She doesn’t answer right away, and I’m pissed off. Why didn’t she tell me yesterday? Sure, I don’t do the whole dating and commitment thing, but I don’t chase tail that’s not available.
Would it have made any difference with Amelia?I ignore that thought.
“No,” she says at last, as though she was debating whether or not to tell me the truth. Then she sighs. “It’s complicated.”
“No, it’s not.”
“It really is.”
I change tactics. “What if I swear to keep my hands to myself until you’re ready? Will you come back to Odin’s?”
Zach would piss himself if he could hear me. Fuck, I’m almost pissing myself. I never thought I’d all but beg a girl to come work for me.
“Suppose I’m never ready?”
I can’t help it—I shoot her a filthy grin. “Then I’m gonna have blue balls.”
Instead of laughing she looks fascinated. “Seriously? With all the girls that hang around the Bastards? I find thatrealhard to believe.”
I’m finding it hard to believe, too. Not that I said it to her—hell, guys say anything to get some pussy—but because a part of me means it.
No way can I let her know she’s managed to mess with my head that much. “Hey, I might be an asshole, but I don’t go back on my word. I won’t push you into doing something you’re not ready for.”
What. The. Fuck?
She leans a little closer, almost as though she doesn’t realize what she’s doing. “It sounds like you want to date me. Exclusively.”
I give a choked laugh, mainly to hide my shock that what I said soundsexactlythe way she describes. “Don’t push it.”
“So you don’t want to date me, you just want to screw me?”
“Anything wrong with that?”
She looks as though she’s trying not to laugh. “And being exclusive isn’t in your vocabulary?”
“Is that a problem?”
“Hmm.” She appears to consider it. “I guess not, if it preserves the state of your balls.”
“You’re the craziest chick I’ve ever met. You know that?”
She’s smiling at me, and it kills me that I can’t wrap my hand around the back of her neck and haul her over the table for a kiss. If she takes me up on my offer, my dick’s going to love me.Not.
“And you’re nothing like I thought you’d be.”
“I’m better, right?”
She groans. “Your rep was right about one thing. You’resofull of yourself.”
“Where’d you hear about my rep?” There’s something about her that intrigues me, besides wanting her in my bed. She’s not part of the biker life, but it’s like she belongs, in a weird way I can’t figure out.
“You’d be surprised.” For a second, her smile slips, as though she doesn’t want to think about it. “And I’m not going to stroke your ego by telling you what I’ve heard, either.”
An old guy wearing a stripy apron hovers by the table, and when he realizes I’ve caught him eyeing my colors, he takes a hasty step back. “Amy, honey, could do with some help here when you’re ready.”
Amy? I shoot her a glance, but she doesn’t seem to get my message. She drops her cell into her pocket and stands up. “Sorry, Colin. I’ll be right there.”
Colin gives me anotherlook, and I favor him with a lazy grin that appears to scare the shit out of him. As he turns tail, Amelia sighs.
