Page 14 of Out of Control

“To be clear, this is not a fucking date. Even if I buy you breakfast, I wouldn’t try to date you.”

It felt like a slap to the face. What the hell was so wrong with me that he had to be so crystal-fricking-clear about it to not even bother displaying some tact? It wasn’t like I wanted to date him either. I didn’t ask for him to follow me around. He was the one who wanted me to talk to him and answer his questions in the first place. But I hadn’t been rude enough to say anything that outright callous.

It looked like there were new rules to the game. No more Ms. Nice Girlie.

I strode past him, opening the door to the little Mom & Pop Diner where I spent most mornings for the last two weeks I’d been in town. The door was heavy and liked to stick, but I didn’t bother waiting for Blake to make it through all the way, releasing my hold when he was halfway inside so the door smashed him in the shoulder.

It wasn’t quite the ass-kicking I wanted to give, but it wouldn’t get me arrested so I’d have to settle.

I seated myself in a round family booth in the back corner so that I could keep an eye on the door without sacrificing comfort. Blake followed me over, rubbing his shoulder where the door hit him. Served him right. He scooted around the table until he was sitting right next to me, but I didn’t get a chance to complain about his proximity before we were interrupted.

“Athena!”

I turned to the voice, seeing Mary, the Mom half of the ownership approaching with a little notepad. “Welcome back! Can I bring you a coffee and omelet with bacon?” I nodded to Mary with a smile.

Lucas Blaketskeddisapprovingly.

“Something wrong with my order?”

“No, nothing at all.”

“Good. Mind your own damn business then.”

“That’s just a lot of saturated fats. Wouldn’t you like to substitute an egg-white omelet or turkey bacon instead? Or both? Your body is a temple, you should treat it kindly.”

The smile that still rested on my lips melted into a glare.

“Well. My body is a temple worshipping at the feet of non-shitty food, so I’ll keep my order just as it is, thank you. I guess you know what he’s ordering,” I rolled my eyes to Mary, who just hid her smile and headed back behind the counter. My figure was just fine, fatty bacon, whole eggs, and all. If he thought he could body-shame me, he had another thing coming. “Is that how you keep your trim figure? Eating low-cal, low-fat foods?”

Despite my biting words, his figure was…perfectly adequate. Very exactly manufactured through diet and exercise to achieve the ideal results.

He knew it and didn’t rise to my bait. “Yes and no. I don’t count calories, but I pay attention to what I eat. Nutritional guidelines exist for a reason.”

Hell.

“Are you always such a rule follower?”

“Yes. Rule breaking leads to bad things, and I don’t want to be responsible for people getting hurt.” He paused for a beat. “I’m supposed to be the one asking questions.”

“Ask away.”

“Your name is Athena Kane?” I nodded. “How do you know the Morellis?”

“Who says I do?” Wow, he was getting frustrated right off the bat. This was going to be fun.

“Why did Leo Lombardi want to kill you?”

He’s embarrassed that I got the best of him.

“He’s just a little annoyed. And he thinks I’m someone I’m not. He’ll get over it eventually.” If he ever saw me again.

“What were you doing at the airport?”

Illegally tracking Antonio’s location to get the inside scoop on him before he met with Leo Lombardi.

“Picking up someone.” It wasn’t a lie. I wanted to flirt with Antonio and try to pick him up so I could grill him for information…in a public place this time, rather than an apartment like I’d tried with Leo.

“That’s a lie. You don’t pick someone up inside the terminal after 9/11. You have to wait out in the baggage area.”

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