Page 37 of The Pucking Wrong Man

That included men so pretty you got an ache in your belly just from looking at them.

“No—” I said sharply, jerking out of his grasp. His face fell.

“Thank you,” I quickly added. “But I promise I’m fine. I can take care of myself.”

He didn’t look like he believed me, and there was a frown on his full lips as he took a step away, creating a distance I instantly wanted to fill.

“I’m sure you can, baby girl,” his voice a low, soothing murmur. “But it’s okay to have some help every once in a while.”

Oooh, this man was dangerous. One “baby girl” in that smooth southern drawl, and I was rethinking my whole life...that’s how powerful it was.

Especially that word coming from a man who looked like he knew how to take care of someone. His “daddy” energy was off the charts. It made me want to curl up against him and feel him wrap those muscled arms around me protectively.

I snorted to myself—I’d definitely never had that thought before.

Over his shoulder I could see Poison peeking out of the washroom—something she never did—her lips curled up over her teeth in a way that spelled trouble for me. I stepped away, even though I had to force myself to do it.

“I need to get back to work,” I said, skirting a table as I intentionally went the long way around him, just so I could avoid his intoxicating orbit.

His gaze was a caress as I walked, and I swore I could feel it weaving across my skin.

I wanted to soak it up, keep it with me forever.

Besides staying away from men, I also was a big believer in not letting them know they were getting to you.

Michael had made me a master at that.

Just thinking of him was enough to throw a bucket of water on the fluttery, glittery feeling Camden had given me. Poison’s glare of disapproval made sure it didn’t return.

At least while I was washing dishes.

But when I saw Camden hadn’t left the diner, those feelings came rushing right back.

Men were trouble.

But the question was, what kind of trouble was Camden James?

Even after I left work for the night, I couldn’t stop thinking about him.

And just for the night, I didn’t try.

CHAPTER 7

CAMDEN

She was trying to blow me off. It was cute, really, that she thought she could do that.

There was nothing cute about the way she was limping, though.

I turned so my back was facing the kitchen as soon as Anastasia disappeared behind the swinging doors and put all my attention on the table of assholes.

When they looked up at me, the expression on their faces changed from amused to wary.

“Did you fucking do that on purpose?” I snarled.

“Do what on purpose?” one of them asked, an edge of fear to his face. He had a patch of hair above his upper lip that he was obviously trying to grow in. It looked like a caterpillar at this stage, though.

“Don’t play dumb with me,” I warned.

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