Lexi’s smile seemed forced as she bypassed the obvious line the man had thrown her way and asked for his order.
“I’ll have my usual. And put a boost in that sweet ass of yours. I’m really hungry today.”
Clearly biting her tongue, Lexi told the douchebag she’d have his order out as soon as possible.
Asshole.Trevor turned back in his seat.
“What a dick,” Derek bit out. “I can’t believe she let him get away with that ‘sweet ass’ comment.”
Trevor would be happy to let Rob know what he thought about it, but it wasn’t his place. He had no claim over Lexi.
Not yet.
“She seemed to handle herself all right,” Derek pointed out. But his gaze was still on the other guy. “Working here, she probably gets hit on all the time.”
Jealousy and anger boiled together as Trevor thought of Lexi having to deal with jerks like that on a regular basis.
“Here she comes,” Derek whispered. When his focus returned to Trevor, he cringed. “Jesus, man. You’d better get that look off your face before she sees you, or you’ll scare the shit out of her.”
“Here ya go, guys.” Lexi returned right on cue. “Careful. The plates just came out of the dishwasher, so they’re pretty hot.” She glanced to Trevor as she sat both meals on the table. “Hey, are you okay? You look upset.”
His unexplained need to protect this woman prevented him from keeping quiet. “Who’s the blond?” he asked a little too harshly.
Derek cleared his throat, and Trevor knew his friend was telling him to calm down.
He’s right, Matthews. Cool your shit.
“Who, Rob?” Lexi looked a little surprised at the intensity in his voice. “He’s just a customer. Why?’
Those beautiful blue eyes drew him in so deep, Trevor knew he could get lost in them forever if she’d let him. “Sorry. I know it’s not my place, and we weren’t trying to eavesdrop, but—”
“You heard that, huh?” Understanding filled her eyes.
“I think everyone in a two-block radius probably heard that jackass,” Derek muttered.
“Yeah,” Lexi agreed. “He can be pretty loud sometimes.”
“Again, not really my business, but you seemed pretty uncomfortable around him.” Trevor hated the man for that alone.
Lexi’s gaze slid to where Rob was sitting before coming back to Trevor. “It’s fine. He’s a shameless flirt, but he’s harmless.”
“How often does he come in here? Is he always alone, or does he ever bring anyone else with him?”
Those gorgeous eyes lit up with her smile. “You know, when you two first started coming here, I pegged you as military. Now, you’ve got me wondering if you’re cops.”
That made Trevor grin a little. “Pretty and perceptive. We’re not cops, but we are both former military.”
Pretty and perceptive?
He looked for any signs thathe’dmade her uncomfortable, but the only change was a slight, pinkish hue beginning to tint her pale cheeks. And God, if that wasn’t a turn-on.
Still smiling, she said, “I’m not worried about Rob. He’s loud and obnoxious, for sure, but...other than asking me out every time he comes in here, he’s never done anything but annoy me.”
A concoction of jealousy and concern began to swirl around in Trevor’s gut. “You sure? Because I”—he glanced at Derek—“wecould say something to him, if you’d like.”
She laughed a little harder. “What are you going to do, warn him away from me like a big brother or something?”
Before he knew it, Trevor heard himself say, “Or something.”
