Latte Darling: Book Two of The Darling Series

A small moan pulls me out of my dream, and the warm body against mine shifts.

My eyes start to slowly open, but the light filtering in through the curtain has them snapping wide.

Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!

A glance at the clock on the nightstand tells me it’s past 7:00.

Of-fucking-course.

My old ass is always awake at 5:00. Sometimes I fall back asleep, but years of having to open my shop means waking up early is ingrained in my biology.

I lower my gaze to Maddie.

It’s got to be this little woman. Sleeping next to her is apparently the same thing as falling into a coma.

The arm still slung across her middle starts to tighten its grip on her, but I force myself to stop.

I can’t chance waking her. If she blinks those big green eyes at me and offers to make me breakfast – hell, I’ll be proposing to her by lunch.

As gently as my big body is able, I start to remove myself from Maddie’s bed.

I get my arm out from under her, then pause. The need to kiss her one last time is overwhelming.

But I don’t.

I grit my teeth and continue pulling away. I’ve done nothing to deserve another kiss from this sweet creature.

She shifts slightly, and I hold my breath, but she settles silently back into sleep.

My chest feels heavy as I tug on my jeans and leave.

At the door, I take one final look back down the hall, then step out into the morning.

The early sun glints off my windshield, but not off the matte black paint covering the body of my car. Looking at it, I can’t help but think of the way Maddie drug her hand across the hood. And I’m already hoping that the interior still smells like her.

I roll my neck then take the few steps down from the front door and onto the short sidewalk leading to the driveway.

“Sweet car, man.”

The voice catches me off guard and I stop.

There are two guys – men – sitting on the front steps of the unit next to Maddie’s, and if the smell is any indication I’d guess they’re out here smoking weed.

My eyes narrow.

These punks look like they’re in their 20’s- maybe late 20’s, but certainly closer to Maddie’s age than I am. And it pisses me off. Especially the one smiling at me.

Some pretty boy sitting outside my girl’s front door getting high… I don’t fucking think so.

“That the Jailbreak?” Pretty Boy asks, reminding me he’d already spoken.

I nod.

His eyes move from the car, to me, to Maddie’s door, and back to me. Clearly taking in my tattoos, wrinkled clothing and aggressive posture.

I’m probably being a prick with my attitude, but I don’t like having this guy so close to Maddie. And I wish I’d been able to do more than just lock the door handle on my way out of her house.

His shoulders straighten and the relaxed look he had a moment ago falls away. “Is Mads okay?”

My jaw flexes. Mads?

The hand not holding my car keys, reaches down and adjusts the front of my jeans. “She’s good.”

Then I turn my back on the guy and leave.