Page 23 of Thunder

"True," Sera concedes. "But maybe there's more to him than you think. A kind heart to go along with that great butt. We can't always judge a book by its cover."

"Or a man by his tattoos," I add, my gaze wandering over to where Marcus stands at the counter, paying for his order.

As if sensing my eyes on him, he turns and meets my gaze, giving me a brief frown before returning his attention to his task.

"Let's just focus on figuring out how to save your job," Sera suggests, patting my hand.

Marcus finishes paying and collects his order: four coffees in a cardboard carrier and two large bags of pastries. Then he turns and heads toward the door.

"Goodbye, Marcus," Sera calls after him flirtatiously.

He glances back, giving her a nod before turning his piercing green eyes towards me. The scowl on his face sends shivers down my spine, and I can feel heat rising in my cheeks.

"Maybe you have him all wrong," Sera suggests. “I mean, I don’t see anything wrong withthat ass.”

“Please, we need to focus. Somehow, I have to win this town over and get Marcus off my back," I reply.

"Winning over a town can't be that hard, right?" she asks, her voice low and conspiratorial, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "I mean, you charmed me, and you were one of those nerdy engineering people."

"That’s hardly the same thing," I snort, but her grin is infectious and I can't help but smile back. “I had that fake ID and was able to ply you with wine. I doubt that’ll work on Marcus. Or the whole town.”

"Seriously, though," she says, leaning back in our cozy booth, her fingers tapping against her coffee cup. "What if you try something different? Something that shows the town you care about them?"

"Like what?" I ask, curious.

Sera grins, leaning forward again so that her face is only inches from mine. "So, how about this: you could host a community dinner. Win everyone over with your charm—and free food."

I pause, considering her suggestion. It isn't a bad idea. The more I think about it, the more I realize it might just work. Turning the tide of public opinion could sway Marcus, too—or at least keep him placated enough to stay out of my way.

"Alright," I say, looking into Sera's eyes. "Let's do it."

"Really?" she beams, clapping her hands together.

"Really," I confirm, feeling a surge of determination.

"Then let's get planning," Sera declares, pulling out her phone and scrolling through her contacts. "We'll need to find a venue, set a date, and organize some catering. Oh, and don't forget about publicity. We need to make sure everyone knows about this event. Fortunately, I have plenty of contacts with people who help me do my gallery events, I’m sure they can help us organize this thing."

"Alright," I say again, more determined than ever. "Let's do this."

As I take a deep breath and let it out, I remember Marcus's piercing green eyes, the heat of his touch that still lingers on my skin.

“Now, what are we going to do about Marcus?” I say.

"Yes, Lia, what are you going to do about him?" Sera asks, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

"I don't know, Sera. I really don't know."

I take a sip of my coffee. My fingers trace the rim of my cup, recalling Marcus's determination just the night before. His chiseled jaw set with fierce opposition, those piercing green eyes locked onto mine, refusing to back down. The memory sends shivers down my spine, and not all from fear.

But then there's the other memory, the one that makes my heart race and my cheeks flush. I can still feel the fire of his touch, the way his firm hands explored every inch of my body, sending waves of pleasure crashing over me. Our connection was undeniable, magnetic, cathartic—and yet, he's become my biggest obstacle.

"But one thing's for sure," I murmur, pulling myself back to the present. "If I don't figure him out, I've got a big problem."

Chapter Nine

Thunder

The flickering fluorescent lights of Bullet's garage, Reid's Repairs, cast an eerie glow over the worn-out tools and grease-stained concrete floor. As I lean against a scratched-up workbench, I tap aflierI hold in my hand.

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