My heart jacks up at an annoying level. “How do you come to that conclusion?”
“For one, I’ve known a lot of women in my day, and none of them ever leave the house without their purse, backpack or crossbody. It’s like a religion.”
“That’s pretty good; you know the actual names.”
“Been married twice.”
“Now that sounds like a much more interesting story than mine.”
“Later. Right now, I wanna know why you stumbled into a Tijuana strip club with nothing but the clothes on your back.”
“It’s really not that interesting.” Or something I plan on telling an outlaw biker who has dealings with my crazy brother.
“So bore me then. It’s the least I deserve after letting you sack out on my couch.”
“You have me there.” I reach across the table and touch his broad forearm. “I really do appreciate your kindness.” I motion to my plate. “And this food. I never eat breakfast, but this is really good.”
“My mother used to say, if you like to eat, you’ll like to cook—and I love to fuckin’ eat. I can still smell her chicken and biscuits and her country ham.”
“Your mother, huh?” I roll my lips inward, then smile. “Somehow I don’t picture you having a mother. More like you were hatched with super powers like Marvel Comics.”
“There you go with the jokes again.” His gaze falters, and I dread some horrible story about his mother.
“Sorry, I meant that to be directed to you, not your mother.”
“You would’ve liked my mother. She was tiny like you.”
At five feet five, I didn’t consider myself little, although I could definitely use some filling out in certain areas.
“Always trying to do her best at home for me and my brothers.”
Perfect, get him talking about himself and off me. “Where’s home?”
Most men love to talk about themselves, and I’m hoping Diesel isn’t an exception.
CHAPTER 7
MARTINA
“We lived in one of the poorest towns in Hancock County, Tennessee. My daddy was a shiftless bastard who never had a job and spent more time in the county jail than at home. Then, when he did come home from his latest stint, he’d manage to get Mama pregnant. I’m the oldest of four boys, and there’s no more than eighteen months between any of us. Says a lot about my father’s criminal record, but she loved the hell outta him. I don’t know why, but she did.”
“I’m guessing you took after your father in size.”
“Ohhh yeah, Daddy was as tall as me and just as broad, but he couldn’t keep his sorry ass outta trouble. There wasn’t a bar fight, a card game, or a back alley deal my father wasn’t involved in. The only thing he didn’t do was work, but Mama took him back every time.”
“Hmmm, I guess we both got short-changed in the father department. My broth—I mean, I never knew my father. Apparently, he ran off right after I was born.”
“You have abrother too?”
“No, no, just me and my mom.” Shit, close call. The last thing I needed Diesel knowing is that I’m related to Eduardo.
He cocks his head but doesn’t question.
“So, are your brothers still in Tennessee?”
“Yeah, when they aren’t doing time at County.”
“They took after your father, huh?”
