Worth The Wait

Extract (#litres_trial_promo)

Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)

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FIVE O’CLOCK ON a Friday and Hogan Guthrie found himself smiling in anticipation as he closed the books on his work and powered down his computer. He could work from home, and sometimes did, but the scope of the new client meant some coordinating with other employees. For a week now he’d spent hours at the desk for his usual nine-to-five shift, poring over past records and updating them to a better, more cohesive platform. Popping his head to the side, he released tension gathered in his neck. A glance at the clock showed he’d have time to run home, shower and change into more casual and comfortable clothes before heading to the diner.

Friday nights at the diner usually ran late, but he didn’t mind. Hell, he was actually looking forward to it.

Of course he knew why.

Violet Shaw.

Violet with that sexy Southern drawl, her rich red hair and vivid blue eyes. And that pale, creamy skin—

He jumped when a small, warm hand settled on his shoulder and he looked up to see his boss, Joni Jeffers, smiling down at him.

“You look tense,” she said, and her fingers dug into his muscles in an impromptu and very inappropriate massage. “It was a grueling week, wasn’t it?”

Wondering, with facetious cynicism, if he should file a sexual harassment suit, Hogan said only, “Too much time reformatting numbers. I should have remembered to stretch more.”

“I can tell you stay in shape.” Her other hand settled on him, too, and she leaned close as she kneaded his shoulders. “How’s that feel?”

Like a blatant come-on. Not that long ago, he’d have jumped on Joni’s unspoken offers. After having his life turned upside down, he’d spent damn near a year belatedly sowing his wild oats with a single-minded vengeance. He’d been a miserable bastard, too, and had probably made others around him miserable.

He hadn’t known Joni then. Probably a good thing since he now worked for her. He’d done a lot of stupid things lately, but he wasn’t an idiot.

Joni was cute with her bubbly personality, curly brown hair and top-heavy figure. At the moment, he felt not only her warm breath on his ear, but her lush boobs on his back.

Yet he wasn’t even tempted. Again, he knew why.

These days, along with feeling more content in general, he had a preoccupation with his two jobs, his seventeen-year-old son—and unrequited lust for Violet.

Standing—and dislodging Joni’s hands—he asked, “Ready to head out?”

“I was thinking about grabbing a drink.” Her tongue slicked over her bottom lip in blatant suggestion. “Interested?”

Hell no. “Sorry, I can’t. I have to get home in time to see my son before he leaves on a date.” He assumed Colt would have a date, so that wasn’t a lie.

Her eyes, sultry a moment before, flared. “Your son?”

“Yeah.” The mention of a kid had often proved to be effective discouragement with a certain type of woman. Apparently, Joni was that type. “Colt’s seventeen, almost eighteen now,” he added, hopefully putting the nail in the coffin of her interest.

Straightening, Joni looked him over with suspicion. “You’re not old enough for that.”

“I’m thirty-five and I had Colt young.” One of the few things he didn’t regret from his youth.

“Your wife?” she asked bluntly.

Just as blunt, he answered, “Dead.” And he wasn’t explaining beyond that. “I have to run, but it looks like Derrick is hanging around. Given the way he smiles at you, I’m betting he’d love to get a drink.”

She wrinkled her nose, but sighed as if resigned. Proving she wasn’t yet entirely dissuaded, she gave him a long look and said, “I’ll catch you next time.” Turning, she headed for Derrick, who perked up at her approach.

Colt wasn’t there when Hogan got home. Neither was Diesel, their dog, but then, the dog often hung next door when he and Colt were away.

He checked his phone but didn’t see a message from his son. At almost eighteen, he understood that Colt wanted his independence, but one of his few rules was that he needed to give his father a call when he’d be late.

It wasn’t until Hogan stepped out of the shower that he heard Colt coming in, Diesel with him. Drying off, Hogan opened the bathroom door and asked, “Where’ve you been?”

“I was at Uncle Jason’s. You didn’t see my truck?”

Relaxing, Hogan shook his head. It wasn’t only the dog that liked to visit next door. He’d bought the small house next to his brother, Jason, when Jason married the woman who’d previously owned it.

Diesel hurried in to get some pats and show some love, then went back to sit next to Colt. Hogan should have realized where Colt would be but he’d been in such a rush, he hadn’t been aware of anything except his anticipation.

Insane—yet he seemed to have found his calling, and it wasn’t accounting.

While Hogan pulled on jeans, Colt leaned in the doorway, Diesel sitting beside him. At six-three, Colt was taller than both his father and his uncle. Broad-shouldered. Lean and muscular. Both Colt and Jason had dark brown eyes, whereas Hogan’s were a much lighter blue.

Colt hadn’t inherited much from him. Diesel, a shepherd mix they’d rescued that had first belonged to Honor but now adored Colt. He was fond of many people, but he was clearly Colt’s dog.

“I’m coming to the diner tonight, okay?”

“Sure.” Hogan glanced up after pulling on a polo. “A date?”

“Maybe.” Colt smiled crookedly. “It’s a group of us, but...”

“But?”

While he stroked the dog’s head, he said, “A new girl joined my chemistry class today.”

“Ah.” Hogan guessed, “Pretty?” Maybe his son had inherited something after all. Not entirely a good thing.

“Very.” Colt grinned. “I’m hoping to win her over before anyone else does.”

Probably wouldn’t take much effort. Once Colt had settled in after the move from Columbus to the much-smaller, quaint town of Clearbrook in Ohio, the girls had been flocking after him.

“So,” Hogan said, “is this a request that your old dad stays away, or can I meet her?”

Looking far too serious, Colt said, “You don’t need to hide away, ever.”

Hogan sat to pull on his boots. “If it becomes an issue—”

“It won’t be.”

Unsure when he’d become philosophical on the issue, Hogan said, “You know, if the girl is new around here, she might need a friend more than a hot date.”

“I’ll be both.” Colt straightened off the wall. “Gotta go. I’ve got grass-cutting jobs this weekend, so I want to finish my homework now. C’mon, Diesel.” The dog was already on his heels.