Page 44 of Smooth Sailing

Pete turned to her, and he did not level Biker Grandpa! eyes on her.

He leveled Concerned Dad So You Better Listen to Me! eyes on her and replied, “You really gotta eat.”

Suzette tentatively moved even closer.

I was seeing this might just work on one level, that being Pete being pushier than I was comfortable with and doing it in a way Suzette apparently responded to.

I still had concerns about his age and his ultimate reason for being here.

Suzette’s protection.

Though, as she watched him familiarize himself with my kitchen, it was clear Suzette didn’t have those same concerns.

“Babe,” Hugger called.

Don’t ask me how I knew he was referring to me with that word, except for the fact he was likely not calling to Suzette, and definitely not Big Petey, but I turned my attention to him to see he was indeed referring to me.

“We goin’ or what?” he asked.

“Right. We’re going,” I answered. I looked between Big Petey and Suzette. “You guys good?”

“We’re golden. Go. See you later for tacos,” Pete replied.

Suzette just nodded to me.

I smiled at them both, went to the dining room, grabbed my tote and headed out with Hugger at my heels.

When we were at the elevator, I reached and tugged at his tee at the side of his abs.

Slowly, his head dropped to look at my fingers on his tee.

I let it go.

Equally slowly, he lifted his head and looked at me.

“Um…”

I didn’t know how to begin.

I plowed forward anyway.

“I’m not sure about Big Petey.”

“What aren’t you sure about?”

“Um…” I repeated but said no more.

“Spit it out, Diana,” he ordered.

“He’s not young.”

“Impressed with your powers of perception.”

I squinted irritably at him.

Hugger spoke. “Stop worrying. He can take care of business. Ink and Driver are out there with Muzzle keepin’ an eye on shit. And we hacked into the complex cameras last night.”

I stopped squinting so I could stare.

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