Page 18 of Grind
"It is reallygood to see you, Connor," her foot grazes mine under the table. Christ.
"Can we get out of here?"There is an edge to my voice that sounds almost pleading, even to my own ears. That’s not why I came here. Well, not entirely.
Her expression softens. "Unfortunately not."
She looks backat the clock. "In fact, I have to get back to work. I'm late—and I have another two hours on shift."
"I'll wait."Leaning back, I cross my arms over my chest. My brothers call me stubborn. I prefer focused.
She laughs,but it fades as her eyes skim over me. "Look, Connor, it's really great to see you, but…"
"But what?"I lean forward, searching her face. Have I read this whole thing wrong?
Her eyes move backto the book. "I have an exam in the morning."
"At eight in the morning."She looks at the clock again. Heavy emphasis on the eight. "And I’ve already been going today since breakfast."
I run the numbers.She pulled basically a fucking fourteen-hour day and will be lucky to get five hours of sleep before she has to take a huge exam. On what? I look at the book. Constitutional law? Here I am, sitting like a Neanderthal. All I can think of is wanting her in my bed.
That's notthe kind of selfish asshole she needs more of in her life.
Again,that urge to protect her hits me so strongly it’s almost all I can feel. I’m better than this. Better than Stacy. So much money flows into Intrigue every night. Money I could give to Ava. Money she could use to quit her shit job and buy her the time she needs to become a great goddamn lawyer and destroy the Stacys. A worthy investment. Not Brooks, though. There won’t be much left of him to destroy when I’m done.
"No pressure.I’m going to have a coffee." I grin as I pick up the floppy plastic menu and glance down. You can barely read the words under the coffee stains. "Maybe some scrambled eggs? And then when your shift is over, I am going to make sure that you get home safely." I’ve seen enough of that spark in her eye to know that offering to pay her way through school right now will get me tossed out of the diner.
She regardsme for a long time, several beats passing. God. Did I cross a line already? Try to impose myself too soon?
She gives a quick nod,as if she made some decision. "That is incredibly thoughtful. I would love that. But can I make one suggestion?"
"Anything."
I mean it, too. Right now, I’d do anything she asked me.
Her voice dropsto a mock serious, low tone, "I would skip the eggs if I were you."
The next hour flies by.The food isn't terrible, but I'm only half paying attention to what I put in my mouth. Ava bustles around, serving customers, cleaning up and stocking the tables effortlessly. I appreciate her curves, the strain of her breasts against her shirt, and the way her long dark hair brushes against her back as she moves.
Fuck.
My eyes are on her when a man comes up to my table and clears his throat. I look up and it takes me a second to register. Bull, one of the big neighborhood guys that occasionally does work for my father. For my brother, Ronan, I correct. Maybe I should say for us.
“Mr. Doyle,” he sounds uncertain, glancing around. Bull’s a big guy, six-five easy with tattoos, leather, and chains straight out of a biker gang. Clearly he can’t figure out why I’m here.
Concerned I’m here for him. Jesus. Shows how distracted I was that I hadn’t noticed him earlier.
His voice booms in the rickety little diner, and Ava glances over her shoulder more than once.
“Hey, Bull,” I stand to shake his hand. It feels like I’m conducting business out of the diner, the way my father does at the Kildare. Christ.
He makes small talk for a few minutes, and then turns like he’s going to leave. His eyes drag around the diner. “You need anything, sir? You good?”
No, Bull. I don’t need you to break anyone’s legs tonight, I say silently. My eyes take in the street outside first, though. That Stacy kid was around? I’d ask Bull here to join us for a little walk.
“I’m good, just needed a break from the club.”
This seems to resonate with Bull, who lets out a huff of amusement. “I hear you, boss. Not exactly my scene either.” He pauses for a moment, and I know the look in his eyes. It’s the look all of our guys have had when they’ve run into my brothers and me after hearing about my dad. But Bull just clears his throat and nods. “Let me know if anything changes.”
“I will, thanks.”
