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“The rule is that you’re not supposed to touch the employees. So keep your hands in your pants,” Commando said, in a low deep voice and Slade clenched his jaw at him and then slid out of his reach.
Commando turned to me, and I saw the anger in his eyes. He held my gaze for a few moments, before he flipped around and walked around behind the counter and went into the back storage room.
I pulled the discarded book closer to me and sat back down on the stool. My cheeks, the back of my neck…were all burning up. I could still feel his steely grip on my waist when he had yanked me away from Slade.
I poured my head over the book, trying to avoid meeting anyone’s eyes as I sat there, trying to study again. Fuck studying. I wanted to see Commando again. I could sense that he was tensed and angry about something. I had never felt this special. This protected. Like he would have done anything to keep every man away from me.
While I tried to read, I could sense someone’s eyes on me. When I looked over, I saw King staring at me, a bottle of beer pressed to his lips. He was quietly studying me. I could see suspicion in his eyes…and also something else, a knowing look. I could see that he was going to figure out what was happening between Commando and me.
“Hi,” I said sweetly and tucked some strands of hair behind my ears. King said nothing, just kept sipping from his bottle of beer and looking at me.
I went back to reading my book and hoping that we weren’t exposed. I had no idea what would happen if Commando’s gang found out that we were sleeping together.
That I was living in his apartment.
Chapter 18
Ava
“Where are you going?” I heard his voice when I was leaving the bar that night. I flipped around to him and saw him standing with his hands thrust into the pockets of his leather jacket. His blue eyes were deep and glimmering in the dim streetlight.
“Back to my friend’s apartment,” I said, meeting his gaze.
“I’ll take you,” he said, bouncing his bike keys up in the air and then grabbing them in time before they fell to the ground. Without a word, I followed him to his Harley and he helped me up again. This time, I didn’t hesitate before I wound my arms around his waist and I held on tightly, breathing in his scent as he accelerated.
The wind lashed against my face, ruffling my hair as he rode. Half way through the ride, I realized that I hadn’t given him Charity’s address, so I had no idea where he was taking me. When he stopped, I realized that we were on a dark and deserted country road.
Commando got off the bike and then helped me down.
“Where are we?”
“Does it matter?”
We looked at each other silently for a few moments, before he stared up at the clear night sky. It was dotted with tiny shining stars. The air was clean, less polluted and clear out here and I leaned against the bike to stare up. When I looked back down, he was looking at me again.
“I didn’t mean to scare you earlier. Just needed to put Slade in place before things got out of hand,” he said, in a voice so soft that I didn’t even recognize him.
“No, thank you. I’m usually able to handle these situations…I was just dazed from studying,” I replied and I saw that he was watching me again. We had spoken so little before. Other than his name, I knew nothing else about him. That and that he had the bluest eyes I had ever seen…and those dimples!
“What are you studying?” he asked, pushing his hands into his jacket pockets again. We were standing close together, and it was so quiet around us that we could hear the crickets chirping in the grass. This was peaceful…and beautiful…and I had just never thought that a place like this would appeal to a man like him.
“I’m studying for an entrance exam into a Vet Tech course. I lost some good college years and I’m trying to make up for it,” I said, my eyes drooping with embarrassment.
“Vet Tech,” he said lazily, in a drowsy voice, and looked around him. “So you’re going to be working with animals?” he asked.
“If I get in, then yes…eventually. I would have liked to become a Vet, like actually study the science…but I don’t have the time or the skills. I just want to start doing the work I like, as quickly as possible,” I said and for the first time, it felt like someone was actually listening to me. Commando nodded his head quietly and his gaze dropped to my breasts, to my body.
“I think you’ll be good at it. You’ll be good at caring for animals, hell you can handle our zoo. Any Vet would be lucky to have you as their assistant,” he said and I felt a thrill run down my spine. He knew so little about me, but he had already formed his judgements and I couldn’t understand why he was seeing the best in me.
“Why did you lose out on your college years?” he asked next and I looked about me nervously. I didn’t want to bring the topic up, but I also wanted to be completely honest with him.
“I was too caught up in my previous relationship. I met him soon after high school and he was older than me, and didn’t want me to work. He wanted to be the one who brought home the bacon,” I said and Commando took a step in my direction. Immediately I thought this was the wrong decision. I shouldn’t have brought up Blaine at all, I should have made up some other excuse.
He was close to me now, peering straight into my eyes as he stared at me. I could see the rage on his face again, and then it washed away.
“I’m going to make sure that guy never lays a finger on you again,” he said, catching my gaze. My heart was pounding against my chest.
“Why?” I blurted out before I could stop
