“Yeah. Where you off to, pretty boy? Hot date?”

“Nah. Just to get some food.”

Lonnie saunters over, slips her arm around mine, and smiles up at me.

“Want some company?”

This is the chick who wants to be an old lady? Yeah, right. I brush her off and turn back to Razor. “Nah, I’m good.”

Razor chuckles and shakes his head.

“All right, Prez. See you tomorrow.”

“Yeah. You know what? Take some of the girls with you. Give Mission’s boys a taste of Georgia.”

“Sure thing. Lonnie, you’re rolling with me, sweet cheeks.”

I watch them leave and then grab the keys to my Mustang from behind the bar. Maybe Raven will let me give her a ride home. I get to Millie’s and I have to stand there for a minute and just watch her. What a difference a day makes. She’s smiling and moving around animatedly, chatting with the diners. She’s fucking beautiful. Since it’s not too busy, I take a seat at a table in her section. The moment she sees me, her smile fades. Okay, not the reaction I was expecting. She walks up to my table slowly.

“Hi.”

“Hey, baby doll. Not happy to see me?”

She nervously tucks some stray hair behind her ear.

“Don’t call me that,” she whispers, handing me a menu.

“Why not? You didn’t object last night.”

“Shh! Do you want everyone to hear you?”

Damn, this girl can put a smile on my face. I flip through the menu even though I already know what I want.

“Are you ready to order?”

“Yeah, let me get the fried chicken with potato salad and a biscuit.”

“And to drink?”

“Coke.”

“I’ll be right back. And stop smiling at me like that.”

I chuckle as she walks away, willing myself not to look at her ass. This is one of those times that I wish I had a time machine. I don’t need much; just two months into the future, that’s all. She returns with my drink, and as she places it on the table, I let my hand brush hers before she releases the glass. She gasps and yanks her hand away. The fire in her eyes doesn’t escape me, but she quickly blinks it away.

“Stop it,” she says through clenched teeth and leaves again.

I watch her with a grin. My poor, little bird, she seems so frustrated. I need to do something about that. When she returns with my order, the diner is practically empty. There’s only me, and a couple at a table in Sheila’s section. She sets the plate on the table and slides her palms down her apron.

“If you need anything else, just let me know.”

“Join me.”

She takes a deep breath and shakes her head.

“I’m working.”

“Doing what? I’m your only customer.”

“Gage.”

Her tone is laced with warning, but all I can think of is how much I like hearing her say my name.

“You need to stop. Whatever this is…it needs to stop.”

She marches off and I turn to my food. Stop? I’m just getting started.

***Raven***

Hot, bothered, horny beyond reason – just a few words to describe how I’m feeling right now. How I’ve felt since I saw him sitting at that table. When his hand touched mine, I thought back to last night, only it was his hand between my legs and not mine. And the way he smells…Jesus. I need to get a grip. I grab a towel and start wiping down the counter just to keep myself occupied. The couple at Sheila’s table leaves, so now he’s the only one here. And he seems to be taking his own, sweet time. Not that I’m watching him. Okay, I’ve glanced over there a few times. Each time our eyes have met, and each time he gave me a dazzling, crooked smile. That smile makes me want to leap over all these tables and land right on his lap.

Suddenly, a hand slides around my waist and I turn to see Chris smiling down at me. Fuck. I’ve been so consumed by my thoughts I neither heard him enter nor saw him approach.

“Hey, beautiful.”

I return his smile, lean in, and give him a quick kiss.

“Hey, handsome.”

His face lights up even more, the way it does anytime I give him a compliment. It’s like it means more to him coming from me. This is what I need. This is what I should be focusing on. I have a great guy with a bright future who is truly into me and who doesn’t just want to get in my pants.

“Ready?”

“I just have one last customer¸ and then I’m all yours.”

He looks around the diner and his smile disappears. He narrows his eyes and I see the muscles in his jaw working. Shit. I turn toward Gage and he has a mirrored expression. I do not need this right now.

“Chris.”

He turns to me but keeps throwing dirty glances in Gage’s direction. I cradle his face in my hands. “Don’t. Just sit here and wait for me. Once he’s done, we can leave.”

He drops down into the chair, still fuming.

“You want some dessert? Millie made apple pie.”

“I don’t want any damn pie. Just hurry up.”

Usually, I would get into a guy’s face for talking to me like that, but I understand how he must feel so I let it slide. I gather my wits and leave him to check on the other angry bird.

“Everything okay? Can I get you anything?”

“No, everything is not okay. What the fuck is he doing here?”

“He meets me here every day and we go home together.”

“Get rid of him. I’m taking you home.”

“No, you’re not. If you don’t understand the concept of a boyfriend/girlfriend relationship, I suggest you do some research.”

He leans forward, lowering his voice to a whisper.

“Where was your boyfriend last night when you were calling out my name?”

He’s right. I’m sending mixed signals and I need to stop.

“It was a mistake. It won’t happen again.”

He slides out of the booth and reaches into his pocket. Pulling out a few bills, he drops them on the table, all the time staring into my eyes.

“Bullshit. Get rid of him, Raven.”

He turns and heads for the door, calling over his shoulder, “See you around, baby doll.”

I can feel Chris’ eyes boring a hole in the back of my head. Asshole. He just had to have the last word. I try to be as nonchalant as possible as I clear the table. I also avoid looking at Chris as I pass by. While taking care of the bill, I realize he left entirely too much money. Then again, he didn’t even count it. A twelve dollars and fifty cents bill and he leaves a hundred and fifty dollars.

“You all set to go, sweetheart?” Millie asks.

I show her the money and the bill with a helpless look. She takes a twenty-dollar bill and smiles at me.

“I guess the rest is yours.”

“I can’t –”

“Yes, you can. Aren’t you the one saving up for an apartment? Trust me, honey. He can afford it.”

I sigh, stuff it in my pocket, and brace myself to face Chris. He’s out of his seat, pacing the diner, and muttering to himself. The moment he sees me, he stomps over and grabs my hand.

“We need to talk.”

He pulls me along behind him all the way to the bus stop. Despite his need to talk, he remains quiet. I can only think that he’s waiting until we get home. I leave him to his thoughts and anger, while I just stare out the bus window. How did my life get so complicated? I pull out my phone and text Toni. I need to talk to someone and I definitely can’t talk to Chrissy. It would be too weird.

R: Need to talk to you. Need some advice.

T: Sure, babe. You know I got you.

R: Call you later. Can’t talk right now.

T: Are you ok?

R: Yeah, just too many ears around…on the bus.

T: K. Later

“Who are you texting?”

“Toni.”

“Toni, huh?”

I give him my don’t-be-a-dick look but he doesn’t back down. Men. And they think women are jealous creatures. As soon as the bus stops, I push my way past him and start walking home.

“Raven, wait.”

“Leave me alone. Don’t bother following me home, either.”

By the time I get to the house, my anger has diminished because I know he’s been walking at a distance behind me the entire time. I stand on the porch and watch him as he approaches.