Page 18 of Jag

“Please, in your dreams.”

“Oh, you have been, but I think I’m going to enjoying reality a whole lot more. And so will you.” I unfolded myself out of the car and leaned down so I could see River’s face. “You need to go home and think about what you want. You’ve pushed buttons I didn’t know I had. Now I’m over it. We are going to explore what the hell this is between us.”

“I don’t have to think. There is nothing between us. Besides, I don’t want any of this. A relationship wasn’t in my plans!”

“Yeah, well tough shit. Plans change. Drive safe.” I slammed the car door shut before she could say anything else. Before I could walk around the car, the window rolled down.

“You really are an asshole, Dom.”

I paused. She really was working toward pissing me off. But instead of letting it show, I turned my head in her direction and grinned. “Yeah, but, sweetheart, I’m going to be your asshole,” I said and bent enough to wink at her before I walked around the car toward the bar.

“Seriously, get your meds adjusted!” River yelled out of the driver’s side window.

“Sure thing,” I said over my shoulder, then stopped and looked back at her. “And, sweetheart, would you let me get inside before you pull out—I’d like to see where this is going between us and I’m not sure how many more times I can avoid your attempts to run over me.” I continued to the door as Coast stepped out in time to hear River yell jerk out the window before she peeled out of the lot.

With the look on Coast’s face, I threw my head back and laughed.

“You okay? I came to check if everything was alright out here.”

“Couldn’t be better, brother. Let’s go inside, I’m suddenly hungry.” I slapped Coast on the back and pulled the door open, feeling more like myself than I had in a long time.

Chapter Six

River

“Ugh, that man!Go home and think about it. Whatever. Like one hot as hell kiss was a reason to dive into a relationship,” I said as I finally was able to move my car up to the fast food restaurant’s speaker and place my order. I’d only been in line for twenty minutes, which was another thing to blame on the jerk.

Leaving the drive-thru lane, I reached in the bag and snatched a fry, shoving it in my mouth before I pulled out onto main street. As I drove down the road, I shoveled more fries in my mouth to curb my growling stomach, but the food did nothing for my temper. I wasn’t sure there was anything that could.

I scrunched the top of the bag together and push down a little more on the gas pedal. I planned to stop at the bakery, pick up dessert for dinner with my dad, then go home and eat. Putting Dom and his kiss behind me.

Reaching the block where the bakery was located, I missed the open spot to park in the front. So I circled the block with the hope it would remain available. When I saw it was still empty, I pulled my car up beside the car in front of the free spot and placed my car in reverse. I hated parallel parking, but I could admit that a small car was an advantage. It made it easier to pull into the small spaces.

I turned the wheel and hit the gas to back into the spot. No sooner than I had the car halfway into the spot, I heard the thump as something hit my car and I slammed on the brakes.

I looked over my shoulder when I heard several voices yell, “What the fucking hell,” as a few men dove for the sidewalk. I finished parking my car, took a deep breath, and opened my door and eased out.

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