Electrified by Rachel Blaufeld, Pam Berehulke Page B

line of sight to the coffee shop, he was in position to watch her every move. Warmed by the thought of his careful diligence, Sienna made a mental note to grab Mike a coffee when she was on her way out later.
    Sienna got out of her car and started making her way to the coffeehouse. She didn’t glance Mike’s way, careful not to make any overt gestures toward him. She didn’t want to give him away, since it would be somewhat awkward for Carson to know she had someone watching over her.
    Taking a deep breath, she walked toward the coffee shop like she met a random man for coffee every day of the week.
    Sienna startled slightly when the chimes above the door jingled, signaling she’d entered the coffee shop. She kept her head slightly down, although a quick survey of the store revealed no one showing interest in the latest customer to enter. There were two tables occupied with suburban housewives in yoga clothes, who were probably gossiping over their lattes. In the corner, Carson was sitting in one of the large brown leather armchairs with his black down vest laid over the one catty-corner to his. She glanced at the counter, noting there was no line for a drink, and nothing left to distract her.
    Carson stood up and walked toward her. He looked good in daylight. Instead of his usual white button-down shirt, he was wearing a light gray henley tee, worn-in jeans, and brown motorcycle boots. He still hadn’t shaved, and Sienna had the strangest urge to rub herself like a kitten against the stubble on his face.
    He looked rugged, but refined. A gentleman who could take anything that came his way. Tough on the outside, but soft on the inside, as evidenced by the warmth in his eyes when he caught sight of her, and in the way his brow furrowed in anticipation as he approached her.
    “Good morning.” One corner of his mouth lifted slightly, acknowledging the irony of his salutation although it was early afternoon. He obviously knew she kept late hours.
    She was a stripper. He was a patron. Sienna needed to keep reminding herself of that little fact. This wasn’t a fairy tale. Fairy tales didn’t exist.
    “Same to you,” Sienna whispered back.
    Carson suggested they sit down, and lightly placed his hand on the small of her back to escort her back to where he’d been sitting.
    Although she was a stripper, she’d never been touched so intimately. The faint brush of his fingertips along the bottom of her spine sent chills all the way down to her toes and back up again. Sienna automatically pulled away from the slight touch despite wanting to sink into it, confused by the unfamiliar sensations that seemed to ripple right through her.
    “Is this okay?” Carson frowned and immediately removed his hand, but it still lingered, hovering near her back. The cute little lines where he furrowed his brow appeared again, making him hard to resist.
    “Sorry,” she said. “Actually, it startled me a bit. I’m so used to the no-touch policy at the club.” She shrugged, unsure of what to do, where to turn, or if she should make a beeline for the exit.
    Actually, I want you to rub me up and down with your big, strong hands, touching me like no one ever has before.
    “No worries. Let’s go sit, start over, and I can grab us some coffee,” Carson said, and gestured toward the comfy chairs he had been saving.
    Before they sat, he reached out a hand and said, “Carson Graham. Nice to meet you…formally.”
    She hesitated for a second, then extended her hand and said, “Sienna Flower, but you already know that.”
    He took her hand in his and shook it lightly, making their introduction official, sealing Sienna’s fate that she was doing this. Her hand felt like it was crackling on fire as she shook his, touching a man for the first time because she wanted to, not because she was handed over to him or being paid to dance in his lap.
    An electric current ran through her whole body, traveling through her veins and straight to the one part