“Youare! Poor Trooper,” I crooned, patting his cheek. “Is that why you brought me food? You’re trying to buy my affection?”
He laughed, his blue eyes sparkling.
“I just wanted to make sure that you remembered I’m your favorite. Even if you sleep with Psycho.”
I snorted. “I’m not sleeping with Psycho. Yes, he asked for my number. No, I did not give it to him.”
Raine squawked in dismay.
“Why not?”
“None of your business,” I replied. “I wasn’t interested, plain and simple.”
When I bit into my burger, a flicker of concern shadowed Trooper’s eyes for a moment.
“He didn’t make you uncomfortable, did he?”
I glanced up at the edge of concern in Trooper's voice. For the most part, he was an easy going guy, friendly and charming. But his membership with the Reckless Order MC indicated he was capable of getting into some pretty dirty shit that could land him in prison if he wasn’t careful.
“No,” I said firmly. “Psycho was looking to hookup. I told him that I was flattered, but not really in the mood. It had been a long week. I just wanted to head home, watch some trashy reality TV, and go to bed early.”
Raine groaned and rubbed her temple.
“Oh my God, you are sohopeless.”
Trooper’s demeanor lightened and he snatched a fry from my lunch.
“If he gives you any trouble, let me know.”
“I don’t need you to fight my battles for me,” I said.
“Yeah, yeah, you’re tough as nails. I get it. Now, I’m going to take a leak, and when I return, you can fill me in on that trashy reality TV you watched.”
As soon as Trooper had disappeared into the back of the shop and shut the bathroom door, Raine rounded on me.
“So,” she said, twirling a forkful of salad in the air. “When will you ask him out?”
“Who?” I said, garbled around a bite of cheeseburger.
Raine heaved a long-suffering sigh and rolled her eyes.
“Trooper, of course. You two are eye-fucking each other like…all the time, basically.”
I shook my head. “We’re just friends.”
“That man issointo you, Shea. It’s ridiculous. You’re blind if you don’t see the way he looks at you.”
I gulped my food down, poking absently at my fries as heat crept up my neck. Why the hell was I blushing like a school girl?
Of course I could admit that Trooper was an attractive guy, with his wavy blond hair, dark blue eyes, and easy smile. Everything about him was warm and playful and he had a knack for making me laugh when I needed it the most.
I liked him. As a friend. And it had to stay that way.
“Did you say someone was looking at Shea?”
I startled out of my thoughts when Trooper returned. He grabbed for my fries and I moved them out of reach.
“Stop stealing my food,” I protested, petulant. “Get your own.”
