up the conversation with Melanie, promising to get in touch with Ronan when I’m done.
    It’s the phone call I wanted, the one I’d been waiting for, and now…
    Now I don’t know what to do. I want to stay here with Dex. I want to do anything and everything he tells me to.
    “That was it, wasn’t it?”
    I drop down onto the edge of his bed, eyes prickling with the threat of tears. “Yeah. I was so excited yesterday. Now, I don’t know.”
    “You’ve got to go, Lacy. Go and explore and have fun, find yourself. But during that time, I…” He curses. “Don’t forget about me, love, yeah? England isn’t that big, when you actually think about it.”
    Biting my tongue doesn’t work to keep in a sob so I let it out. Even I’m not so stupid as to think there could be anything between us to hold on to after one night. “The job isn’t in England, Dex.”
    “Wales then?”
    I shake my head, sending a torrent of cinnamon strands to drape around my face.
    He sighs, a resigned sound. “Scotland.”
    “For a month.” A. Whole. Freaking. Month.
    The hiss of air rushing from his lungs says it all. It’s too long a time to ask him to wait. He’s too much man to be kept waiting. It fucking hurts. I hardly know him and it hurts to think about not being able to touch him, kiss him. Hurts even more for me to imagine him with anyone else.
    There