Page 87 of Fighting a Riot

Punc narrowed his blue eyes. “At least I don’t have my life tied up in a fuckin’ gadget some asshole just walked off with.”

“But you kinda do, since you’re lookin’ high and low in this kitchen.”

Punc groaned, but cut it short and looked at something behind Yak.

“I’m glad I’m not the only one who finds his logic annoying,” Nora said.

Yak turned and understood why Punc’s groan was short-lived. Nora had on a silver satin camisole trimmed with black lace. The matching shorts weren’t that short, but they damn sure made a man yearn to touch them.

“What are you doing down here?” he asked. He noticed his voice had gone husky and he cleared his throat.

“I wanted to tell you I’m good with just soup or something. I’m not that hungry, but I know you’re gonna insist on feeding me.”

Yak nodded. “Got it. Please, Nora, go upstairs before anyone else sees you.”

She glanced down at herself and a faint blush crept up her cheeks. “Sorry, I wasn’t thinking. I saw your phone on the nightstand and knew I couldn’t text you, so…”

“It’s cool, babe. I’ll be up in a minute.”

She left and Punc let out a sigh. “How long before I get to close down Platinum’s? Maybe I’ll find a woman like her—”

“Shut the hell up, Punc,” Yak groaned.

Punc chuckled. “You find my flip phone, I’ll be in my room.”

“You’re giving up? Where’d you see it last?”

He shook his head. “It’s gotta be around here somewhere. Know I had it when I left this afternoon. Hell, Tundra stormed inside Platinum’s just before I left and made Prime drop his phone when he plowed into me from behind.”

“You liked that, huh?”

Punc rolled his eyes. “No, motherfucker. I remember because my first thought was I didn’t have that problem with the flip-phone since it fits perfect in my back pocket.”

“But you don’t remember using it since you came back?”

“No.”

Yak grabbed a can of soup from a cabinet. “Maybe it fell out on your ride back here.”

Punc shook his head. “Anything’s possible, but it’s never happened before. I’ll keep looking.”

Yak saw Rage heading to the back door. “Yo, Rage! You drive your Explorer here tonight or your bike?”

“Bike. Need to get Lisa to take the Explorer back to my place tomorrow.”

A smile split Yak’s lips. “You willing to let me use it tonight? I’ll bring it back with a full tank of gas.”

Rage gave a him a healthy dose of side-eye before he shrugged. “Guess that’s cool. Don’t know why you need it. That fuckin’ hammock stand won’t fit in it.”

Yak chuckled. “Believe me, I know that. It’s all good, I just can’t do this with a car or a bike.”

Rage pulled a set of keys from his pocket. “Here you go. Don’t fuck up my ride.”

Nora

Yak strolled into the room carrying a tray with two bowls of soup. He kicked the door closed behind him.

I scooted up in bed. “What was Punc looking for?”

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