Intoxicated Read online

  I’ve never met another man like Temper, and I don’t think I ever will. I see how people treat him, avoid him, and make sure not to challenge him. Hell, my own mother warned me to be friendly with him, but never too friendly. He has this air of menace about him, but over the years I’ve also seen how he treats his MC brothers like family, and he’s always respectful, even to the people who work here. I’ve seen him vulnerable when he talked about his Prez... Hammer was his name, I think. He’s never rude, or arrogant—to me, anyway—and he’s always generous and polite. When he speaks to me, he always uses a humble, gentle tone, one that I’ve come to enjoy listening to. I know there is another side to him, and I can’t help but want to get to know that more.

  “It only took a few years of rejection,” he jokes, lifting the whiskey glass to his lips. I don’t think I’ve ever heard him make a joke before.

  “Maybe this was the year I was going to say yes,” I reply, clearing my throat. I don’t know what’s come over me, but I have the feeling like if I truly do want to take a chance and go on this date, it’s now or never. I’m stuck here, in the same job, doing the same thing every damn day, and I deserve to have a little fun and do something reckless for once in my life. I’ve always been the good girl, the trusted daughter, and the responsible older sister, taking care of my family as much as I can, since my dad has never been around. I know his name, Cohen Pierce, and that he lives in California somewhere. But he wanted, and still wants, nothing to do with me, and that’s fine. I’ve accepted that.

  But what have I ever done for me? Other than college, which I had to drop out of anyway, I can’t think of one single thing.

  Temper lowers his glass and studies me, brown eyes filled with surprise and suspicion. “You want to go on a date with me? Why now?”

  Shrugging, I lower my eyes to the counter before returning them to him. “Time for me to live a little.”

  Being safe hasn’t gotten me anywhere in life.

  Now that I’ve opened my mouth and said this, Temper looks like he doesn’t know what to do. In fact, he looks slightly concerned. “You want to live a little, so you have decided to take me up on the date I’ve been dreaming about for the last...how many years exactly?”

  “Five, I believe,” I mutter, and clear my throat once more. “Yes, pretty much, unless you’ve changed your mind now?”

  He smirks. “You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid my eyes on. I don’t think I’ve ever asked anyone out more than once in my life.” He pauses, and then adds, “Actually I can’t even remember the last time I asked anyone out, other than you.”

  That can’t be right.

  We see each other twice a year at the most, and he’s sexy as hell, powerful, and I’m sure he has women throwing themselves at him. And as for me being the most beautiful woman he’s ever laid eyes on...

  I don’t think I’m anything special.

  I mean, I know I’m not completely unfortunate in the looks department. I have long dark hair, and a curvy body that most people would consider to be plus sized, and along with my amber eyes and heart-shaped lips, I do okay. Yet I don’t think I ever expected to encounter such a compliment.

  “I don’t know how any of that can be true,” I say, shaking my head. “But you can explain it all over dinner. I finish here at seven.”

  “Seven it is.” He nods, flashing me a grin. “I’ll be here early in case you decide to change your mind.”

  “I won’t,” I declare, moving to serve a new customer that walks in.

  I don’t know how today took this turn of events, but for the first time in a long time, I’m excited.

  Don’t miss Temper by New York Times bestselling author Chantal Fernando, available now wherever Carina Press books are sold.

  www.CarinaPress.com

  Copyright © 2020 by Chantal Fernando

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  ISBN: 9781488062100

  Intoxicated

  Copyright © 2020 by Cea Sunrise Person

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

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