Zeke (The Powers That Be, Book 2) Read online

  Zeke

  The Powers That Be, Book 2

  Harper Bentley

  Smashwords Edition

  Copyright 2015 Harper Bentley

  Smashwords Edition, License Notes

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  Check out other titles by Harper Bentley:

  The Powers That Be series:

  Gable (The Powers That Be, Book 1)

  CEP series:

  Being Chased (CEP #1)

  Unbreakable Hearts (CEP #2)

  Under the Gun (CEP #3) coming March 2015!

  Serenity Point series

  Bigger Than the Sky

  Always and Forever coming June 2015

  True Love series:

  Discovering Us (True Love #1)

  Finding Us (True Love #2)

  Finally Us (True Love #3)

  True Love Trilogy Boxed Set

  www.harperbentleywrites.com

  Dedication

  To all the romantics

  who never give up on love

  Table of Contents

  Second Semester—1st Encounter

  Week One—2nd Encounter

  Week One—3rd Encounter

  Week One—4th Encounter

  Week One—5th Encounter

  Week Two—6th Encounter

  Week Three—Zero Encounters—Nil—Nada

  Week Four—7th Encounter

  Weeks Five & Six—Zero Encounters Again—Null—Nix—Nothing

  Week Seven—8th Encounter

  Week Seven—9th Encounter

  Week Seven—10th Encounter

  Week Seven—11th & 12th Encounters

  Week Eight—13th Encounter

  Week Nine & ½ —14th Encounter

  Week Ten—Not Even One Encounter

  Week Eleven—15th Encounter

  Week Twelve and Counting

  Epilogue

  Acknowledgements

  About the Author

  *Second Semester—1st Encounter*

  Holy crap-a-moly. There he was again. Sitting in my section. Like he had yesterday and the day before that. And the day before that. Ack!

  And, Jiminy frickin’ Christmas, he was the hottest guy I’d ever laid eyes on. His thick, dark hair that was short on the sides but longer and spiked on top, his gorgeous brown eyes that were a shade lighter than mine, his beautiful straight nose that was perfect for his face, sublimely shaped lips and at least a day’s worth of scruff on his chin and just below his high cheekbones nearly took my breath away. Holy schmoly, he was very handsome. He wore a gray Hallervan hoodie under a brown cargo-type jacket, faded jeans and brown wingtip boots all of which just added to his good looks.

  And he was someone I could see myself breaking my rule of only focusing on my future for. Crap.

  Yesterday, I’d had to ask my best friend Jayla Anastos if she knew who he was. She’d looked at me like I’d just told her that Elizabeth Bennet should’ve married Mr. Collins instead of Mr. Darcy. When she’d rolled her eyes before taking a deep breath and replied breathily, “Zeke Powers,” I’d had to frown.

  “Uh…” I’d blinked at her. Who the heck was Zeke Powers?

  “Zeke Powers, Scarlett! The Zeke Powers!” I guess she thought if she kept repeating his name I’d catch on.

  The blank look I’d continued giving her had her throwing her hands up and shaking her head at me.

  “Are you serious right now, Scar? The hottest guy on campus and you don’t know who he is?” She continued staring at me in disbelief.

  I shook my head and shrugged.

  “He’s only the star wide receiver of the football team, president of the Finance Club and has been voted Sexiest Man on Campus for three years running by the Tri Delts, Sig Kaps, Chi Omegas, oh, hell, by every fuckin’ sorority on campus!”

  I’d looked out from behind the counter at this Zeke Powers guy and decided that those sororities were not wrong. He was extremely sexy.

  “Oh.” It was all I could think to reply.

  “Yeah, ‘oh,’” Jayla had conceded shaking her head at me and giving me yet another eye roll.

  So today I stepped behind the counter and whispered to her, “Shit! He’s here again!”

  “And sitting in your section again, Scar! I think he has the hots for you!” She looked at me and grinned then looked at the customer she was ringing up and informed her, “That’ll be $12.56.”

  It was my turn to roll my eyes then smile apologetically at the woman Jayla was helping because Jay didn’t care who was around when she opened her yap.

  “Okay, $7.44’s your change. Thanks for eating at The Breakfast Nook,” she told the customer then looked at me eyebrows up.

  I waited until the woman walked away before retorting. “Yeah. It couldn’t be that he’s hungry or loves Mae’s pastries. Nope. He’s here for me, the oh-so-sexy waitress who barely had time to brush her hair before dropping Lane off at school this morning.”

  “You look great. You always look great. Besides, your hair’s amazing. It’s got that ‘just been fucked’ thing going on.” At my wry look she went on. “You should go lay your claim on him.”

  “You know I’ve got enough on my plate as it is. I need a man like I need more hair on my legs to shave. Besides, it just gets too complicated,” I mumbled.

  “Complications are what make it fun,” she said with a chuckle then putting a hand on my back, pushed me toward the eating area. “Now go take his order.”

  If I thought there wouldn’t be any complications, I’d nail him STAT because he was smokin’ hot. Good God, I needed to calm my libido way down.

  “All right. Jeez.” I grabbed a coffee pot and a glass of water then made my way around my section of the little coffee house in Seattle where I’d worked since I was a freshman in high school. It wasn’t one of those big franchises but family-owned and the melt-in-your-mouth Danish pastries were the bomb. People came from all around for them. Eddie Vedder, Dave Grohl, Ben Gibbard and Jerry Cantrell, not to mention several of the Seahawks, had all made stops here. The owners, Mae and Dale, had, of course, capitalized on having the rock stars and athletes come in by taking pictures with them, asking them to autograph menus and other paraphernalia then hanging the items and photos all around the place. This kept people coming in probably in the hopes of getting a glance at someone famous, and, well, also for the fantastic pastries.

  I made my way to the tables in my section, stopping first at three tables to refill coffees before going to this Zeke guy’s table just to show Jayla that I could resist his sexiness.

  “Are you ready to order?” I asked once I finally made it to him, placing the glass of water down in front of him.

  He looked up and gave me a panty-melting smirk before setting his menu down. “Well, Scarlett, since you made it a point to prove to your friend that your other customers are more important than I am, and I’m starving, I’d say that’d be a yes.”

  My mouth dropped open as I stared at him. First of all, he knew my name! Second of all, I realized that wasn’t a big deal since I wore a nametag. And third, he’d heard Jayla and my conversation and was calling me out on what I’d been doing! Hell’s bells!

  He then sat with his elbows on the table, hands clasped in front of him studying me as if he had all the time in the world to watch the stupid waitress trying to
come up with a lie stating that she most definitely was not trying to prove a point to her friend.

  “You could be in GQ!” I blurted before I knew it then cringed.

  I watched as his lips tipped up into a smile then my eyes locked with his and it was as if we were the only two people in the entire place. I don’t know how long I stood staring goofily at him (ugh) but when he cleared his throat, it brought me out of my reverie and I blushed like mad knowing I was an idiot.

  “Thanks, Scarlett,” he answered. “Now, about my order?”

  “Oh! Sorry! Let me pour you some coffee first!” I reached to turn his coffee cup over but ended up knocking his glass of ice water off the table and right into his lap. Whoops. “Fuck!” I exclaimed as he jumped up to stand in front of me. I set the pot down quickly, immediately grabbing a napkin and kneeling in front of him, commenced to wiping his crotch vehemently.

  This went on for several seconds (because I think he was in shock), then he stepped back from me, holding his hand out to keep me from running the napkin further over his junk and that’s when it became clear to me what I’d been doing and then I realized what it probably looked like I’d been doing to all the people who were situated behind me.

  Holy smokes.

  “I—I’m so sorry!” I muttered as I stood up, my eyes huge at having just wiped down the man’s package. “I’ll, uh, buy your meal! I’m really sorry!”

  Now, I couldn’t really afford to cover his breakfast, it just wasn’t in my budget, but for what I’d just put this guy through, I’d make it happen. I made a step toward him but he backed up once again holding his hand up.

  “You’re fine. But I do have to say that I usually get kissed before a girl takes it that far.” Then he smirked again.

  I blinked, staring at him, at how nice he was being then I opened my big damn mouth again. “I’m sorry! Next time I’ll be sure to kiss you first!”

  Oh, my God.

  Did I just say that?

  I was such a dork.

  And my face turned even redder at his grin. “I didn’t mean that! I, uh, was joking! Here, let me get you a towel.” Mortified, I turned to go to the counter to retrieve a towel and ran smack dab into Jordy, the busboy who’d come to help clean things up, knocking him and his tray of dishes to the floor, the racket causing everyone in the place to stop and stare. Dear lord. “Jordy! I’m so sorry!” I knelt to help pick up the cutlery and plastic dishes (thank God Mae and Dale didn’t use china) that’d spilled feeling like a complete and utter fool then I noticed that Zeke was right there beside me helping. “What’re you doing? You’re a customer!” I kind of screeched at him, totally humiliated at the series of events that had just occurred.

  He gave me the sexiest half grin then stated, “I’m part of the reason this happened.” Then he shrugged a shoulder and reached to pick up a fork that’d fallen under his table.

  Was this guy for real? Who was this good looking and nice too? No one that I’d ever met. He was just too good to be true, and Grandma Pearl had always told me that if it seemed too good to be true, it probably was. I’d learned my lesson the hard way and had come to realize she was right; therefore, I didn’t believe it now.

  “No, please, stop,” I told him. “Jordy and I have this.” I gave Zeke a scowl but he ignored me, continuing to help.

  When we got the mess picked up, Jordy stood and smiled down at me. “Thanks, Scar,” he said then picked up the tray full of dishes placing it on the booth at Zeke’s table, pulled out a rag proceeding to wipe up the water that I’d spilled.

  Zeke had gotten to his feet and held his hand down to me. I frowned but put my hand in his letting him help me up. Then we stood there in uncomfortable silence before I finally cleared my throat and said quietly as I watched Jordy wiping the booth on Zeke’s side, “Uh, I can go ahead and take your order and put it in a to-go carton since I’m sure I’ve wasted your time. And again, it’s on me.” I looked up at Zeke and couldn’t help thinking that half grins were now my new religion.

  “It’s okay. My class isn’t until ten, so I’ll stay. I’ll take two pastries and a refill on the water.” Full-on grin now. Hell, forget about the half grin. Full-on grins were now what I’d worship forever. Gah.

  Jordy finished and walked away but not before winking at me, the little twerp. He was sixteen, Mae and Dale’s grandson, and had had a crush on me for some time now. I knew this because he’d asked me out several times not caring that there was an almost nine-year difference in our ages. I’d laughed when he’d told me, and I quote, “May-December romances fuckin’ rock, Scarlett.” I had to give the kid props for even knowing what that was.

  “Okay, I’ll, uh, be right back with your pastries and a new water,” I said to Zeke, not a little flustered, and grabbing up the coffee pot I’d put on his table, headed back to the counter.

  “What the hell, Scar?” Jayla said when I walked behind the counter, grabbed a glass and bent to scoop some ice into it. “It looked like you were giving the guy a blowjob from here.” She snorted then continued helping the customer at the register. See? No freakin’ filter on that mouth of hers.

  I grabbed the tongs and slid the door open in the glass case where the pastries were, picking up a couple to place on a plate. When the customer left, I answered, “Oh, you caught that? Let me just say he thoroughly enjoyed himself. And he tastes yum! Spitters are quitters, you know!” I gave her a look. “Embarrassed enough here, Jay. I don’t need you adding to it.”

  She chuckled. “Now that’s how to get a guy’s attention. Good job!” I turned and gave her a droll look which made her laugh. “Why don’t you pour some hot coffee on him next? He just might propose.” She let out her trademark cackle that sounded like a donkey dying.

  After shooting her another dirty look which made her bray even more, I came out from behind the counter heading toward Zeke’s table, then carefully set his water down and placed the plate of pastries in front of him. “I’ll be back with coffee.” I turned quickly and went back to the counter, grabbing a fresh pot then went back to his table.

  “Uh, may I?” he asked, nodding at the coffee pot with a grin.

  “Sure,” I answered, the blush hitting my face again as I set the pot on his table, handle toward him, now annoyed. Great. He didn’t trust me to pour his coffee. I watched as he filled his mug then after he’d set the pot down inquired, “Can I get you anything else?” I smiled sweetly at him, not really meaning it as I picked up the coffee pot.

  “Yes, you can,” he replied. I stood there impatiently waiting for him to tell me what he needed watching as he put a teaspoon of sugar into his coffee and stirred it. When he finished, he took a sip then glanced up at me. “How about your number?”

  *Week One—2nd Encounter*

  No, no, no, no, no! Why was this happening now? No guy had asked for my number in over two years! I’d had a couple flirt some with me but that had been it (and Jayla of course had made sure to gripe me out for not giving them the time of day), but I’m pretty sure they’d picked up on my “I’m not available” vibe, aka my total, “Ask me out and I’ll make you regret it” aura.

  But Zeke hadn’t or he had and just didn’t care.

  I mean, I was busy not only working two jobs, but also on getting my business management degree at Hallervan University in Seattle so I could open a bakery eventually. I planned to work out of my home at first, hopefully gaining customers through a website, and Mae and Dale said they’d sell my baked goodies in the restaurant and continue to do so once I got things up and running! Then they’d offered to go in as partners once I was ready to open my own place. God, I loved them! So that was my life right now and I didn’t have time for anything outside of it, especially dating. And dating someone like Zeke Powers who I knew could totally rock my friggin’ world and screw with my plans was definitely off the table. So although he was incredibly handsome and sweet, there was no way I could allow myself to get caught up in him.

  Besides I’d been burned
too many times to take a chance again anyway.

  “Uh…” I articulated eloquently as I stared down at him.

  And, man, he wasn’t helping me out here at all, his gorgeous brown eyes gleaming golden in the morning light that came through the window by his table as he gave me that seductive half grin that nearly made my legs buckle.

  “Um, I’m sorry, but I don’t give my number out,” I went on to explain.

  He picked up a pastry and took a bite, closing his eyes for a second and letting out a groan. Dear God. I couldn’t help but think that was a sound he might make when he was turned on and I felt a whoosh inside my womb. When he looked up at me, from the look on his face I could tell that he was not in the least deterred by my rule.

  “There are other ways I can get your number, Scarlett.”

  He took another bite emitting a similar sound as before and now I knew my panties were soaked. Shit! I’d never had this kind of reaction to a man before. Holy damn, he was hot.

  But then I frowned. Wait. How the hell could he get my number? So I asked. “How could you get my number?”

  I’d seen the half grin. I’d seen the whole grin. But now he shot me his wicked grin which damn near brought me to my knees. “I have my ways.”

  As I stared at him in a semi state of shock, I couldn’t tell if that got me hot or kinda creeped me out. I mean, good looking guy, won’t take no for an answer… hey, I’d read some of the latest romance novels so I figured it could go either way.

  Then the realist in me emerged (as it always did) and I decided to nip things in the bud pronto because the last thing I needed was to have a hot guy hitting on me.