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She smiled. “I just…” She paused before continuing. “I agree with you. They might be able to help me hash some things out.”
A niggling feeling settled in my gut that I couldn’t explain, but it had a lot to do with the way she answered me. “You still with me?”
She laughed. “Yeah, I’m sitting right here.”
“Just wanted to make sure I’m still with Jane.”
She nodded. “You are, I promise. I just needed a moment to digest everything.”
“Okay.” I agreed, although hesitantly.
“Well?” We both looked up from our plates when we heard Ritz’s voice. “What do you think?”
I smiled. “It’s honestly the best pasta I’ve had in a really long time.”
His eyebrows rose. “Not the best you’ve ever had?”
She blushed, and I shook my head. “He’s teasing you.”
Ritz chuckled. “So what are you two kids up to after this?”
Annoyed, I lifted my eyes to meet his. “Shouldn’t you be cooking?”
He laughed and slapped me on the shoulder but then faced Jane. “Glad you’re enjoyin’ it, sweetheart.”
“I am, thank you.” She reached out and touched his forearm. “By the way, I love that you named your restaurant after your mom. That’s a beautiful tribute.”
Ritz’s expression changed to one of gratitude. “Appreciate that.”
I knew by the look he gave me that he really did appreciate that she acknowledged something that meant so much to him.
I waited for him to walk away before meeting her gaze. “Livin’ up to your nickname, princess.”
She smiled shyly but didn’t say anything.
There wasn’t much more that we needed to say.
11
TANK
Drummingmy fingertips against the steering wheel, I waited for the light to turn green before I drove through the intersection. I hated driving my truck, especially this time of year, considering it was fall and the perfect weather for riding my bike, but I was on a parts run for the garage and needed the room.
I scanned the street while I drove, but my mind wasn’t on my surroundings. I hadn’t seen or talked to Jane since Saturday, and it was Thursday. I knew she had plans with Bree this weekend, but only because I saw Becs in the clubhouse yesterday and she told me. Apparently, Becs was one of the girls who was invited out. I was happy for Jane. This was what she wanted when she came to me, and if anyone could help her figure out her path, it was these women. lt still pissed me off even though it made no sense for me to be mad. We hardly knew each other, but I was still angry that she hadn’t called or texted me. That, in itself, was ridiculous. I wasn’t even sure what I wanted when it came to Jane, but I liked being around her, and I hadn’t been able to say that about any woman in a few years.
I’d never been like this with a woman, never had this chemistry, and I was certainly never jealous, but I was with Jane. I’d usually date a woman for a few weeks, always with the agreement on both sides that it would be casual. I never had the urge to call or text them between the times we got together, and I sure as hell never had one who pissed me off this much.
I’d been trying to convince myself that the reason I was so attracted to her was because she made me chase her. Grinning, I flicked on my turn signal and pulled into the parking lot adjacent to the part’s store. I’d always liked the chase and was usually bored once I caught her, but I wasn’t tired of Jane. I actually looked forward to spending time with her and just talking. I didn’t sit down and have conversations with women I wanted to sleep with. I talked to them until I talked them into my bed, then when it was over, I was ready for them to leave.
But not Jane.
And I had no fucking idea why she was different.
Parking the truck, I jumped out and headed inside, going straight to the counter.
The kid behind it looked up. “Hey, Tank, got your shit in the back.” He gestured toward the room behind him. “Be right back.”
“Thanks, kid.”
