The Waiter by Bradleigh Collins (bill gates books recommendations .txt) 📕

Cutting him out of my life completely was the best way to do just that.

“Speaking of Dalton, when is he moving to New York?”

“Wednesday. He finishes up his assignment here tomorrow.”

“Are you going to move in with him?”

“I might have to if I can’t find an apartment,” I joked.

“Come wait outside with me,” Deb said. “Sean will be here any minute.”

We went outside just as Sean pulled up in front of the restaurant.

“Do you want a ride?”

“No, you guys are going in the opposite direction. And I’m like right there. I wanna enjoy the walk.”

“Okay.”

“I’ll see you again before I move,” I said, hugging her and waving to Sean.

“You better. And think about what I said. About second chances.”

I nodded as she got into Sean’s car. I waved goodbye and started walking back to my apartment. Then I heard something in the parking lot. I looked to my left. It was Bitchy Brenda. Her car was parked in the back of the restaurant and she was standing beside it, throwing up. I walked over to her.

“Brenda, are you okay?”

She made an inaudible sound and fell to her knees. Now she was on all fours, still throwing up. I looked around and didn’t see anyone else from the office. Her car was the only one left in the parking lot. Oh god. I can’t leave her here like this.

“Brenda, give me your keys. You can’t drive,” I said. She mumbled incoherently again. Then she passed out cold. Right there on the pavement. I knew there was no way I could get all five-foot-ten-inches of her in the car by myself. She was twice my size. And I certainly couldn’t drive her home since I’d been drinking too. I started to call Deb and Sean, but then I looked at Brenda. I actually felt sorry for her. Deb would tell everyone in the office. I didn’t want to humiliate Brenda, even though she totally deserved it after the way she treated me all these years.

I took out my phone and called Dalton. He answered.

“I need you,” I said. “Brenda is passed out in the parking lot at El Azteca and I can’t get her in the car. Everybody else has already left.”

“I’ll be there in ten minutes,” he replied. He was still at his office in downtown Atlanta which wasn’t very far.

I fished through Brenda’s purse and retrieved her car keys and driver’s licenses to get her address. I knew she lived in Buckhead but wasn’t sure where.

When Dalton arrived, he parked right next to her car. He got out and walked over to us.

“Are you okay?”

“Well, I had a really good buzz going until she killed it.” He looked down at her.

“Damn, she’s out cold.”

“Can you help me get her in the car? We need to drive her home and take a cab back.”

He leaned down and scooped her up like it was nothing and put her in the back seat. I handed him the keys and got in the passenger side.

We drove Brenda’s car to her apartment. When we got there, Dalton carried her in over his shoulder, the same way he carried me out of the Clermont Lounge. He laid her down on the sofa. I put her car keys and purse on the coffee table beside her. Then we left.

“Dalton,” I said in the cab on the way back to his car, “thank you.” He didn’t say anything. He just reached over and grabbed my hand and kissed it.

I looked over at him. He was still the most beautiful man I’d ever seen. And I was still in love with him. Then I did something I knew I was going to regret. I told him.

“I love you.”

“I love you too baby,” he said. He put his arm around me and I leaned into him for the rest of the cab ride.

We picked up his car. Then he drove me back to the Ford Factory. He pulled into a parking spot right in front of the entrance. The car was still running.

“Well,” I said. “Come on.”

He looked at me. Then he turned off the engine. I got out of the car. He got out of the car. I took him by the hand and led him into the building.

We walked into my apartment. As soon as I shut the door, he pinned me against the wall. Then he kissed me. The kiss was passionate and possessive, as if he were reclaiming what was rightfully his and erasing the memory of The Waiter from my lips.

I don’t know if it was because I was so grateful that he showed up when I needed him or that subconsciously, it was another way to punish The Waiter, but I’d never wanted Dalton more than I did right now.

“God, I’ve missed you,” he said.

“I’ve missed you too,” I replied. And then I started crying. “I’m sorry, Dalton.”

“No, I’m sorry,” he said. “Don’t cry baby.”

He picked me up and carried me to the bedroom. When he put me down, he lifted my dress over my head and tossed it on the floor. He smelled incredible. Therewas the familiar scent of Eternity, but he just smelled like a man. Like my man.

He ran his hands down my waist to my hips, hooking his thumbs under the straps of my thong and then ripping it off with one forceful pull.

“Hey! That’s Victoria’s Secret. It wasn’t cheap.”

“I’ll buy you another pair,” he whispered. Then he laid me down on the bed. Feeling him on top of me again, the weight of him, the way he touched me...everything felt right. This man knew my body like the back of his hand. A hand that was now between my legs.

“You’re moving to New York with me,” he said, looking down at me.

His hair fell over my face. The Real Thing found its way inside. And just like that, I was right back where I said I would never be. Again.

CHAPTER 17

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It was our first Saturday night