Perhaps even hate.
Holy shit, what did I do to piss this guy off already?
“Well, are you just gonna stand there and stare, or are you gonna come the fuck into my home?”
Oh, shit. He thinks I’m gawking at him in his chair. I totally know better than to do that shit to patients who are only recently disabled. He is still psychologically struggling with his situation, and that’s totally understandable.
Pasting on a brave smile, I step forward, hold out my hand, and introduce myself. “Hi! My name’s Desirae, but you can call me Des. Sorry if you thought I was staring at you. I didn’t mean to seem rude, but has anyone ever told you that you have the most incredible eyes?”
Said incredible eyes turn from angry to disbelieving as he reaches out, takes my hand in his own, and gives it a quick shake before practically tossing it away.
“Sure, along with a big, swingin’ dick. Name’s Hammer. This is my house. Try not to fuck it up.”
Shocked by his rudeness, I stand there as he just keeps going, jerking a thumb to another guy who stands to his right and behind him.
“This is my brother Evan. He’s the pretty boy who strips for a living, so you should try to blow smoke up his ass instead of mine about incredible eyes. You’ll get laid faster that way. In the meantime, I’ll stay out of your way if you stay out of mine.”
Whirling his chair around in an angry huff, he barrels down a hallway faster than a race horse, presumably into what is his bedroom. Then he slams his door shut.
Holy crapola! What just happened here?
Turning my head, I look at Ice who is blocking the doorway, almost as if he is afraid I will try to run.
I snarl, “You said he was an asshole, but you didn’t tell me that he was an epic asshole with a chip on his shoulder because someone obviously pissed in his Wheaties. If he’s gonna be like this the entire time I’m here, I’ll expect a pay raise. I don’t care if you guys are doing me a favor or not.”
Ice smirks, holding both of his hands up in the air as if he is trying to placate a crazy woman or something. He has no idea! I haven’t shown him crazy yet.
“If you think about it, I did warn you. I told you he was hurting, angry, and acting like an asshole.”
Put off by his totally logical explanation, I huff back, “But you forgot to tell me someone pissed in his Wheaties!”
Rolling his eyes, Ice walks into the condo and closes the door. “If you think that’s bad, you won’t last a day with him. Tank said you can take care of yourself, so pull up your big girl panties and do your job, woman.”
I let out an exasperated huff. Tank gave him his word that I am good. I’m here on his name. I will show these guys just how tough the Hellions have made me. I can take care of myself and their asshole, too.
“Your room is down the hall,” Evan says, extending his hand in the opposite direction of Hammer’s room.
“How self-sufficient is he?”
The guys both smirk at me.
“I read the file, but living in an unequipped home changes what a patient is capable of. I’m concerned with being across the place from him should he need assistance at night.”
“Oh, our boy will need lots of assistance at night,” Ice quips, looking me up and down. “You might fit the bill with all those curves, but with the life we lead, I’m not sure you can handle the Hammer.”
Frustrated, I roll my eyes. “I mean on a professional manner.”
“She’s got spunk,” Evan chimes in. “This might work, after all.”
Spunk. I have spunk. They have no idea what I have, and they don’t need to know. I’m here to do a job, but once I’m cleared to go back to North Carolina, that’s where I will be.
Ice moves through the kitchen, opening and closing cabinets. He takes out his wallet and throws a few bills on the counter. “Evan, get her whatever she needs to get by. She’s not to leave here.”
Evan raises an eyebrow at Ice in question. “She is here of her own accord, right?”
I burst out laughing. “Why, yes, Evan, I sign up for every asshole duty I can find!”
His eyes grow big.
I take a deep breath. “I’m here of my own free will. The Regulators MC is paying me for a service, one I have provided to a different club previously. Now that we have all covered my qualifications, can we get some water and fruit in this place while I unpack? Tomorrow, I will sit down with Hammer and come up with a care plan for both his physical and his mental goals.”