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“Hey, boss,” Taz said. Ryker cringed at the nickname and nodded to the big biker. He had to admit, the big guy was saving his ass by taking on the cooking duties. If the rumors were correct, Taz had been classically trained in France, but it wasn’t something that he bragged about. If the story was true, poor Taz was going to be pretty bored with making burgers and fries, since that was what they sold the most of—well, that and beer.
“You ready for tonight?” he asked.
“Yep,” Taz agreed. “No sweat.” He looked Harlow over and smiled, making Ryker want to punch him. “You ready for tonight?” he asked her.
“I am. It’s good to see you again, Taz,” she said.
“You too, Harlow. If you need any help with the rowdy guys out there, just holler.”
“Thanks, Taz,” she said. “That means a lot.”
“I’m sure that Taz will be busy back here, but I’ll be in the bar tonight. If you have any problems, just let me know,” Ryker said. He shot Taz a look as if silently telling the big guy to stand down and Taz had the nerve to chuckle. Sure, he was marking his territory and Harlow wasn’t that—his. Ryker couldn’t explain why he felt possessive and even jealous every time she and Taz were in the same room together, but he did.
“Thanks, Ryker,” Harlow said. “I appreciate both of you having my back. Well, I better get to it, then,” she said. She stowed her jacket and her purse in the back corner of the kitchen. “Will these things be okay here?” she asked.
“How about I take them back to my office? That way, they will be securely locked away.” Ryker held out his hand for her things and she grabbed them, handing them to him. Her fingers brushed over his skin and little electrical shocks ran up his arm, making his whole-body tingle.
“Um, thank you,” she whispered. Harlow grabbed an apron and tied it around her waist, just before she disappeared into the bar.
“Wow,” Taz said. “You have it bad for the new girl.” Taz chuckled to himself as he threw some burger patties on the grill.
“How about you concentrate on cooking and leave me the fuck alone?” he asked.
“Whatever you say, boss,” Taz said. “I thought you said that you don’t date single mothers.”
“I did,” Ryker said. He didn’t date—period, but that wasn’t any of Taz’s business. He usually took a barfly home for some fun, but dating wasn’t even something he’d consider. That would mean getting involved and he just didn’t do shit like that—no matter how much he wanted to break all of his rules with the new girl.
“So, what are you going to do about her then?” Taz asked, nodding to the door that she had just disappeared through.
He had no fucking clue, but again, that wasn’t any of Taz’s business. “Doesn’t concern you, man,” Ryker growled.
“Then it would be okay with you if I asked her out, right?” Taz asked. He was trying to get Ryker to admit to wanting Harlow, but he wouldn’t no matter how much Taz egged him on.
“Do whatever you fucking want,” Ryker said. “I told you, I’m not interested in Harlow,” he barked. Taz nodded back over to the door and Ryker inwardly groaned knowing that once he turned around, he’d find Harlow standing there.
Ryker slowly turned around and found just what he was expecting to find—Harlow standing in the doorway looking very pissed off, the door wide open for the rest of the guys to catch the show, and all eyes were on him. “Shit,” he mumbled under his breath. “I didn’t—” He started to tell Harlow that he didn’t mean what he said, that he was pissed at Taz for giving him grief, but she held up her slight hand, stopping the words from coming out of his mouth.
“Save it,” she said. “You know what—you don’t have to be interested in me. As long as you pay me every week, you can be as uninterested in me as you like.” She turned back to the guys watching the showdown in the bar. “That goes for the rest of you guys too,” she shouted over the music. “I’m not here to date any of you. I’m here to make a living for myself and my kid—that’s all I’m interested in. Got it?” she asked, pointing in at them. God, at that moment, Ryker was sure that she was the perfect woman. And shit, he wanted her more now than he had since she walked into his bar earlier that day. All in all, Ryker was sure that he was screwed, and judging from the look on her beautiful, angry face, Harlow wasn’t about to give him a second chance.
