Page 29 of Torqued

“He was insulting you, Spencer!” His brows pull low, and nostrils flare.

“No, he wasn’t! He was insulting you! This is about you and Lane Shifter, I’m just a casualty.”

“He will not talk about you in that manner or in any other way for that matter, whether you like it or not.” Rush’s jaw locks with the last few words, his temper getting the better of him.

I nod, pursing my lips. I hate this and it’s the number one reason I want to take it slow and see where this goes. But Rush has to push the limits, like everything else he’s involved in.

“Know this. If you don’t learn to walk away from Lane, MAXCAR won’t be the only people fining you. Now, keep pushing me, and I’ll show you who I am.” I turn sharply, reaching for the door as my temples throb from my rising blood pressure. I need to leave before we end up saying something we’ll regret.

“You’re going to fine me for standing up for you?”

“No, you’ll be fined for defying my orders. You should be okay with it. Most people that work with me get fired when they don’t do as I ask. You’ll be a first.”

His eyes narrow. “Are you threatening me?”

“No one challenges me, Rush. Not even you.”

“Oh, poor Princess.” Rush chides me when I reach for the door.

My eyes flicker to his, and I smirk. “Make no mistake Rush Hatcher. I’m a Queen.”

“Spencer, don’t walk out that door.”

I turn the handle with a wink and shake my ass with every step I take down the stairs. There’s a direct path from Rush’s hauler to the parking lot where I’m parked. I’ve never had anyone make me so furious in my life.

“I’ve also never wanted someone as much as I want Rush, either.” My chest clinches, and I wrap my arm around my stomach.

9

Rush

“What did I just do? Why did I do that to her?” I kick the door, loathing myself and what an asshole I’m being. The look on her face before walking out the door told me everything I needed to know. Besides, her eyes told the truth even if her mouth wouldn’t betray her.

“Spencer’s right, if Lane knows he’s getting to me, he’s going to continue to come after me.” I stalk over, pulling the liquor from the cabinet. I grab a glass and pour myself three fingers, downing it as Margo and Crank walk through the door.

Margo stops dead in her tracks. “What in the hell did you do?”

“Give me that.” Crank tries to take the bottle from me. “Come on!”

Margo’s brow arches. “You’re going to give Crank the alcohol, and then, we’re calling your mom.”

“Margo!” I slam the glass down on the counter. “I need a minute. I fucked up and I don’t want to talk about it right now.”

Her head repeatedly shakes, her foot tapping a million times a second. “I knew it! I told you to keep your impact wrench in your pants, but you couldn’t do that, could you?”

“I didn’t… we didn’t…” I run my hand through my hair. “we kissed. That’s it.”

Margo’s forehead wrinkles, her eyes flicker to Crank and back. “So, why are you drinking?”

“We had an argument and I may have gone too far.” I roll my shoulders, loosening my muscles. “I’m told I do that from time to time.”

Margo squeezes her eyes shut, pinching her nose. “Will you just tell me what you’ve done and let me do some damage control?”

“I-I might’ve demanded she not leave,” I fall down into the couch. “and got jealous over Lane.”

Margo nods, pulling her phone out. “Okay, I’ve got this.”

“And then I got angry because she wanted to keep things quiet until we could figure out… us.” I take a swig from the bottle, wincing when it burns going down. I deserve that and so much more for being an ass.