Total pages in book: 22
Estimated words: 20551 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 103(@200wpm)___ 82(@250wpm)___ 69(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 20551 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 103(@200wpm)___ 82(@250wpm)___ 69(@300wpm)
I pick up the pans and turn to go to the kitchen, and Diesel’s standing in front of me. I look at his chest to avoid his eyes. “Do you want a beer?”
He pauses for a minute. “Uh, sure.”
I nod, walking past him. I put all the plates and pans on the counter and then go out front to grab a beer for him. I take a deep breath and set it down in front of him. He and some are the guys are talking, so I walk away without a word.
I start wiping down tables, and I have to admit, I really take my frustrations out on these tables. I get lost in my work until I hear my name from behind me. I turn, and Renegade is smiling at me. Usually, I’m all business, and I definitely don’t flirt, but my bruised ego has my lips tilting up at him. “What can I get you, Renegade?”
He laughs. “Well, I can think of a few things I’d like you to give me, but I’ll settle for a beer.”
I shake my head at him. “One beer coming up.”
I walk through the tables, and I can see Diesel is watching me. He’s sitting on the edge of his seat as if he’s about to get up. The beer in his hand is still almost full, so I don’t ask him if he needs another. I grab a beer for Renegade and walk back toward him.
I set the beer down in front of him. Normally, at this point, I walk away. I never fraternize with the guys, but something has me stopping. “You doing all right tonight, Ren?”
His brows raise in surprise. He looks past me, and I swear I hear a growl from over my shoulder, but I ignore it. Renegade leans forward, his elbows resting on his knees. He’s laughing, and I don’t know if it’s at me or with me. “I’m doing good, Brandy.” His voice drops a little. “And if you’re trying to make Diesel jealous, you won’t have to try very hard. I’m pretty sure he’s about to punch something.”
I roll my eyes. After the Pres’ comment earlier and now Renegade’s, I feel like everyone knows something I don’t. I just shake my head at him. “Well, let me know if you need anything else.”
I turn to go and see Diesel is standing up, hands flexing at his sides, and he does in fact look as if he’s about to punch something. I look away and start walking, but before I can get behind the bar, he’s next to me. “What the fuck was that, Brandy?”
He towers over me, and he looks fierce, but there’s not one part of me that is even remotely scared. I look at him innocently. “What the fuck was what?”
He blows out a breath. “You got a thing for Ren?”
I laugh because this whole thing is ludicrous. “I talked to him. Talked.”
He shoves his big meaty hand through his hair. “You don’t talk to anyone.”
I shrug. He’s right about that, but there’s no way that I’m going to tell him that I was talking to Renegade because he was talking to a cherry. No way. He’ll think I’m a stage four clinger.
He leans down to where we’re eye to eye. “Talk to me. What’s going on in that pretty head of yours? You want me to leave you alone, you just have to tell me. You don’t have to throw yourself at other men...”
Now I’m mad. The music is loud, but the people around are obviously all listening in to us. I’m seething and spitting the words at him, wanting to yell but trying to do it quietly. “First of all, I wasn’t throwing myself at him. I talked to him. Second of all, what are you even talking about? You can just go off with one of your cherries and see if they can help you... help you... arghhhhh... forget it.”
I storm off and barely get to the kitchen when Diesel comes busting through. “I’m not with any of the cherries.”
I roll my eyes and start loading the pans into the sink to wash them. As soon as I set them down, Diesel grabs my arm and turns me to look at him. He’s pissed, but he’s gentle when he puts his hand on my chin and tilts my head up. His eyes are pleading with me. “Talk to me. What did I do?”
I sigh and shake my head. “Nothing. You didn’t do anything.”
He doesn’t let go of me. “Is this because of Peggy? If so, she was just thanking me. Her son was getting into fights at school, and I went and talked to him. That’s all. There’s nothing going on between us.”
When I don’t say anything, his thumb goes across my lip. “How’s your mouth?”