“A shift?” My eyes widen. “Oh no. You don’t have some elaborate, last-ditch effort—”
“You’re starting to insult me,” he grumbles.
I bet I am. Cash Noire doesn’t chase anyone.
“My apologies.” I stifle a laugh but lean forward to convey the gravity of my next request. “Before the shift, can we eat?”
“No,” he says plainly.
A hangry beast pounds her chest inside me. “You might actually be the worst date I’ve had in a long time.”
I can’t sayeverbecause I did actually have to kill one of them. Although we were having dinner at the time, so …
Cash claps his hands, more entertained than he should be. “Because I won’t feed you?”
“Yes.” I lift my dwindling cocktail. “I’m starving because I was lured here under the pretense of a meal, and I’m surviving on a depleted cherry stash, sugar, and liquor.”
“Sounds like the beginning of an amazing date,” he quips before appeasing me. “You’ll be fed in the near future.”
“When the food arrives, I’ll take back the worst-date and one-of-those-guys remarks.”
“Tough crowd.” He checks his cell again and moves closer, like he’s sharing a secret. “I think we’ll be even soon, but in case I misread things, you have my apologies too.”
His eyes flit to the far corner over my shoulder, but when I follow his line of sight, I don’t find anything out of the ordinary.
Until an alarm sounds. I reach for my gun, and Cash grips my shoulder.
“Well, fuck. Four minutes,” he mutters.
AXEL
Me: You’re late. Everyone is waiting for you.
Cash: Oh, sorry about that. I meant to mention that I wasn’t coming.
Me: Oh, I meant to mention, that’s not an option. Thought it was clear in the word *mandatory.*
Cash: True. You’d think that would register, but when faced with a beautiful woman, all other plans are overshadowed by my dick. Big dick. Big shadow. So, I’ll take a rain check.
Me: Good. I’m sure she’ll wait up.
Cash: Another misunderstanding. The rain check was for family dinner.
Me: I require very little. And this isn’t just dinner. It’s game night.
Cash: I’m having flashbacks to my teen years when you used to make us play Monopoly and Yahtzee. Always a cockblock.
Me: Same principle as it was with Jax and Rena. Remy looks forward to this all week.
Cash: All right. I think I can knock this one out pretty fast. We’re already having drinks. I’ll make it for game night.
Cash: Save some food for me. All I’ve had is a few cherries.
Me: Cherries? Who the fuck are you having drinks with, Cash?
Cash: I don’t think I caught her name. Because damn! I’ve had my eyes and hands on other things.
Me: Where are you?
