Chapter Five
Sarah plopped down on the couch next to Jane. “Okay, that’s enough. You’ve been moping around all day. I want to know what really happened last night.”
Jane sighed. She’d known her friend would have questions but had already said that it just hadn’t worked out. “I told you, I got caught up in the fantasy and then reality came crashing down.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means I know that I can’t be what he is looking for. Sarah, he’s not just a dominant, he really is looking for a Little. You know, an adult woman who wants a daddy? Well, that’s… that’s not me.”
“I know what a Little is, and you didn’t seem so put off about that possibility last night. In fact, I distinctly remember you being excited about exploring what having a daddy dom would be like.”
“Maybe, but what if he makes all sorts of demands that I just can’t imagine? What if he wants to put me in diapers or forbids me to speak? Or what if he expects me to crawl around or drink from a bottle? Sleep in some crib all alone? I-I’m just not into that stuff.”
Sarah took a moment to respond but then nodded. “Okay, I can understand that, but you said ‘if’. Were those things part of the questions you answered?”
“No, but what else could he be expecting from someone who fantasizes about having a ‘daddy’? I just knew that I couldn’t be the one he is looking for. I told him I was sorry I wasted his time but, well, didn’t wait for his response.”
“Wait a minute. He was actually responding… like in real time?”
“Yes, he helped me with a few of the screens, told me not to worry about what I was unsure of, that nothing was written in concrete.”
“And yet, with all those reassurances, you didn’t bother to ask exactly what he was expecting?”
“Well, no.”
Sarah shook her head. “Honey, you didn’t terminate the session because you can’t be what he wants. You terminated it because you got scared.”
“I did not!”
“Say that loud enough and maybe you’ll convince yourself,” Sarah said, standing and gathering up their coffee mugs before heading toward the kitchen. “You can’t possibly deny that there was some sort of instant connection the moment you met. Hell, there were practically sparks shooting between you two. You can’t tell me that you weren’t beyond excited, that you weren’t practically glowing with the anticipation of starting on a journey with this man.” She returned with fresh mugs of coffee. Settling on the couch again, she handed one to Jane. “And just by looking at you right now, I know you are wondering if you’ve made some huge mistake by not taking a chance.”
“It doesn’t matter. It’s over and I’ll never see him again,” Jane said, standing. “Thanks for the coffee and thanks for caring, but, Sarah, please just let it be, okay?” Ignoring the sympathy in her best friend’s eyes, she continued, “I’m going to take a nap. Wake me up in time to get ready for work.”
* * *
Jane could not believe her eyes. She stood frozen, watching as Sawyer Masterson gave her a smile and a nod as he was escorted to the same table he’d occupied the night before. Despite her terminating the questionnaire, he’d not asked to be seated at any one of the empty tables scattered around the restaurant. No, he’d evidently asked to sit in her section. Instead of approaching, she turned and fled back into the kitchen, running into Sarah, sending the items on the board she’d been holding flying.
“I’m so sorry,” Jane said, instantly dropping to pick up the loaf of bread and the small pot of whipped butter.
“You know better than to blast through the… wait, are you okay? You’re white as a ghost.”
Jane stood, her fingers pressed into the soft dough. “Look, I need you to do me a huge favor. Take table twenty-three.”
“Why? Are you ill?” Sarah asked.
“No, well, not exactly,” Jane said.
Sarah opened the door a bit and peeked out. “Table twenty-three? So much for not seeing your hunk again.”
“He’s not mine. I told you, I’m not interested.”
Sarah shook her head, a small smile on her lips as she tapped the bread board against her thigh. “You know, if I was into topping, you’d be in so much trouble right now, young lady.”
Shocked, Jane just stared at her for a minute, until she asked, “What does that mean?”
“It means that if I was a domme, I’d have you over my lap, and I’d be spanking your little ass for denying what you are desperate to experience.”
“Look, I don’t want to talk about it. Please, just do this for me without asking any more questions.”
Sarah shrugged. “All right, but while I have no problem picturing you as a little princess, I’ve never really considered you a queen before now.”
“Queen?” Jane asked.
“You know, the Queen of De Nile?”
Jane could feel herself blushing as she instantly understood the reference. “I’m not the one in denial, you are if you think I want a daddy. Are you going to help me out or not?”
“Of course. Go take a break before you pass out.”
“No, I’m fine now.”
“Honey, you’ve shredded that poor bread and don’t even realize it. Take five and get yourself together.”
Jane looked down to see nothing but crumbs left in her hands. Dropping the ruined loaf of bread in the trash, she said, “Thanks. I guess I can use a short break.”
After spending a few minutes in the break room, reminding herself that she was a grown woman and not some little girl, and immediately feeling her face heat just thinking those words, Jane knew she needed to prove it. She was just about to push through the door when it swung open to reveal Sarah.
“Oh, good, you’re looking better,” Sarah said. “Look, I’m sorry, but your hunk isn’t interested in ordering—”
“So he left? Well, thanks anyway, and stop calling him that!” Jane said, feeling relieved and disappointed.
Sarah shook her head. “You didn’t let me finish. He said it was his understanding that he was sitting at one of your tables and would like it if you’d serve him.”
“Oh, my God! He actually said he expects me to ‘serve’ him?”
“Yes. That is what we do here you know? Serve food?” Sarah said and then grinned. “Wait, were you thinking—”
“No! I just…” Jane felt her face flame because serving food had not been the definition that had instantly popped into her head.
“Uh huh, right. Anyway, I told him you were really busy and that I’d be more than happy to wait on him, but he said that he’d prefer to wait until you had a moment.”
“But I don’t want—”
“Ladies, is there a problem?”
Jane turned to see Mr. Arturo. “Oh, no, sir, no problem.”
“Then might I ask you save the chit-chat for after service. We’ve got a full dining room this evening.”
“Of course, sir. I mean, yes, sir. Sorry, sir,” Jane said.
As their boss turned away, Sarah grinned and leaned close. “That’s a lot of ‘sirs’. I’d think you were practicing being a ‘good girl’—if, that is, you weren’t so adamant about not wanting Mr. Hunk as your daddy dom.”
Before Jane could speak, Sarah went back to work while Jane gave herself a little pep talk. She had a job to do and what was that saying? Fake it till you make it? Okay, she could do that. Mr. Masterson had said he’d wait, so… he’d wait.
Plastering a smile on her face, she greeted her other customers, delivered drinks, took food orders, and never stopped moving. Anytime her eyes fell on table twenty-three, she was shocked that he was still sitting there, not showing the least bit of annoyance, giving her a smile before she’d yank her eyes away. Customers at her other tables finished their meals and left, new ones arrived, and still the man remained at the table.
“You know, I don’t know what you’re trying to prove, but I do know that certain type of men, and I’m positive you know the type I’m referring to, do not find it amusing to be kept waiting,” Sarah said the next time Jane went into the kitchen.
“What’s he going to do? Spank me?” Jane whispered.
Sarah tilted her head to the side. “Feeling naughty much?”
Whipping her head around, grateful that no one appeared to be listening, Jane spoke even softer. “No, and stop trying to goad me.”
“I’m not; I just find it rather interesting that specific consequence was the first one to pop into your head,” Sarah assured her. “I was actually thinking more along the lines of what Mr. Arturo must be hearing.”
“Mr. Arturo? Why would he… oh, shit,” Jane groaned, looking out the window of the door and seeing her boss in conversation with Mr. Masterson. She could only imagine the discussion.
“Good to see you, Sawyer. I’ve noticed that you’ve yet to order. Is there a problem?”
“I’m not sure. I’m just waiting for my server, Arnold. You know, that naughty little Jane you hired. She seems to be avoiding my table, but it’s only been three hours, so I’m sure she’ll be by soon.”