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Dolly held up her hands. “Hey, this kitchen is all yours. I don’t even know why they let me in here except to eat. I’m a shit cook.”
Focusing on the task of fixing the gumbo, Jupiter didn’t notice Rubble sit on a stool across from her.
“Louisiana, huh? Are you from there?”
She looked up. “No. I’m originally from Iowa.”
“Like Doc and Kevlar.”
“I didn’t realize they were from there.” She found the garlic and fresh parsley leaves.
“Yep. Doc used to be a paramedic until Reaper, his uncle, called him home. And Kevlar’s got a sister living in Des Moines. She’s a lawyer married to some ex-mobster turned cop.”
The skillet in her hand slipped and clattered to the floor. “Shit.” She quickly picked it up and set it on the stove.
“Which part of that scared you? The lawyer or cop?”
Jupiter narrowed her green eyes to slits. “Neither. My brother’s a cop and lawyers have helped me in the past.”
“Never been too fond of lawyers myself.” Rubble leaned forward, resting his forearms on the counter. She couldn’t help but stare at the tattoos peppered over his exposed skin. Without a doubt there were more beneath his clothes. She swallowed hard at the realization that she even wanted to see them.
“Why are you hiding here? Why not call your cop brother?” Rubble asked.
“I don’t want to involve him.” She chewed her bottom lip. “It’s embarrassing and there’s nothing Levi can do.”
Rubble reached out and covered her hand. Jupiter lowered her gaze to their connection and quickly pulled away. He almost seemed hurt by her reaction. “Tell me about it, and maybe I can.”
When she retreated to the stove, he stood and made his way around the counter, leaning his back against it. “How do you know your brother won’t help unless you ask?”
Curling her hand around a bunch of green onions, she started chopping. “I’m handling the situation.”
“Why don’t I believe you?”
Jupiter looked up and gasped at how close he was to her. His stern eyes were scanning her face, looking for answers she wouldn’t relinquish. “Because you don’t want to.”
Rubble moved back slightly, and she unexpectedly caught herself moving toward him. “Better watch where you put that thing.” His eyes dropped to the knife still in her hand. It was dangerously close to his gut. “I’m not gonna hurt you, Jupiter. Nobody here will.”
Recognizing her stance, she quickly set down the knife, hands shaking. “I need to finish this and you interrogating me isn’t helping.”
He nodded and offered an unconvincing smile. “Holler if you need me. I’ll be in the den.”
Once he cleared the room, Jupiter let out an audible groan. He got under her skin so quickly and intensely her instinct was to go on the defense. Thinking back, she cursed herself for not controlling her tongue more.
“God, that smells fifty times better already!” Dolly came up behind her and sampled the gumbo. “Shit, you’re gonna give Kevlar a run for his status as best cook here.”
Jupiter didn’t hear the rest of Dolly’s praise. She couldn’t get her mind off Rubble. In the space of one conversation, she was torn between wanting to spill her secrets and wanting to run away from his inquisition. Queenie was a second mother to her, so it was simple to confide in her. But Rubble. She shook her head. He kept popping up wherever she went.And it’s only going to get worse when he’s with me at the bakery.
She groaned again, but this time for a whole new set of reasons.
CHAPTER9
JUPITER
Jupiter glanced uneasily at Dolly.“Wait, you train here?”
The shorter woman pulled her ponytail tight and nodded. “Yes, ma’am. For as long as it’s been open.” Dolly fished out a pair of boxing gloves. “Which was… hmm…. How long has it been?” She turned and shouted, “Yo, Rubble. When’d you open this place?”
“This is Rubble’s gym?” Jupiter crossed her arms over her chest, not sure where the man in question was until he slowly walked into view. Sweat beaded on his forehead, a cutoff T-shirt showing his muscular arms covered in tattoos. He was a mess, a beautiful hulking mess of masculinity. Desire flamed low in her gut at the sight of him.
