Page 35 of Playboy’s Purgatory

Vanessa’s voice is bright as she greets me when I stop next to their table, “Hi, Playboy.”

When I slide into the booth next to Lara, the movement has her gliding along the leather of the seat to make room for me. She lets out a growl which makes it impossible for me to look at her because I know she would only look like a pissed off kitten. It would make me laugh too hard right now and I don’t want to push my luck more than I already am.

“Hi, little bit,” my words are smooth. “Out for dinner?”

“Yup,” Vanessa smiles wide and I notice a new tooth missing. “Did you know Stan makes the ranch here by hand? It’s delicious.”

“I did know that,” I tell her. “It’s one of my favorite things on the menu,” I admit while leaning a little over the table.

I can feel the way Lara is fuming next to me, but I ignore her. For now. There’s no doubt in my mind she probably has steam coming out of her ears.

She’ll calm down. Eventually.

Also, she probably won’t eviscerate me in front of Vanessa. At least, I’m hoping not. It’s really what I’m gambling this entire production on.

“It’s not a food group,” Lara grumbles.

While clutching my imaginary pearls I look at her completely affronted. Vanessa is shooting her a very similar look. Talk about a kindred spirit in kid form. I can’t help but grin.

“If I can order a bowl of it, it’s a food group,” Vanessa points out, completely logical.

“It is made of things,” I add.

Lara shoots me a pointed look before rolling her eyes and pulling her milkshake closer to her. If she was concerned about me snatching it, she was absolutely correct and did the right thing. That doesn’t stop me from eyeing it though.

“I was just planning on stopping in and grabbing a slice of cake, but I saw you ladies out for a night on the town and couldn’t help but join you,” I put on my most charming drawl, the one that has gotten me pretty much whatever I’ve wanted since puberty.

When I see Honey making her way over to us, I shift and drape my arm across the back of the booth. And around Lara’s shoulders. She makes a choking sound in the back of her throat and presses her small hands to my torso. The shove she gives me is adorable.

It doesn’t move me at all.

I’m not going any-fucking-where. Not until after I chip away, if only a little bit, at some of the anger Lara is holding onto. These ladies emanate light and I’m selfish enough to want to soak up some of it.

“No one invited you to join us,” Lara’s words sound almost sweet, but the bite in them is unmistakable. As is the way she clenches her jaw in annoyance.

I know she won’t say anything too scathing in front of Vanessa. At least, I don’t think she will. The more I consider it, the more I realize I might be completely wrong.

Just as Honey stops at the edge of the table, Lara’s foot comes down on my boot. I barely feel it, but I know she’s putting some real oomph behind it. When I look over at her and smile and wink, I think she’s about to wrap her hands around my throat.

The way her blue eyes blaze with fire is sexy as hell.

“You want your regular, Playboy?” Honey’s voice is bright.

Honey has worked at Dolly’s for years. She’s always been a nice girl, bubbly and kind. Collectively, the town tips her a little extra since she’s paying for college. Most of it she does online, but I know she drives to at least two classes on campus even though it’s not a quick trip.

She sticks to Dogwood Ridge because she has people relying on her. We try and help her out however we can.

I wasn’t planning on eating dinner, but now I might as well. I nod at Honey, already tasting Stan’s perfect burger on my tongue.

“You are the best waitress this side of the county line,” I sweet talk her. “Just put us all on the same ticket.”

The smile Honey gives me is radiant, but she doesn’t blush and she doesn’t look at me with hearts in her eyes. With a curtsey, her voice turns amused and teasing, “Thank you. Remember to tip your waitresses.”

She walks away giggling and I hear Stan’s chuckle from the kitchen. I can only shake my head as I focus back on the table. Lara twists around and tries to push my arm up and off the top of the booth behind her. Her tongue peeks out of the side of her mouth like she’s concentrating hard.

“You’re like a ton of bricks,” she huffs out before turning back around and giving up while slumping back into the leather booth.

The action sends the ends of her hair sliding against my skin. My cock gets hard and I have to shift slightly in my seat because that shit pinches.