“Fuck it. You make a decision about what you want, you know where to find me.” I practically stomped out of the car like a pissed off teenager, and grabbed my shit from the back, Nixie tucked safely against my chest.
“Are you okay, Rocket?”
“Yeah, just fucking peachy,” I snapped, my guilt following my words instantly, and as I opened my mouth to apologise to Caroline, I caught sight of my demise right in front of me. Harley, pissed off, and glaring right at me. He jabbed two fingers at me, and jerked his head to the shop, stepping inside and waiting for me.
“I was about to apologise, VP, I’m sorry.”
He shut the door pretty sharply, and snatched my bags from my hand, marching over to set them on the counter.
“Put the pup down in her corner.”
Fucking hell. “Come on, man. I said I’m sorry. She just… she fucking cockblocked me, okay?”
“Don’t be a pussy, man. You have this coming.” He balled his fist and raised his eyebrows at me, and I groaned.
“Fuck’s sake, hang on.” I kissed the top of Nixie’s little head and set her in her corner, and straightened up again.
“Just remember one thing, VP. I’d never intentionally hurt Caroline, but you’re about to deliberately hurt me. Who’s the bigger man here?” His fist slammed into my face, making my teeth grind together as pain blossomed across my jaw, and I fell back half a step.
“Fucker!”
“Who’s the bigger man? It’s me, Rocket. It’s never fucking you.”
“What the hell?” V charged into the shop, shoving Harley aside as she came to my side, forcibly lifting my face with both hands to look me over. She was literally only an inch or two shorter than me, so we were pretty well matched height-wise.
“What’s the matter with you?!” She snapped at Harley, as she dragged me into the small bathroom and wet a wad of tissue, using it to press against the bruising I could feel forming against my jaw. It was too cold, and I hissed in a sharp breath.
V
These men were anightmare! Punching each other for every little thing, then being babies after the fact.
“Don’t be a baby, Rocket. It’s just cold.”
“I’m okay, woman, seriously. I don’t need nursing.” I snatched the wet compress from his face and tossed it in the sink.
“Fine. Nurse yourself then, dipshit. And for the record, I’m a fucking vet, not a nurse!”
He went from frustrated to angry, and then just as quickly he barked out a laugh, shaking his head at me.
“Fuck me, you’re like a cactus, woman. A man needs a fucking suit of armour just to have a conversation with you.”
Most men would have been angry, as he’d briefly looked, but I was starting to love the fact that he decided to see humour in my attitude, which I knew was crappy, but I was forgetting how to be anything else.
“Must be your charm, Rocket. You bring out the best in me.”
He grinned, checking his face in the mirror, poking at his jaw tentatively.
“Fucker’s gonna bruise.”
“Maybe don’t wind Harley up then, or is this just a regular day for you guys?”
Rocket sighed, shaking his head. “It was my fault. I snapped at his old lady. You don’t do that shit without getting smacked down. I didn’t mean to though, it’s just that…” He stepped closer, backing me up to the wall, as we moved in sync, without conscious thought or reason.
“What?” I practically breathed as he stared me down, his dark eyes penetrating mine in an almost predatory manner. Not unsexy though, not at all.
“I was enjoying what we were doing, until we were interrupted.” Oh god. He meant the kissing! I’d kissed him, and I still couldn’t believe I’d had the balls to do that, but I suddenly really wanted to do it again.
“The… the kissing?”
