Except I can’t.
…
Gage
I’ve no idea where to take a chick on a date. When I hook up, that’s all it is. Sex. Where the fuck am I going to take Amelia? If we were going out tonight, I could take her to a club, but where do we go in the middle of the afternoon? I guess I could ask Zach, since he’s gone all domestic since meeting Grace, but I’m not sure the grief he’d give me is worth it.
Tod ambles into the kitchen, and I shove my cell back into my pocket. Not that he’d be able to see I was surfing the net searching for clues on first dates. I scowl at him, but he doesn’t notice as he reaches for the coffee.
“Need to find another girl if Amelia isn’t coming back,” he says, as he scratches his balls through his baggy jocks. When I first took over Odin’s, I didn’t care about having to share the apartment with my cousin, but he’s such a fucking slob, and after five years of living together, it’s getting on my nerves.
I grunt in reply, since instead of persuading Amelia to come back to work, I’ve still no idea whether she is or not.
“Fuck, she was hot.” He takes a swallow of black coffee and misses the glare I shoot him. “You should’ve seen what she wore to her interview. Tits to fucking die for.”
If Tod wasn’t family I swear I would’ve buried him in the backyard years ago. “Shut the fuck up about Amelia.”
He leers at me from across the kitchen. “Saw you couldn’t take your eyes off her. Is that why she quit?”
“You want me to break your nose again or what?”
His grin vanishes. “Hey, I’m just messing with you. I didn’t know you and her were…whatever. It’s all cool, cuz.”
It’s not fucking cool because I just lost my shit over a chick. And Tod’s giving me a speculative look, as though he thinks something’s going on. Since when do I care what other guys say about a girl I want?
Since Amelia walked into Odin’s.
…
I park just down the street from the diner so I can see when Amelia leaves, but not so close that the owner thinks I’m casing the joint. I get off my bike and don’t miss the way people cross the road in order to avoid me, as though they think I’m going to cut them down if we make eye contact.
It doesn’t bother me. I’m used to the looks, but I’m not used to hanging around quiet streets with no bar or dealer in sight. The diner seems to be the local magnet for families, although the old guy across the road, wearing a coat that’s flapping around his ankles, looks as out of place as me.
My gaze sharpens on him. Is he the same guy I saw earlier today after I left Amelia? As I take a step toward him, he vanishes down a side street, almost like he knew I was watching him.
“Hey.”
I swing around and see Amelia standing there smiling at me. She’s fucking gorgeous. What was I thinking when I told her I’d keep my hands to myself until she changed her mind?
“You ready?” I might’ve shot myself in the balls with my insane promise, but at least she’ll wrap her body around me when we get on the bike.
“Sure.” She runs the tip of her finger along my handlebars, and there’s no mistaking the awe on her face as she checks out the Harley. “Where’re we going?”
“Wait and see.” I hope to hell no oneelseI know sees where I take her.
“Okay.” She looks like she’s trying not to laugh again, as though she knows how hard this is for me. “Your bike or my car?”
I scoff. “I’m not getting in your car.”
She slings her purse across her shoulders, takes my spare helmet, and waits until I’m back on the bike before she swings her leg over. It’s like she’s done this a thousand times before, and disappointment stabs through me when she clutches the grab rail behind her instead of me.
It doesn’t take long to get there. She pulls off the helmet, shakes her head, and gives me a disbelieving look. “We’re going to themovies?”
“Yeah.” Fuck, I thought she’d be impressed, especially since it’s some chick-flick shit. I stroll inside as though I’m used to doing this stuff, even though I don’t remember the last time I even went to the movies. I download everything I want to watch. Who doesn’t?
“Are you sure you want to do this?” She’s on her toes, leaning toward me but not quite touching. “I thought you’d take me to a bar or something.”
I frown. “You want to go to a bar?” I sure as hell do. Just shows how much I suck at this whole dating thing.
