A Tattered Love Read Free

about that.” I innocently smiled back.
    Dustin was hot. I didn’t really want to admit it, but I was finding myself clearly attracted to him. I’m sure somebody as good-looking as he was, had a girlfriend. Then the question rendered—well, where is she then? Why isn’t she here? The man was buff with some hot-ass tattoos wrapped around his arms. I’m sure I could feel safe and comfortable in them.
    “I’m going to step outside for a smoke, care to join?” I bravely asked.
    “Smoking is bad for you, but I guess I’ll join you just so you’re not alone.”
    “Wouldn’t be the first time I’ve heard that.” I rolled my eyes, grabbed my smokes, and headed out to the patio where Dustin followed.
    I walked out and leaned against the brick wall. There was one thing about being a waitress that killed me, and that was being on my feet all day. I let out a heavy sigh. I could use a good freaking foot massage. Then I lit up.
    “So, your name is Riley, right?” Dustin leaned on the glass patio door. He stared at me with those intense eyes, taking in something I couldn't see. When his lips parted, all I could do was think about kissing him. Would he be gentle or demanding? He laughed, breaking me from my thoughts. I blushed. "Sorry, what did you say?"
    “You’re name, Riley, right?” He smirked.
    “Yup, I’m Riley.” I smiled.
    “Where you from, Riley?”
    “All over.”
    “All over?”
    “My dad was in the army, we traveled quite a bit. Born in Arizona though.” I took a puff on my cigarette.
    “Wow. That must have been cool traveling all over the place.”
    “Yeah, maybe to some people, but I just wanted a place I could call home, which never really happened until a few years ago.”
    “So, what brings you to Cape Cod?”
    I paused. “Honestly, I just needed to pick somewhere, and I randomly picked here, mainly because it’s somewhere that I actually haven’t been.” I was honest.
    This Dustin guy sure liked to dig for information. Yet talking about my past made me nervous. I didn’t want to say anything that would give any details away.
    “What about you?” I asked.
    “Born and raised here. I just moved out from my parent’s house, I live across town at the Sheldon apartments.”
    “Sweet. Are those nice apartments? Are you in college?”
    “Yeah, pretty nice for what I pay. No, I finished college last year.”
    “What do you do?” I interrogated him back with questions.
    “I’m a service advisor at a dealership in town.”
    “Wow, sounds neat.”
    “Pays the bills. I want to become a cop someday.”
    “Nice.” I could totally picture him in a police uniform. His tall height had to be six-foot-two, and his masculine broad shoulders brought my eyes to his tone build. Then my eyes were brought down to his hips and his long legs. I could totally picture it. With perfect black hair and the slightest bit of gel in it to make it spiky, he was wearing his hair just the way I liked it. I even liked how he wore a polo shirt and jeans, as funny as that sounds. Even though his shirt looks liked it was about to rip open from his muscles.
    “You work with Abby?”
    “Yeah, she got me the job at Eddie’s place. It’s all right. The boss is a prick, but it’s a job. Just wish it paid more.” I shrugged my shoulders.
    “Great food there?” He smiled his all-American white boy smile.
    “They do. You should come in and eat sometime.” I puffed the last drag of my cigarette and put it out in an ashtray.
    “Maybe I will.” He smiled blocking the door.
    “I’m all done with my cigarette.” I gestured with my hand that we could go in.
    “I know.” He took his hand and rubbed his chin. “I wasn’t done talking to you, though.”
    “What can you possibly want to talk to me about?” I asked.
    “Well, you’re beautiful, there’s no question about that.”
    I blushed, and I’m sure the color red invaded my entire face. Did he just call me beautiful?
    “Thank you,” I said