Page 6 of Fallen Dove
“Are you sure you don’t want to hang around and get your tips?”Penny asked again.
“I’m good,” I told her.“Not like I need it between now and tomorrow.”Sleep was the only thing on my agenda until my next shift.Honestly, the first few paychecks I made here were going to disappear into a black hole of parking tickets and toll fines anyway.
“Same time tomorrow?”I asked Penny.
She glanced at Mason.“Ask the bossman.I don’t know if he’s put you on the schedule yet.”
The last thing I wanted to do was look at him, but I forced myself to.“Same time?”
He nodded slowly.“If tonight wasn’t too much for you.”
My lip curled before I could stop it.“I’m more than good.”
The corner of his mouth twitched into a smirk.“Then same time tomorrow.”
I plastered on my fakest smile.“Great.”Turning back to Penny, I waved.“Later, girl.”
She nodded, already bent over her notebook.
I grabbed my jacket and pushed through the front door.The cool night air hit my flushed face, and I exhaled in relief.
Junior was posted by the door with his arms crossed, his presence solid and dependable.He straightened as I stepped outside.“I got eyes on you until you get to your car.”
“You don’t need to worry about me,” I told him, trying to keep the edge out of my voice.“I went years on my own without anyone watching out for me.”
“Do it for everyone,” he said simply.
I didn’t want to argue, not with Junior.He wasn’t pushy, just steady.“Whatever helps you sleep at night, Junior.See you later.”
He shadowed me with his eyes while I crossed the lot.I could feel it on my back, but it wasn’t creepy.More like the weight of an older brother making sure I didn’t trip on the way out.
My car sat where I’d left it, silver paint catching in the parking lot lights.I unlocked it, slid into the driver’s seat, and sagged against the worn cushion with a groan.My whole body screamed, but at least I was sitting.I started the engine, and the familiar rumble filled the quiet night.
Pulling out of the lot, I glanced in the rearview mirror.Junior was still at his post.But Mason was standing beside him now, with his hands in his pockets, and eyes locked on my car as I drove away.
Jesus.That was the last thing I needed to see.
Fourteen years, and the man had only gotten better.More handsome, more solid, more Mason.Stoic, unreadable, yet somehow more everything.And damn it if he didn’t still give me butterflies.The kind that twisted my stomach into knots.
Nine minutes later, I turned into mom and dad’s driveway.Mom’s little convertible was parked crooked like always, taking up more space than it needed.I slid my car into the spot beside it, killed the engine, and stepped out quietly while trying not to wake the neighborhood.
Inside, I shut and locked the front door behind me.I turned and nearly jumped out of my skin.Slayer stood in the entryway to the kitchen, with his arms folded, watching.
“Jesus,” I gasped, and pressed my hand to my chest.
“Just Dad will do,” he deadpanned.
I rolled my eyes and kicked off my shoes with more force than necessary.“Ha, ha.You couldn’t save the dad jokes for tomorrow?”
He grunted.“I wanted to make sure you made it home alright.”
“I’m thirty-one years old, Dad.I think I can handle myself.It was more than enough to have Junior watch me walk to my car.”
Slayer tilted his head.“He didn’t walk you to your car?”
I frowned.“Uh, no, Dad.It was already weird enough that he watched.Walking me all the way there would’ve been awkward as hell.”
He didn’t answer right away, just nodded once with his jaw tight.
