“Hello. What can I help you with, Jeremy?” I reply, keeping my voice even-keeled.
“Can I take you out to lunch?” he asks bluntly.
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because I don’t want to go,” I answer. I’ve tried to be nice to this kid, but he’s not taking the hint. It’s time to be as specific as possible. “I’ve made it clear I have no interest in you, Jeremy. I think it’s time you hear what I’m saying.”
He has the audacity to pop his lower lip out in a childish pout. “Oh, come on. You’re no fun.”
Before I can respond, a deep voice from the door snaps, “The lady answered you.”
A shiver skirts down my spine as Leo approaches, his eyes dark and dangerous as he crowds Jeremy against the counter. Jeremy immediately recognizes the expression, throwing his hands up in submission. “Dude, I was just asking. Chill.”
“No, I won’t fucking chill,” Leo answers. “You can’t seem to take no for an answer. If this happens again, rest assured you’ll be answering to me, and the outcome will only be beneficial to one of us.”
Jeremy looks at me, his eyes pleading. “A little help here?”
“Don’t look at her. Look at me,” Leo growls out. “If I hear that you’re bothering her in any way, you will not get off easily. Do you understand me?”
Jeremy nods quickly, then slides out from between Leo and the counter. “Understood.”
As I watch Jeremy’s quickly retreating back, I don’t notice Leo rounding the corner until he has my face in his hands. Before I know it, his lips are on mine, and I reflexively relax into the kiss. I’m backed into the wall as his tongue skirts along my lips, and I sigh into his mouth. I thought I’d forgotten how wonderful Leo’s kisses were. I went years without them, though I honestly don’t know how. I’ve been craving his kisses for the past two months like an addict needing another hit.
“Alright, I’ve got the goods — oh, shit,” Whitley blurts out as she bursts through the door. But Leo doesn’t jump away from me. He ends the kiss slowly, sensually, then pecks my lips a couple of times before stepping back.
“Hi,” he whispers, a smile twitching on his lips.
“Hi?” I reply, confusion evident in my tone. He’s wearing joggers, a tee shirt, and a Denver Wolves hat, looking sinfully rugged and manly. A hysterical giggle escapes my throat when I think about the fact that I fucked this man against a wall.
And he probably got me pregnant.
And then I remember the jackass hasn’t called me since then, and I’m suddenly pissed off. Placing my hands on his pecs, I push him back a few feet. “What the hell was that? Playing a game of ‘I licked it, so it’s mine’? Pretty childish, even for you, Leo.”
He smiles sheepishly, reaching up to scratch absentmindedly at his beard. “Would you believe me if I said that wasn’t my intention at all? I was only going to check on you, because you look a little pale, so I wasn’t sure if that jackass said something to upset you. But then you bit your lip, and that’s always been my kryptonite.”
I’d forgotten about that. I teased him mercilessly in high schoolabout it, because I could basically tell him anything, and he’d forget all about it if I bit my lip. “Why are you here, Leo?”
His smile falters. “Can I come over tonight?”
My mouth drops open in shock. Seriously? Did he just ask me for a booty call?
Leo’s eyes widen. “Shit. Not like that! I meant dinner. Or after dinner. I never did check on your dishwasher, and I’d like to see the kids too. And you, of course. But I’d like to talk. To explain some things, if that’s alright with you.”
I should say no. Tell him tonight isn’t a good time. Come up with any excuse: Violet has a cold, or Oliver has something scheduled with a friend. Anything. But instead, while looking at Leo’s earnest expression, I nod. He sighs in relief. “Good. Great. I’ll bring a pizza. Will that work?”
I nod again, unable to speak. Leo leans in to kiss me quickly, then turns to stride away. He says hello to Whitley, who subtly hides the pregnancy test box against her chest, and then walks out the door. Whitley immediately giggles. “What the hell did I just walk in on?”
“I don’t even know,” I reply shakily, dropping onto a stool by the register. Laying my head on the counter, I groan. “Jeremy came in and asked me out again. All of a sudden, Leo was in here, threatening Jeremy, and then we were kissing. I don’t know how it happened.”
“Leo threatened Jeremy?” Whitley asks as she hands me the pregnancy test, and I nod. She hums in approval. “Those Santo boys do enjoy the potential for violence.”
I snort. “They really do. An ex of one of their sisters showed up at the police station quite a bit worse for wear back in the day, but Leo and his brothers claimed they weren’t involved. I bet they still maintain their innocence.”
“Having a sexy man willing to go to bat for you isn’t the worst thing.”
“I guess not.”
