Only Love (The Atonement Series) by Elle Chardou Page B

from him with an espresso shot. “Do you have a match?”
    He handed her his Zippo lighter and she lit the cigarette with expertise before she handed it back to him. “It’s Cassie, right?”
    She scratched her nose with a perfectly clean and manicured fingernail. “Short for Constanzia but Cassie is easier to pronounce and I would vomit if people called me Connie…it reminds me of the chick from The Godfather movies who always let her husband beat her like it was goin’ out of style and she always had to call Sonny to save her dumb ass.”
    Colin laughed out loud. “Are all of you okay with yet another person bossing you around? I realize this is sudden but Deirdre needed a partner and I stepped in. I hope I am not pissing anyone off.”
    Cassie glared at him with cool brown eyes. “We don’t really notice as long as we get paid. The former owner had an issue with that and I think everyone is just happy to have owners who remember employees don’t work for free. It’s just a gig until I finish up at UC San Diego. Not that I have a clue what I am going to do with a freakin’ journalism major now that everything has gone to shit.”
    “Well, when you first decided on what you were going to major in, what did you think would happen? There is a reason why so many people pick something generic like Business for instance. There is a lot you can do with the degree especially if you plan to get your MBA.”
    “Rich people maybe because MBAs don’t exactly grow on trees you know and they are very expensive to pursue.” She slipped the cigarette between her lips and dragged on it before she put the butt out in a plastic ashtray. “To be honest, I don’t know what happens after school for me but I guess I will just roll with it. Right now, this job is serving its purpose just fine and that is keeping me occupied and my mind off the boys of summer.”
    Colin laughed out loud at that statement. “Yes, because men in college are so much more sophisticated than men in high school. I don’t know how young women do it but then again, it’s been a while since I went through the whole university thing and really, if I was smart, I certainly wouldn’t be flirting with you.”
    Cassie pursed her lips before she looked into his eyes. “Why’s that? I’m legal and I know you are older…you’ve got to be late twenties or maybe even thirty…but I’m not jailbait. You sleeping with me isn’t going to get me or you in any kind of trouble.”
    He stared at her through clear crystal blue eyes before he smiled. “You know what? You’re right. However, our break time ended ten minutes ago and we should both get back to work.”
    She stood before she faced him again and inquired, “You wanna come with me to Prospect Bar & Grill tonight? They always have great food and even when they don’t have live music, they have some kick ass DJs that make the round. It might be fun and maybe it will get you out of this funk you have about your ex?”
    “I’m sorry—what funk and which ex would your statement be in reference to exactly?”
    Cassie rolled her eyes. “You are joking, right? Everyone knows you and Deirdre used to be an item. It’s obvious she’s moved on to bigger and better things…maybe you should do the same.”
    Colin smiled wryly as soon as her back was turned to him. So she wanted to play and she liked a good time. He would definitely enjoy this one and have absolutely no regrets about what happened between the two of them. Deirdre had moved on and he could do the same even if it was only to scratch an itch temporary.

     

     
    Cassie was just what the doctor ordered and Prospect Bar and Grill was a perfect suggestion. They started off the night with a few mixed drinks—hers was a dirty Martini while he preferred an Adios Motherfucker. Yes, they were caloric as hell but after that, he knew he would stick to imported lagers just so he would be all right to drive home later that night.
    He allowed his