Searching for Shelter by Morticia Knight

Author:Morticia Knight [Knight, Morticia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Erotic Romance Fiction
Publisher: Pride Publishing
Published: 2015-03-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

“Did you get laid last night?”

Rich dropped the mug he’d been holding and it crashed to the floor, pottery bits flying everywhere. He stared at Artie openmouthed, then took a quick glance around the coffee shop to check if anyone had heard. He experienced a moment of panic when he saw that everyone was staring directly at him. Then he remembered the racket he’d made when he’d annihilated the cup.

Dammit, Artie.

“Yeah.” Artie regarded him with narrowed eyes. “That’s what I figured.”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

Rich had huffed it out as he marched his way to the utility closet by the stockroom. Artie had apparently trailed him, because his response was practically next to Rich’s ear. It was a good thing the morning rush was over with.

“Oh, you know. I could tell. You’re a lot bouncier than usual.”

Where the hell is Jenny? I need her to distract him.

He’d let her go on her break. Huge error in judgment. He had no buffer with her gone.

“Okay. Tell you what. I’m going to forget that you just insinuated that I bounce and you’re going to forget about asking me any more questions about my sex life.”

“I didn’t insinuate. You do bounce.”

Rich whirled around to face him, leaning on the broom, dustpan in hand. “Artie. I try to keep the dustpan beatings to a minimum around here, but you’re really testing my resolve.”

Artie snorted. “You crack me up.”

“What’d he say?” Jenny appeared, lifting the hinged counter panel to walk behind the register.

“Oh, hey, Jenny.” Artie’s attention was thankfully diverted. “Did you try that new place I was telling you about? Did you get the buffalo wing wrap I recommended? Did you grab any coupons?”

“Jesus, Artie. I haven’t even put my purse in the locker yet.”

It didn’t faze him a bit. “Is that a yes?”

If Rich had been bouncing before, Artie had definitely deflated him. Something else occurred to him.

“Did the door chime go off?”

He should’ve heard Jenny come in before she’d suddenly shown up at the counter. It was how they knew if a customer needed help when they were busy handling other tasks.

Jenny glanced up from where she’d squatted down to put her purse away. “Uh, I have no idea. I tune that thing out.”

Even as Rich turned his head to regard Artie, he knew he was wasting his time. It’d merely been a reflex borne of the belief that there was still hope. “Did you hear it, Artie?”

“Hear what?”

He swallowed down a retort. Artie was right about one thing. Rich had not only got laid, but he was pretty sure he’d gotten himself a boyfriend too. They hadn’t actually used the ‘B’ word, but the whole exclusively dating thing pretty much summed things up. He was happier than usual and it obviously showed. No reason to get catty because Artie had noticed.

Artie had lost interest in finding out what it was he was supposed to have heard and was yammering away at Jenny. She went about her business, nodding randomly

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