“I’m finally rubbing off on you.” I grin.Why does this man have to be perfect for me?
“If that were true, I’d have asked for your boxers.”
“I’d give them to you.”
“I know you would.” He shakes her head like he’s scolding me, but that can’t hide the smirk on his face. “Good luck with the circuit.” He pulls my shirt over his head, inadvertently reinforcing the notion that he could somehow be mine.Damn he looks hot in my clothes.I wipe a hand over my face to clear the thought.
“Good luck with the second location,” I reply as he heads out the door. Then I force myself into the shower, hoping the water will wash away the silly fantasies I had on our ride yesterday.
Chapter thirteen
Lennon
“Okay spill it,” my friend Ally says, pulling up a chair for our monthly business owner’s lunch.
As recently as a year ago, this event took place in her boutique, where I’d try on the outfits she hunted down just for me between bites. Since my fashion choices don’t fit the norm for a man it was a great way for me to “shop” and for Ally to indulge in her fashion designer dreams. Then her brother Sloan opened his own PT practice, and I decided to mentor Beck in preparation for opening my second location so he could fill Randy’s role of assistant manager, so our lunch has grown to include both of them.
“Beck said you took a day off with no notice, and I know you weren’t sick.” Ally helps herself to one of the glasses of tea on the table.
I shoot a wounded look in Beck’s direction, regretting that I invited him to join us. Not like I had much of a choice since we’re eating in my restaurant.
“What? Ally’s like a bloodhound.” Beck adds sugar to his drink. “If she pops in and you aren’t here, I can’t keep that from her.”
“I didn’t realize my life was such a hot topic.” I lean back in my chair and cross my arms with a huff, even though I’m not surprised by Ally’s tenacity in getting him to talk. She really is a bloodhound.
“It is when you don’t have a life outside this restaurant and then you randomly take a day off,” Ally deadpans.
“We need to work on your boundaries,” I tell her.
“No such thing when you’re concerned about a friend,” she says with a satisfied smile.
“She’s got a point,” Sloan adds with a guilty shrug.
“No need for concern. I’m right here. What we really need to talk about is your new living arrangement.” I give Sloan a pointed look as I pin the heat on him. “How do you like shacking up with Carter?”
“I’ll tell you if you tell us why Beck was filling in for you.” Sloan points at my loose-lipped server.
I look at Beck, who has his head buried in the menu like he doesn’t already know it by heart. “You know, if I ask you to cover for me that means tell everyone I’m busy in the office, not that I’m not here.”
“We aren’t everyone,” Sloan says pointedly.
“You’re worse than everyone,” I retort. "You all make a bigger deal out of things.”
“We would never.” Ally puts a hand over her heart like she’s shocked and offended.Damn, she’s dramatic.
“Especially, if the thing we’re not making a big deal of is a sexy biker.” Beck finally lifts his head, daring me to object.
I give him the most menacing look I can muster.
“What? I’ve got eyes. I saw them sitting at the bar last week,” he says, confirming my suspicion that Beck’s curious about both sexes, though I’ll wait for him to tell me that before I point it out.
“Ooh that’s right.” Sloan’s eyes grow wide. “I saw them when I came to pick up lunch. The whole crew of them were hot, but theblonde one was still here when I stopped for a drink before going home. He’s why you skipped out on a shift, isn’t he?”
“Details,” Beck’s eyes gleam as he claps his hands together.
“Your mom would kill me if she knew you asked such a thing.” Beck’s mom, hell the whole town, still views him as a doe-eyed little boy thanks to the fact he’s on the shorter, slender side for a man, which admittedly makes it hard to think of him as an adult since he still looks so young. Beautiful, but young.
“So, don’t tell her.” He shrugs indifferently. “But do tell us about the sexy biker.”
