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His dark gaze locked on mine instantly, and some of that impatience ebbed under the attention. The diner was pretty busy this morning, three booths filled with Elite. Our usual spot was packed with my friends, Win straddling a chair at the end.
Jamie slid into the seat across the table where Ryan, Rory, and Madison were already sitting. Prism and Kruger were on my side with me taking up the end. The scent of leather and fresh air swirled around me when Max stopped beside Win, dipping his chin toward his chest.
“There room in there for me?” His voice was low.
I nodded, starting to squish myself over against my two friends. Max made a sound, catching the big hood lying against my neck to tug me from the bench. The second I was on my feet, his grip left the fabric to settle onto the back of my neck instead. His fingers felt cold against my skin, but I didn’t complain as he tugged me around and leaned in.
The weight of his full lips settled against mine, kissing me without any reservation. Against him, my nostrils flared, eyes popping wide even as my lips moved against his. Black lashes lifted, and he met my stare while his tongue swiped against mine.
My vision blurred a little, and my palm slid beneath his jacket to rub against his waist.
I knew he meant it when he said he was going to kiss me and touch me and not care who watched, but him saying and me experiencing were two wholly different things.
A small hum vibrated the back of my throat, and the fingers on my neck tightened. His ring was cold from the outside air, the metal a crisp contrast to the heat of my skin.
My lashes fluttered, sweeping down against my cheeks—
Crash!
The thunderous sound jolted me back, separating our lips. He kept hold of me when I leaned around, trying to blink back some of the hazy desire his lips made me swell with.
Rooted in the center of the diner was Veronica dressed in her diner uniform, her hair in two buns. Her blue eyes shocked, face pale against the red paint always on her mouth. Our stares collided for the briefest of moments before hers ripped away to stare at the gigantic mess at her feet.
The room had fallen quiet, so her low, strangled sound carried to where we stood. The giant tray she’d dropped had been full of plates and cups. Broken glass lay at her feet as well as splattered and spilled food. A few busted mugs weren’t far off, the coffee that had filled them splashed everywhere.
One of the other waitresses rushed to her side. “Ugh, look at this mess.”
“I’m sorry,” Veronica said, staring at it all, shell-shocked. “It was an accident.”
“Of course it was!” the woman beside her exclaimed.
She started to sink to her knees, and the woman grabbed her by the elbow, stopping her. “You’re going to cut yourself!”
“I have to clean up,” she said.
The noise around the diner had restarted, but it was a much more sedate volume, people still staring at the massive upended tray.
“I’ll get a mop and broom. Don’t move,” the woman said, rushing off.
Once alone, Veronica sank to her knees.
I started forward, but Max caught my hand. I glanced back. “I’m going to help her.”
He didn’t look too thrilled, but he didn’t stop me as I hurried across the floor to bend down where Veronica was trying to pick up chunks of broken plates.
“Hey,” I said, “let me help you.”
The glass in her hands dropped to the floor again when her head lifted. “I thought he was your brother.” Her voice was sharp, maybe a little accusatory.
“Ah,” I said, taken a little off guard.
“You told me he was your brother.”
“I said hesort ofwas,” I echoed, thinking back to that day in her car.
“Well, he either is or he isn’t,” she snapped.
“We grew up together,” I said by way of explanation. “My parents thought of him as a son. But we aren’t actually related.” I grabbed up a few broken plates, placing them on the tray lying on the floor nearby.
