Waiting For Him Read online

  Waiting for Him

  by

  Denise Johnson

  Ebook Edition

  * * * * *

  PUBLISHED BY:

  AFM Romance

  Copyright © 2015 by Denise Johnson

  All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

  License Notes

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return to the retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author's work.

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  They don’t call him “Stone” for no reason…

  Edward “Stone” Ryan can have his pick of women so why would the shy waitress be any different? So what if every time he glanced in her direction, Stone got a hard on from just a mere smile.

  Keisha Washington knew of his reputation and considered him the perfect candidate for her dilemma—especially after her fiancé dumped her and moved in with another woman.

  Before he can make his move, she comes to him with an offer he can’t refuse. If only their No Strings pact didn’t leave him wanting so much more.

  Waiting for Him

  Denise Johnson

  Chapter One

  Rumor had it, she was a virgin. As in, had never had sex.

  Ever.

  Looking at her now, Edward Ryan ‘Stone’ to those who knew him well, found that hard to believe.

  Young, sure.

  But not so young she hadn’t had time and opportunity to get busy. He figured her to be in her mid-twenties, which would put her at a few years younger than him. Plenty old enough for just about anything. Actually, for everything. Like all those things now crowding his brain and making him twitchy.

  Shifting in the booth seat, Stone settled back a little more and continued to study her.

  Sweet? Oh, yeah, she was super sweet. Just look at that smile. And the dimples in her velvety cheeks were so damned cute. He’d almost swear her big brown eyes sparkled as she spoke to customers and took orders. Polite but engaging. And yeah, really, really sweet.

  But sweet enough to remain untouched? Pfft. He’d known plenty of sweet women who loved sex. Sometimes they dragged him off to the bedroom. He’d always adored sexually aggressive women. It was a big turn-on.

  The idea of sexual innocence teased him. He’d never before realized how exciting it might be to be…the first.

  Until now. Until he looked a Keisha Washington.

  From the get-go, he’d been drawn to her. For nearly a month he’d been flirting, chatting her up and teasing while keeping things superficial. The way he preferred his relationships to be. He liked to sit back and let women make the first move. Then he would inform them of his intent to stay single, and take it from there.

  Keisha hadn’t made a move.

  She was friendly enough, always gifting him with those dimples, smiles, and big brown eyes.

  But then, she gifted everyone the same way.

  Why would an attractive, lusciously built, friendly woman have remained a virgin?

  Lack of interest from guys? No way.

  Keisha looked like a stacked elf. Curvy, but still petite. Adorable, but with a sensual heat lurking in her gaze. Bubbly…and yet somehow a little reserved.

  Religious convictions? He laughed at the one time he attended a black church with one of his college buddies. Travis told him it would be an experience and boy was it.

  He glanced at her again. He didn’t think so. Not that he’d know how to tell just by engaging in occasional casual conversation with her while ordering lunch. But she had such a ripe look about her that it seemed at odds with any deep religious affiliation.

  Waiting for marriage?

  If so, then maybe he could convince her that experiencing life was better than waiting.

  She finished taking an order and turned to head back to the kitchen. Her silky dark brown hair, held in a high ponytail, swished back and forth between her shoulder blades with each hurried step she took.

  A black button down top hugged her upper body, while snug black slacks showed off her curvy backside.

  Stone shifted again. In the weeks he’d known her, he hadn’t pressed her beyond friendly greetings and putting in his lunch order. But how much time could he spend hanging out at the restaurant before she caught on to his interest?

  Was she a virgin? He wanted to find out. He would find out.

  And with that the decision made, he felt himself stir.

  Damn it, around her, he had to constantly fight off a boner. Insane. At twenty-eight, he didn’t lack control. She affected him—and that was reason number one why he’d hesitated to ask her out. A woman with that much influence on his libido could only be trouble. He liked being free of commitments and took great pleasure in answering to no one for anything, being accountable only to himself.

  A clingy, marriage-minded woman could put a kin in his lifestyle.

  But he could be her first.

  Stone shook himself because reason number two—her supposed innocence—was a biggie.

  If she was waiting for Mr. Right, or if she had some strong reasons for avoiding intimacy, well…he’d be as wrong for her as wrong could be. He’d ensure she enjoyed herself while in the sack, but afterward, when the spark faded and he walked away…

  Yeah, much as he relished the idea of her innocence, he didn’t relish the idea of breaking her heart.

  Unfortunately, he wasn’t into self-torture, and not having her would be pretty torturous, so to hell with it. He’d just have to figure out a way to have it all, and if—

  “Hey, Stone. What’s up?”

  Guilty over the carnality of his thoughts, Stone jumped a good foot. “Damn it,” he complained when diners at nearby tables glance at him. He scowled over the appearance of his good friend, Steve Carlson, “I didn’t see you come in.”

  As he sat opposite Stone in the booth, Steve scrutinized him. Then he looked back at where Stone had been staring. He saw Keisha bent over a table as she served an older couple, turned back to Stone and grinned. “Taking in the view?”

  “I was, but you shouldn’t.”

  “Oh! Are you warning me off? Seriously?”

  Stone hated to admit it, “Yeah, I am.”

  “Huh.” Steve eyed him with humor and great interest. “Well, in case you missed it, every guy with a pulse is taking in the view. Why should I be the only one not to look?”

  Stone didn’t have to answer because Keisha joined their table, menus in hand. A she leaned over to place a menu in front of him, she said, “I’m so sorry for the wait. What can I get you guys to drink?”

  He inhaled the scent of her hair and skin and froze as his pulse rushed and a slow heat unfurled. Her nearness affected him like a full-body caress, leaving him in a lust inspired stupor.

  Straightening, she struck a casual stance, one slim brow lifted, a half smile on her mouth, her eyes inquisitive and Stone knew he was going to get hard.

  Steven eyed him again and snickered at his obvious condition. “I’ll take a Coke.”

  “Yeah.” His voice was so thick, Stone cleared his throat. Fighting the urge to study her body, he locked his gaze on her face. “Coke, light ice.”

  “Sure thing, guys. Be right back.”

  As she sashayed off, he released a pent up breath.

  Steve let loose a big guffaw. “What that hell, man/”

  “Shut up.” He tugged at the leg of his jeans, but it didn’t help with the restriction of the denim.

  “She’s hot,” Steve agreed, as if he’d invited comment. “For a virgin, that is.”

  Eyes closing, Stone fought off the wash of automatic anger. He had no claim on Keisha, and he didn’t want a claim.

  He just wanted to be first.

  So why should Steve’s taunt bother him so much? Easy answer. It shouldn’t.

  When he felt calm enough, he stared at Steve and spoke in what he hoped sounded like mere curiosity. “You heard that, too, huh?”

  “Yeah.” Steve studied him with tempered humor. “It’s an intriguing concept, right? Initiation and all that.”

  Oh, yeah. Stone shook his head in denial. “You’re an ass.”

  “Just being honest. What red-blooded guy wouldn’t be drawn to the idea of a woman who looks like she does but is still untouched?”

  “Who says she’s untouched?” The croak was back in his voice, but he pretended not to hear it. “There’re all sorts of things to do that could leave a woman a te
chnical virgin but not really inexperienced.” And thinking about those things wouldn’t help to cool his engines.

  Keisha retuned. She set the drinks down and pulled out a notepad and pen from her apron pocket.

  And damn it, even that rumpled apron seemed somehow sexy, which was absurd given it was plain old sturdy cotton.

  “What’s it gonna be guys?”

  Such a loaded question.

  Steve, obviously enjoying his predicament, looked at Stone and waited for him to order.

  Without touching the menu, Stone said, “Three shrimp tacos and some extra slaw, please.”

  Her dimples appeared in her brown skin. “I should have known. That’s a regular order for you. Maybe I can start using that old clichéd line.”

  The things her smiled did to him. “What line is that?”

  She struck a pose, then asked, “The usual?”

  “Ah.” She was so cute. “Could be. I’ve been eating here forever, but you’ve worked here for what? A month now?”

  “Just about.”

  He already knew that, of course. Hell, he could tell her how many days, and if he thought about it, probably how many hours. He’d been a little obsessed since the first day he saw her, and once he heard that virgin business, he’d lost it. “Time flies when you’re having fun.”

  Steve kicked him under the table. Yeah, that was pretty lame and deserving of a kick.

  She didn’t seem to notice. “I like it here. Everyone is so nice. And they’ve been great about working with me on my hours.”

  This was the first time she’d deliberately lingered to talk and Stone wanted to take advantage of it. “Meaning?”

  She was always there for lunch but barely for the start of the dinner crows and almost never for breakfast.

  “I have classes.” The smile widened. “I’m going to be a physical therapist. That is…if I ever get done. It’s been slow going so far.”

  “Yeah?” His elbows on the booth top, absurdly charmed for no apparent reason, Stone leaned forward. “Why the delay?”

  “I relocated and it threw me off for a while, getting settled in and everything. It wasn’t easy finding a place that’d take my pets.”

  “Pets, plural?” So she was an animal lover, too? Nice.

  “Two dogs and a cat.”

  “A regular menagerie.”

  She laughed, and it was like getting French-kissed by a really hot chick.

  “They have very different personalities and I love them all. They’ve gotten me through some rough times.” Suddenly catching herself, she shook her head and turned to Steve. “I’m sorry for going on. What can I get you?”

  As if waking up, Steve said, “Hmm? Oh. I’ll take a stacked burger with fried pickles.”

  “You’ve got it. I’ll get this right out to you.”

  Off she went, with Stone staring after her…until Steven grabbed his heart and feigned a swoon.

  Damn it, it rankled that Steve had reason to harass him. “Go screw yourself.”

  Steve laughed. “You look like a lovesick pup! What he hell, Stone? Mooning over her? Hanging on her every word? I half expected you to slide out of your seat and onto your knees before her.”

  “I repeat, go screw yourself.” But he knew it was true. Even now he had to consciously fight the urge to track her every moment in the restaurant. He didn’t do things like that. He didn’t get all hung up on a woman. Ever.

  Not even a hot little virgin.

  And that reminded him. “So where did you hear that virgin stuff?”

  With a knowing smile, Steve shrugged. “I overheard some of the other waitresses talking, and one of them said she heard it from Keisha’s ex.”

  “Probably jealous,” Stone mumbled.

  “Probably,” Steve agreed. “She’s getting more than her fair share of attention.”

  Something he’d already noticed and didn’t like. “Tips, too.” In the small metro area outlining Atlanta where they all live and worked, everyone knew everyone. Stone ran the family-owned hardware store and Steven in construction with his own shop. Stone’s brother, Jonathan, worked at the high school as a gym teacher and his wife was a nurse.

  Most days, Stone and Steve met for lunch at the restaurant because it was just across the street from Stones’ store. It served good, homemade food, it was affordable, and it catered to locals by celebrating high school sports and supporting the other businesses.

  When Ms. Keisha Washington started working at the restaurant, everyone noticed, especially every male. And, the gossip started.

  “Where did you hear it?” Steve asked.

  “Couple of bozos came in a few weeks ago to buy paint. One guy said he’d asked her out and was turned down flat. The other said he used to live in the same town with her back in college, only a couple of hours from here.”

  “Same with the waitress.” Steve shrugged. “I think maybe they were in college at the same time.”

  “One of the guys claimed she used to be engaged, but when she wouldn’t give it up, the guy left her.”

  “And told everyone about it?” Steve snorted. “What an ass.”

  “Yeah.” Stone took a big drink of his Coke. “The talk went downhill from there.” He wouldn’t repeat it all because it hadn’t been kind, but there’d been insults claiming her to cold, asexual, even deliberately manipulative, as if she used her innocence as a tool.

  “And you didn’t throw them both out? Huh. Good for you, Stone.” Steve reached across the booth to slap his shoulder. “I mean, I can see you’re pissed about it, so the fact that you actually kept your temper in check...”

  As Keisha returned to them, Stone gave a quick shake of his head, but not in time.

  While setting their food on the table, she teased, “You have a temper? No way. You’re always so nice.”

  “He would never show that temper to you,” Steve assured her. “But yeah, when warranted, it makes an appearance.”

  Stone gave him a dirty look. Was he trying to scare her off?

  Intrigued, Keisha asked, “Is that why they call you Stone?”

  She knew his nickname? Nice. Though they’d chatted casually many times, they hadn’t been formally introduced. He’d seen her name on her name tag and used it as most would. Apparently she’d been paying attention when others spoke to him.

  “Actually,” Steve said, now on a roll, “he got the name ages ago when he fell off a roof onto his head and was still able to laugh about it.”

  Her mouth dropped open. “You’re serious?”

  “Yeah, but it’s not as bad as it sounds.” He’d strangle Steve later for bringing that up. “The house was half-built into a hill, so the roof at one end was pretty close to the ground.”

  “Still…”

  “I only dropped around ten feet.”

  “Ten feet?” Her eyes widened. “And you weren’t hurt?”

  “Just bruised my pride.” He gave a slight grin. “That is, as much pride as a nine year old can have.”

  “If you guys were that young, what in the world were you doing on the roof?”

  Stone felt his neck getting hot.

  Steve, of course, launched into details. “He was pretending to be Batman. His brother Jonathan was Robin.”

  She smiled, and this time, the smile was unlike any other. “Aww. That’s so sweet.”

  He snorted. “No it’s not. After I fell, Jonathan ran home to tell our mom and she grounded us for a week.” A week that had felt like a month.

  “I can’t say I blame her.” Looking a little wistful, Keisha tipped her head to study him. “Did you and your brother wear costumes?”

  “Masks and capes.” He grinned despite his efforts not to. “Looking back on my misspent youth, I think it’s a wonder I survived.”

  “Your poor mother.” Another customer called to her, so after a quick touch to his shoulder, she slipped away.

  That touch—on the freaking shoulder, for crying out loud—brought his temperature up a few degrees more.

  “Pathetic,” Steve said. “Get a grip will you?”

  “She likes me.”

  “Yeah? And you drew that conclusion, why?”

  He shrugged. “She touched my shoulder.”

  Steve grabbed his heart again. “Your shoulder? Damn. That brazen hussy. I guess it must be love.”