Page 39 of Smooth Moves
Chapter 8
Rafael didn’t know what the heck his sister was thinking by inviting Conan the Barbarian to join them for dinner. First of all, it was obvious the dude was into Jordan. Second, no matter how much time had passed between her Army days and sporadic visits home, Rafael knew his sister. She liked this big idiot.
Since she’d started working for Vets on the Go!, she’d mentioned little things about her “boss.” Like how much Cash annoyed her, how he bragged too much, and how that didn’t seem to matter because so many women rubbernecked at the douche’s muscles and good looks. Then she’d mention how hard he worked alongside them, that he was a decent if irritating coworker who refused to act like her superior.
But seeing how flustered she got around the dude, Rafael knew shelikedthe guy.
He didn’t know how to feel about that. Especially since she’d dragged the monster’s sorry ass into a family issue Cash had no business being a part of.
“Look, Rafi—”
“Rafael,” he said through gritted teeth, even though he actually preferred Rafi. ButRafaelmade him sound older. More like he could be a part of his friend Juan’s crew than just some teenage flunky at summer school.
“Sorry.Rafael.Your sister loves you, and she’s not sure what else she can do for you. She told me you flunked hard on a bunch of classes. High school is no joke. They actually care what kind of grades you get if you want to get to college. She also said you’re really smart.” The look Cash shot him told Rafael that the guy didn’t exactly agree with that assessment.
Rafael swallowed thefuck youbecause the guy was huge and Jordan wasn’t around to step in if things got rough. “I am smart. Smart enough to know high school sucks and I’m not learning anything. A, D, F, what does it matter? Most people nowadays don’t even go to school and make money.”
“Yeah? What do they do for a job then?”
“Did you get good grades?”
Cash snorted. The man had a square jaw, a body similar to those on the covers of fitness magazines, and a short haircut that might as well have spelled out ex-military. And his hands. Jeez, he had big hands with bruises on his knuckles. Not a guy who posed as a badass but the real deal.
Though Jordan had never brought her dates home, having spent so much time overseas and in other parts of the country, Rafael had seen pictures of her with boyfriends. None of them had seemed so hard-core.
“DidIget good grades?” Cash asked. “Fuck no. I joined the Marines. Did a lot of stuff I can’t talk about.” Cash shot him a hard smile, and Rafael did his best to look casual and not alarmed. “Shot guns and shit. Then made the mistake of trying to do the right thing and got my ass tossed out of the service.”
“You got a dishonorable discharge?” Rafael gaped. His sister would never be with some guy who had been thrown out of the military. She was all for rules, discipline, and order.
“Nope. I’ve got honorable discharge on my paperwork, so don’t even think of trying to rat me out to your sister on a lie.”
“I’m no narc,” Rafael said.
“Only good thing you’ve got going for you at this point.”
“Fuck you” slipped out in Rafael’s anger.
“Gee, that hurts.” Cash snorted. “Look, kid. Your sister is worried about you. She’s a good person. A hard worker. And she’s smart. She doesn’t take anyone’s shit, least of all mine.”
Rafael tensed when Cash stood because the guy was huge. Rafael stood as well, hoping to look not so small.
“But she loves you, enough that she’s taking on a teenager and working her tail off to help you out. So what’s the real problem? You don’t like school.”
“I don’t.”
“Right. But it’s not a forever deal. Just get decent grades until you’re done. Enough to pass, then your life is your own.” Cash ran a hand over his hair, and his biceps strained his T-shirt.
“Jesus. Are you on steroids or what?”
“Nah. I just lift a lot. At work and for fun. It’s a great stress reliever. You should try it. I can take you to my gym if you want.”
Sadly, Rafael felt like a ten-pound weakling next to Cash. No way he wanted to stand next to the guy in a gym. “Listen, I don’t need a big brother. I don’t even know why my sister asked you to talk to me.”Man, Jordan must really be freaked to ask Mr. Marine over.“Look. You talked. I listened.” He ignored Cash’s snort. “Can we let this go?”
Cash studied him. “I can tell you’re smart. Well, a smartass at least. But your grades suck, and you’re hanging with questionable kids, according to your sister. So what’s the real problem?”
“Why the hell should I tell you?” Rafael didn’t like this guy poking into his private life. “It’s not your business. And I don’t give a shit if you are fucking my sister. You don’t—”
He gasped because suddenly Cash loomed over him, and the look on the guy’s face was anything but pleasant. “You’ve got issues. I get it. You’re an angsty teen with bigger balls than brains. But your sister is one of the best people I know. You willnotdisrespect her. Not around me.”
