Page 9 of Loco

I balked at his commanding tone. I wasn’t used to explaining myself to anyone. I’d worked too damned hard for my independence. I could tell that he was suspicious of and unhappy with my stubbornness. Well what did he expect? I didn’t owe him anything. “Um, my job?” I responded in a way that showed him that I wasn’t happy either.

His scowl deepened as he narrowed his eyes on me, searching for something. “You know that piece of shit outside?”

I shook my head and frowned. “I don’t work for that piece of shit outside. I work for his grandmother. This is her house.”

“Why the fuck was he all over you?”

“You mean when he was attacking me? He didn’t appreciate me interfering with the situation between him and his grandmother. He was demanding money. I was running to a neighbor to call for help. Before today I never saw him.”

He released a resigned breath, stepped back, and ran a hand through is hair. “He hurt her?”

I shrugged. “She said no, but she was on the floor when I got here.”

He nodded slowly. “He won’t hurt her again.”

He spoke with the kind of finality and assurance that worried me. “You didn’t kill him, did you?”

He snorted and crossed his arms over his massive chest. My eyes were drawn to the muscles and thick veins in his arms. The man was really built, and now that I didn’t feel threatened by him, I took the time to appreciate his hard exterior.

“Think I’d still be standing here if I had?”

I was pretty certain that Loco wasn’t the kind of man who ran away, especially from trouble. He looked too tough for that. Too hard. And definitely a whole lot reckless. Recalling his earlier words, I asked, “So, what was your business with Russ?”

He shook his head. “Can’t tell you that, darlin’. Club business.”

I rolled my eyes. “I need to finish work.” The problem was that Loco still blocked the doorway.

“Did you just roll your eyes at me?” There was humor in his voice, and I could tell that he was trying not to grin.

“It’s a bad habit of mine,” I admitted, smiling. “Not my only one.”

“I’ll bet.” He uncrossed his arms, his eyes flickering to my breasts before coming back up to meet mine. “When do you get done work?”

“After I clean Owen’s fountain I’m done for the day.”

“Owen?” he frowned.

“The cat.”

He nodded. “Okay. Grab a bite with me.”

“Is that a question?” I laughed.

“Don’t ask,” he admitted.

I wasn’t sure that I liked his arrogant attitude. In fact, I knew that I didn’t. The man was too sure of himself. I bet he’d never had a woman turn him down. All he had to do was give them a sexy look, the one that promised them a night to remember, and he had them eating out of the palm of his hand. A sound of pure exasperation escaped me as I realized that I was no different from those women. However, I made sure that my words didn’t convey what I was feeling.

Besides, his mood swings were giving me whiplash.

“You come in here stomping and grunting and snarling like a mad dog, almost making me pee myself, and now you want to go on a date?”

The corner of his mouth lifted in a panty-dropping smirk that got mine wet. Damn him! Why did he have to be so attractive?

“Not a date, darlin’. Don’t date. But I have to eat.” He shrugged. “Don’t like eating alone.”

Oh. Suddenly I felt deflated. He didn’t want to spend time with me. He just didn’t like eating alone. “I’m sure you don’t have any trouble finding company—”

“I don’t,” he interrupted in his cocky tone, his eyes dancing with humor. “In or out of bed.”

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