Hairs prickle on my neck. Kane’s voice plays in my head telling me to stay away from them, but I’ve never been one for rules. “I like him too.”
“Great, we’ll see you there, then?” She looks busy when the manager walks down the aisle, then Yaz returns and Lucy goes back to the till.
“What do you do for fun around here?” I ask Yaz.
She looks confused, like the word fun isn’t in her vocabulary. She moves her long black fringe out of her eyes with a flick of her head. “I hang out at the cemetery, summon the odd demon, drink blood and kill babies.” She flashes the first genuine smile she’s had all day, summoning a giggle from me.
“Sounds fun.”
“It’s better than getting fucked over by half the dickwads round here. Here’s my number.” She pulls her phone from her back pocket, reading off her digits as I tap it into my contacts. “When you’re bored with Lucy and her fake friends, call me. I’m usually at the Black Crow.”
“Black Crow?”
“It’s a bar in town. They have live bands on at weekends.”
“Sounds good.” I mull over my plans for the rest of the shift. The club with live music or the lake, with guaranteed sex with Jesse. Tough choice, especially considering I’m desperate for the latter. Not necessarily with Jesse. Anyone will do. If only to stop me fantasising about Kane.
Despite Yaz’s depressing mood all day, I can’t stop my grin when Kane lifts his shades, giving me a smile with his kind eyes. He waits patiently for me in his black pickup, tapping his palm against the steering wheel as Pink Floyd blasts from the speaker.
“See you tomorrow, Letty,” Lucy shouts, giving me a wave. The Bennett brothers drive by in their Land Rover, slowing down for her to climb in, then speed off again.
I open the door to the black Ranger, the smell of him mixed with oil hitting me. His kind eyes turn to ice. His jaw tenses and there’s a twitch in his lip that I’ve never noticed before.
“What’s wrong?” I follow his glare, shooting daggers at the Bennett brothers speeding out of the car park.
“Nothing. Buckle up.” His lip twitches again as he shifts into gear. “Good day?”
I shrug my shoulders. “It was okay. I made a few friends.”
He glances my way with a snarl. “Not that girl who got in the Bennett’s car, I hope?”
“Lucy has been nice to me, but I made friends with a few other girls, too.”
He relaxes, shifting in his leather seat. “Good. I don’t want you associating with that group. You hear?”
“YesDad. I hear you loud and clear. You don’t need to keep going on.” I tut and stare out the window.
He breaks sharply at the lights. With his rough hands, he grips my face in a vise, his fingers digging into my cheeks as he swivels my head to look at him. “While you’re living with me, I am your fucking dad, and you’ll do well to remember that.” He lets me go, only to shift into gear and press on the accelerator. “Nix with the attitude.”
“Okay. Soz.” I roll my eyes.
He side eyes me. “Soz what?”
“Da-ad.” I draw the word out, emphasising each syllable.
He chuckles. “That wasn’t what I meant, but it will do.” His backside lifts off the seat as he slips his fingers into his back pocket, then pulls out a key. “Here. You’re gonna need your own key.”
“I thought you didn’t lock the door.Nobody dare touch my stuff and if they do, Belle will have their hand off.” I mock his voice.
“I lock up at night.” He shifts gears, turning onto a country lane, muttering, “Perhaps I should lock you up at night.” His hand holds out the key. “You want the key or not?”
“Yes.” I giggle, reaching for it, but he moves his hand from my grasp, then opens his palm, letting me take it. “Thank you.”
We pull into the drive. My mini isn’t where I left her. I pull my eyebrows together as I scan the grounds. “Where’s my car?”
“She’s in the garage. She needed taking care of.” He gives me another sideways glance with a smirk.
She isn’t the only one.“Thanks, but I could have fixed her.”
