Page 1 of Tell Me No Lies

1

OOPS

TATE

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"WHAT ARE YOUR plans for later tonight, baby girl?" The rough voice that carries in from the lobby of my shop is laced with suggestion, and there’s not a doubt in my mind it’s directed at the same woman who’s been wreaking havoc on my life since the day she tried to unload fifty thousand volts into my nutsack.

I should never have hired Piper to work the front desk of my shop, but the offer fell right out of my mouth. I couldn’t stop myself from finding a way to insert her directly into my life. The same way I can’t stop myself from leaving my office door open all day so I can listen to her laugh as she interacts with customers. Or how I keep finding my way to the front desk, looking for ways to aggravate her so she can be just as fucking miserable with this situation as I am.

Gritting my teeth, I do my best to tune out the conversation happening only a few yards away. Piper can handle herself better than any woman I’ve ever met, but the sound of the giggly, fake laugh she lets out is like fucking nails on a chalkboard. It’s not the real her, and I hate hearing her pretend it is. "You're so funny. Let me get you your receipt." She’s blowing him off, but she’s being remarkably nice about it.

As much as I hate the fakeness, I’m kind of proud of her for being so calm. Glad one of us is.

Forcing my fingers to relax on the pen in my hand, I go back to the invoices in front of me, pretending not to listen as the customer continues trying to shoot his shot. I’ve heard this countless times over the two weeks she’s worked for me, and every one of them has pissed me off.

Because the men on the other side of that counter can have her. I can’t. I sealed my fate when I stupidly hired her on, putting myself in a position of power over her. And I can’t abuse that. The women who work for me are here because they know I will protect them. That I’m different than the men my brothers and I saved them from. Crossing the line with Piper will make them think I’m not.

And maybe they’d be right.

"You still didn't answer me, sweetheart." The guy’s not giving up, making it evident he’s never gotten the bartender brushoff before. Or maybe he has, and he ignored it exactly the same way he’s ignoring the one Piper’s dishing out now. "How about I take you out for a nice dinner tonight? Maybe afterward we can go back to my place. Enjoy a little alone time."

The fuck?

I'm on my feet and across the room before I realize it, fists clenching at my sides. I stop just inside the door, dragging in a slow breath as I remind myself of who that prick is dealing with. Piper’s a big girl. She can take care of herself. I know. I've seen it.

But I’ve forbidden her from bringing weapons of any sort into my auto shop, so that might slow her down a little.

"I bet you say that to all the girls." She does another one of those laughs, the high-pitched giggle grating on my fraying nerves. "Here's your receipt. Someone should be pulling your truck up out front any second." Once again she blatantly ignores his offer and I start to relax a little, rolling my shoulders as I turn to my overflowing desk, gearing up to finish the task I started.

"You still didn't answer my question." The dick’s voice is a little lower now. Harsher. "Give me your address so I know where to pick you up."

"I'm gonna give you to the count of three to let me go." All the light easiness is gone from Piper's voice now. It carries a threatening edge I've seen her back up on more than one occasion. Watching her take a guy to the floor of The Cellar, the bar where she used to work, was both terrifying and hot as fuck.

While I'm not opposed to witnessing her take another prick down, Piper’s current arsenal is limited to ink pens and scissors. And I don't necessarily want to clean arterial spray from the shop’s lobby when she stabs him in the neck, so I'm already moving when I hear his response.

"Or what?"

It takes me five seconds to finish closing the distance between my office and the desk. Neither Piper nor the asshat who has her wrist gripped in one meaty fist seems to notice me coming.

Good.

I grab Piper by the back of her shirt, using the hold to wrestle her away from him before plastering her against my side. The second she’s out of the way, I reach across the counter to grab the fucker who's never heard the word no by the hair on the top of his head, and slam his face into the countertop between us. I pin him there, fingers pulling tighter as he starts to struggle. Leaning down, I pitch my voice so the rest of the customers waiting for their cars won't hear. "Or I cut your dick off and feed it to you with a fucking spoon."

"Tate? What the fuck?" Piper scoffs, glaring at me as she tries to wiggle free of my hold.

I hold her tighter, keeping her in place as I narrow my eyes on the asshole who just lost the privilege of being welcome in my shop. “Do you understand me?”

"I understand." The answer is distorted because his face is smashed against the solid surface so hard his lips are shoved to one side, but it's good enough for me.

I release him, shoving Piper behind my back as I do, just in case she tries to take things to the next level. My newest employee is good at her job, but also high strung and overly reactive. And I don't necessarily want to bail her out of jail for going over the desk and jumping on this man like a spider monkey.

Especially since I want to be the one to plant a fist in the center of his face if the opportunity for violence arises.

"Get the fuck out." I jerk my chin toward the door, afraid to take my hand off Piper. "And don't come back."

The man rubs the jaw that will be sporting a decent bruise pretty soon. He tries to glare at Piper, but she's out of sight.

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