Page 43 of Fast and Dirty

“That doesn’t mean you can’t learn,” he tilts his head. “You do have a degree if I recall.”

“Thanks, but you’re just being nice. But really, you barely know me save for the fact I run from weddings, fall into bed with the nearest mechanic and make ovens explode.”

“I know enough to know I want to know more,” he levels me with those eyes. Like really pins me with his stare making me feel paralyzed in the best way. He’s serious, and it makes me feel afraid to move or even breathe. Fortunately he fills the intense energy between us for me. “So how about you come home with me tonight?”

Finally…something I don’t have to think about.

“West,”I whisper, gently skating my fingertips over the skin of his shoulder which makes him twitch…then jerk…then jump and scream.

“Aggggghhh!”

“Gaahhhhh!!” I scream as West throws his body over top of mine, pinning me to the bed by my wrists.

“I got you mother fucker! Guaaaard!”

I don’t have time to be confused about that last part. My heart is jackhammering in my chest as I squeeze my eyes shut and plead for my life. “I’m sorry! I’m sorry!”

“Kira?” He pants, his voice exploding with disbelief.

I squint one eye open. “Yeah?” I squeak, as I feel something brush against my leg, it’s warmth fusing through my leggings. Fun fact: West sleeps naked.

“Holy fucking shit,” he blows out a breath and eases his grip on my wrists. “Fuck, are you alright?” He looks me up anddown for what, I don’t know - maybe to see if he scared my spirit from my body.

“Yeah, all good,” I try to assure him but I’m pretty sure one could see my heart threatening to explode through his autoshop t-shirt.

“Holy shit, don’t sneak up on a sleeping man like that,” He huffs, shifting himself off of me and collapsing on his pillow facing me.

“Excuse me? I did not sneak. I’ve been here all night and gently woke you like you asked me to when it was time for me to go to work,” I remind him, my voice just a hint reproachful.

He lets out a long breath through his nostrils, I can tell feeling apologetic. “That’s right,” he husks out, rubbing a hand over his eyes. “I’m sorry. Come here and cuddle for a minute,” he holds his arm out, inviting me into the warm nook of his shirtless embrace. If this is his language for apologizing he can fuck up all he wants. “Just give me a minute to wake up and we’ll get coffee going.”

I like this, waking up with somebody and feeling so content and secure you actually don’t want to leave the bed. But I have to find a way to make a living and with the coffee hut opening at such an ungodly hour, it’s still dark out and West insisted on driving me over.

After my heartrate slows down however, the events of the last few minutes catch up to me and I prop up, looking down at him.

“West?” My voice is slightly higher than pillow talk volume.

“Hmm?”

“When I woke you up earlier, did you yell something about aguard?”

17

KIRA

The man freezes. He takes in a deep breath and licks his lips. His eyes dart around in the dark. Then a shroud of defeat falls over his features as he lets out a sigh.

“Yeah… I spent some time… in jail.”

So I’ve been fucking an ex-con.

West was in jail.

He did time.

He’s not a bad guy, right? I mean, yeah, he’s got that bad boy je ne se quoi, and it’s one thing I dig about him, but he’s not an actual bad guy right?

“Kira?” He prompts me out of my inner spiral and I glance up at him with raised eyebrows. I’m definitely overcompensating, trying to look unbothered and even a little amused. I’m sure he can tell I’m trying not to freak out. “Are you okay?” He tilts his head with his eyebrows stitched inward. “You’re about to bolt, aren’t you?”

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