Scoffing, he picked up the carton and shoved it into my arms, ramming it into my chest. “If you were really her friend, you would keep her family in the loop.”
“And if you love your sister, you won’t try to rule her life.”
I walked away, nearly tripping when the dog rushed under my feet, barking at Michael across the bar.
“Hey!” Lizzy shouted. “I told you to keep that dog out of here.”
“You keep him out,” I said over my shoulder. “And stop yelling. It’s not good for the baby.”
Shoving the kitchen door open, I hauled the carton over to the sink and loaded the dishwasher. Roy wouldn’t be in for another hour to start prepping for the lunch rush, and it would be nice if he didn’t come in to a complete mess.
“You know she trusts you,” Michael said from behind me.
“And?”
“And that means something. Lizzy generally likes everyone, but she puts her faith in very few people.”
“What’s your point?”
Crossing his arms over his chest, he glared at me. “It means that no matter what I may think of you, Lizzy has already put you off limits.”
I didn’t know what the hell that meant, and frankly, I didn’t care. He could think whatever he wanted to about me. Like or dislike, I would do whatever the hell I wanted.
“Gee, I’m so glad. I was really scared.”
His eyes narrowed as he took me in. “I looked into you, and let me tell you, I didn’t like what I found.”
“Because it scares you or because I’m around your sister?”
“The second one. I’ve known men like you, and I left that life behind because all that shit brings is danger and fear into everyone’s lives. Lizzy has a good life here, and she doesn’t need someone like you making her life more complicated than it already is. So, while I may not be able to touch you, I will warn you to stay the fuck away from her.”
I laughed at that.
Stalking closer to me, he meant to intimidate me. And if I were a smaller guy, or still that kid back in foster care, he might have done the job. But I wasn’t that kid, and I’d dealt with the worst of humanity. There wasn’t a single thing he could do to shake me.
“Leave,” he commanded. “Get the fuck out of here. I don’t care what the hell you tell her. You’ve got a new job. Your sisterneeds you. Hell, tell her you fucking hate it here. Just get the hell out of her life before you drag her down with you.”
“I don’t answer to you,” I spit out. “And I don’t answer to her either, but if she wanted me to leave, I would.”
“Yeah? What about that neighbor of yours? Would you leave if she asked? Or are you too busy fucking her to realize that anything you touch will turn to ash?”
Rage boiled inside me at his implication. Not because he was wrong, but because I knew it was true. If I stuck around, my life would eventually catch up with me—and her.
“You need some connections? I’ve got some for you. Anything to get you the fuck away from here.”
It was tempting to take him up on his offer. Deep down, I knew it was best if I left. But I never let anyone tell me what to do, and I wasn’t about to start listening now.
“If I decide to leave, I’ll be sure to let you know. Until then, stay the fuck out of my way, or you might find yourself on the receiving end of my bad intentions.”
Shoving past him, I got to work, ignoring him the rest of the day. My mood soured with every hour, but it was my past that kept haunting me with the stroke of the clock. It would all come crumbling down around me one day, and I only had myself to blame.
34
JOSIE
These past fewnights had been absolute torture for me. Every time I told myself not to go over there, I laid down in bed and dreamed of him.
And then I went over there anyway.
