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“I do.” He’d always wanted a pet—though he was more inclined to dogs than cats—but his life made it hard to have one. There were other guys on the circuit who managed it, but to Adam, dogs represented stability. It wouldn’t be right to have one without a yard or property to let him run free on. Being cooped up in the truck for hours on end, or tied to a fence while he rode…it would just be wrong.
“See. This is nice. We can hold down a conversation.”
He chuckled. “And if the topics stall out, you can always slide on over here and offer up another solution.”
Her face flamed red. “Shh, someone will hear you.”
“I thought that was the whole point.” He couldn’t quite keep the irritation the thought brought out of his voice.
If anything, her blush got deeper. “That’s was before. That’s not what I want now.”
Well, hell, he liked the sound of that. He looked around. El Pollo Delicioso was hardly five stars, but it had cloth napkins and more on the menu than tacos, so they were on a real honest-to-God date. That didn’t mean he was going to stop giving her grief, though. “Come on, sugar. I’ll make you feel good—again.”
“You’re out of control.” She bit her lip. “I like it.”
He felt out of control, like one wrong step would send him hurtling into something that was completely out of his realm of experience. The jealousy from earlier hadn’t abated. If anything, it was getting worse with each passing heartbeat, because he knew this couldn’t last forever. The longer it went on, the more the loss bloomed in the back of his mind. He was going to lose her, and he was only just realizing how much he wanted her.
He didn’t want this to end.
Adam stared across the table at her, the realization a weight in his chest threatening to drown him. He couldn’t tell if it was a good thing or a bad thing. All he knew was that his life would be a sad specter without Jules in it. He opened his mouth to tell her that, but a shadow fell over their table.
“If it isn’t the cute couple.”
For fuck’s sake. Adam sat back and crossed his arms over his chest. “Grant. You know, you and Jules aren’t together anymore—haven’t been for years. Why the hell do you keep showing up every time I turn around? Stalking is frowned upon in these parts—not to mention illegal.”
Grant narrowed his eyes. “Jules and I are friends, aren’t we, Jules?”
“Actually—”
“I just came over to say congratulations. You’ve convinced me.”
“Great.” Adam rolled his eyes. “Of what?”
Grant looked from him to Jules and back again. “That you’re dating. A friend of mine saw you in, shall we say, a compromising position not more than an hour ago on the side of the road like a common—”
Adam felt like the top of his head was going to explode. “Boy, I suggest you don’t finish whatever you were about to say. I’m taking my lady out to a nice dinner, and you’re over here, fucking that shit up. Leave.”
“Yeah, well, I was just going.” Grant turned to leave, muttering, “I could never get her to fuck me in my truck.”
Adam didn’t make a decision to move. One second he was staring at the little pissant’s back, and the next he was on his feet and grabbing Grant’s collar. “Let’s take a walk.”
“Adam!”
He ignored Jules, walking Grant out of the restaurant by his throat and giving him a shake for good measure. “In what world would you think I’m the kind of man to let you talk about my woman like that?” Another shake. “Here’s a hint—I’m not.”
Jules burst through the door. “Adam, stop! Adam, he’s turning purple.”
He tightened his grip on Grant’s neck. “This is the last time I’m going to say this, so I suggest you keep from passing out long enough to hear it. Stay the fuck away from Jules. If you haven’t noticed, she doesn’t like you. She’s too good of a person to say that, but I’m not. You do or say something to hurt her feelings again, and I’ll put you in the fucking hospital.”
He let go. Grant dropped to his knees, clutching his throat.
“What the hell is wrong with you?”
He already knew, before he turned to her, that she wasn’t talking to Grant. Adam growled. “We’re leaving.” He didn’t give her a chance to argue, hooking an arm around her waist and practically carrying her away from her wheezing ex.
They were in the truck when she spoke next. “We just walked out on our bill.”
“I’ll go by tomorrow and take care of it.” There was no way he trusted himself to be within punching distance of Grant. Adam pulled out of the parking lot so fast, the momentum threw Jules against him. He knew he needed to slow down, to calm down, but he couldn’t get himself under control.
