The Cunnilingus Corolla comes careening into the parking lot, stopping just a few feet away from the bus.
“It’s about damn time,” Samantha says. “I was threatening Jacek within an inch of his life because he threatened to eat all the food.”
“Not all the food,” Jacek says. “You can have the buns.”
I relax a little, though I’m still on edge. Something about the exchange feels off, but maybe that’s because I didn’t expect him to break rank.
Jacek goes to help Vanessa with the food.
“You don’t have to worry about me, Tox.” Samantha gives me a teasing smile. “I can take care of myself.”
Her hair dances in the wind, making her look young and carefree. In the baggy sweatshirt she’s wearing, you can’t even tell she’s pregnant, but she won’t be able to go under the radar for much longer.
The truth is, I long to see her in tight-fitting clothes that cling to her rounding stomach. A sundress perhaps, with little flowers strewn across the fabric.
But first, I need to win her over, and it’s clear now that Samantha is no stray.
She’s a hellcat. Not in a bad or nefarious way. She’s just not afraid to be assertive, and heaven help anyone who crosses her.
Once the food is set out, the Hunks assemble to eat, many of them giving us the cold shoulder. Jacek seems annoyed by the hostility, going so far as to glare daggers at Natasha when she mumbled a snide remark.
It’s a start, though I wish Natasha no grief.
“Hey, can we speak for a moment?” Armando asks.
I can tell I’m not going to like what he has to say.
“What’s up, man?”
“Slay’s picking up Prince and Bianca from the airport in two days…”
“And?”
“I was thinking that maybe it would be best if you got a hotel room. I’ll even pay for it, though I know money isn’t the issue.”
“Samantha hasn’t done a damn thing wrong,” I insist.
“I know, but with the short time she’s spent on the bus, the tension is already unbearable.”
“Then maybe you should be having this talk with the others.”
“I’ve tried, and it’s you they’re blaming. They don’t understand why we picked up another stray that doesn’t work, and to make matters worse, she has bad blood with two of the three other women employed by the show.”
It’s not Armando’s fault he’s been misinformed about Samantha’s role on the bus, but I sure don’t appreciate him trying to bully her off.
“This is one of the few times I’ll get a chance to get to know her before the baby comes, and I fully intend to make the most of it, but that’s not possible in a hotel room.”
Armando nods. “That’s fair, but be careful.”
As if on cue, Samantha saunters over. “Is there a problem?”
Armando smiles respectfully. “No, ma’am.”
“Good.” She hands me a sausage. “I thought you might be hungry.”
I lift my brow. “So you brought me just one?”
She gives me a questioning look. “Is it not enough?”
