Page 42 of Pulse

“Dude, that burger is seconds from going up in flames.”

Pulse jolted. “Shit.” He scooped the charred burger no one would dare eat and tossed it over the grill. Ray would sniff it out in a few minutes, and that dog wouldn’t mind a crunchy burger.

“Here, take this.” Liv handed the platter off to her man. “She looks ready to bolt. I’m going to go say hi and get her a drink to loosen up.” She darted off to intercept Talia.

Pulse blew out a breath. At least he had a few more minutes to get himself together before he had to talk to her.

“See something you like there, brother?” Spec asked, waggling his eyebrows.

“What?” Pulse flipped the last of the burgers, then shut the grill. “What are you running your mouth about?”

“I’m talking about how that pretty lawyer with the banging body makes your eyes bug, and your tongue loll out like a cartoon character.”

His lolling tongue was the least of his problems. His dick getting rock hard every time she came within one hundred yards of him was the real issue.

The stitches on her forehead might as well have been a beacon flashing in the night. They were there because of him. Because someone thought it’d be a good idea to fuck with her to get at him.

That thought deflated his cock instantly and had his blood boiling with a rage he hadn’t felt since he’d watched Camila’s lifeless body crumple to a dirty warehouse floor.

“Fuck off,” he snapped at Spec. “She’s the club’s attorney. Seeing her reminds me I was arrested on bullshit charges last weekend.”

Spec sniffed the air. “Speaking of bullshit.” He snickered at himself. “Oh, here they come.” He leaned in and mock whispered, “Want me to find out what she thinks about you? I could pass you a note later on.”

Pulse scooped the first of the finished burgers off the grill. “I want you to fuck right off,” he said as he slid it onto a bun and then went back for another.

Of course, his comment only made Spec laugh. “Hey there, Talia,” he said as she and Liv reached them.

Liv had her arm linked through Talia’s and appeared to be tugging her along as though to her doom.

“Glad you could join us.” Spec slapped him on the back. “Pulse here told us more about your accident the other night. Glad my man was working and could help take care of you.”

For fuck’s sake. Spec had no idea the minefield he’d just stepped in.

Talia’s eyes bugged wide as they locked on him. He gave her one subtle shake of his head. Fuck no, he hadn’t shared any details of her accident. At least not anything that would land him in a body bag.

She blinked. “Oh, uh, yeah. That was a rough night.”

“Are you feeling okay?” Liv asked.

“Yes. Feeling great. Back to normal.” She reached up to the stitches on her forehead. “Well, almost normal. Still have another week of these, unfortunately.”

“They’re barely noticeable,” Liv said, which made Talia snort. “Okay, they’re noticeable, but it looks like it’s healing well.”

“Uh, yeah,” she said, touching it again. “I’m trying to take good care of it so it doesn’t scar too badly.”

Liv’s expression turned sympathetic. “Some decent concealer and no one will ever notice it.”

“Talia, you look like you could use a drink.” Spec slid his free arm around his woman’s waist. “I’ll grab you one after I drop these burgers at the food table. Anything in particular you want?”

“Oh, thanks, but I’m good. Liv already offered.”

“Ah, come on,” Spec said. “You had a shit week, and it’s a party. Live it up.”

Talia chuckled and sighed. “Okay, I guess I could use a drink or ten. Beer works for me, thanks.”

Liv wrinkled her nose, but Pulse nearly swooned. There was something super sexy about a woman drinking from a long-neck bottle.

“Let’s go grab one for her, babe,” Spec said as he guided Liv toward the outdoor bar they’d set up.

---