Admittedly, Sweet didn’t know a single thing about cars, but that didn’t stop him from making them pop.
He walked into the main shop and saw Sweet had grabbed Maddie from the office to admire his work.
“What do you think?” Sweet asked when he saw him.
“It’s looking good.”
He saw the way Maddie tensed as he entered the room, and it pissed him off. Last night had been a mutual feeling. He hadn’t attacked her. She had wanted his kisses, and the first time she said no, he’d backed off.
There was no reason for her to be afraid of his presence, and he found it rather insulting.
“I was getting a chick’s advice here, Prez. She likes it, and I think the guy will certainly be picking up some pussy as he drives this bad boy to wherever he wants to go.” The colors were bright. They sparkled, and there was a picture of a skull across each passenger door. At the customer’s request, he also asked for a coffin to be added to the driver’s side.
Personally, Bull had found that a little tacky. He couldn’t exactly tell a customer what they could or couldn’t have. The man had been determined, and seeing as he was going to pay to have the work done, he didn’t see why he couldn’t get his best man on the job.
“Well, Maddie, would you be interested in taking a drive by a man in this car?” Sweet asked.
“I’m not the right person to ask about this.”
“Come on. It will be a big help.”
She shook her head. “No, I wouldn’t. I’m sorry. This is just all wrong. It looks amazing, though. You’re incredibly talented, but come on. On a car, a graveyard and skull?”
“The dude had it inked on his body. He said his car was an extension of himself, and this is what he wanted.”
“Right, okay. Yeah, that makes total sense.”
Bull smiled.
Sweet leaned up against the car as he looked at Maddie. His gaze ran up and down her body, assessing her. “You ever had some ink?”
Maddie shook her head.
“You know, if you ever change your mind, I don’t mind being your first.” He winked at Maddie, and the smile on her lips fell.
“Er, I better go.”
Bull wasn’t going to let her get away that easily. He grabbed her arm and looked back to Pat and Sweet. “Keep an eye on the shop.”
Maddie didn’t fight him as he pulled her into his office, and this time, he slammed the door closed and locked it.
She had nowhere to go.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“You’re going to tell me what your problem is.”
“I don’t have a problem. This is insane. I’m going back to work.”
He stood by the door, arms folded, and wouldn’t let her pass.
“Seriously, Bull, I have work to do.”
“I know exactly what you’ve got to do, seeing as I was the one who gave you the work in the first place. Remember, I hired you.”
“Yes, I do remember, very clearly.” She folded her arms beneath her chest, and for a short second, he was distracted by the fullness of her tits. He wanted them in his hands, but he quickly got to the point.
Last night had been going so great until Maddie froze on him.
“You know I would never hurt you.”
“I don’t know what this is about.”
“You wanted my kisses last night, Maddie. You were enjoying my touch.”
“Is that what this is about?” she asked. “Because I changed my mind. A woman can do that, you know? She can change her mind.”
“I have no problem about you changing your mind. What I want to know is why.”
“I don’t have to tell you why,” she said.
“No? And you think that’s fair?” he asked.
“Does it matter if it’s fair? I don’t have to give a reason. I…” She closed her eyes and held one hand out. “I’m sorry if I gave you the wrong impression.”
“Bull fucking shit. Don’t try to play me, Maddie. It won’t fucking work. I’m the master at that shit.” He took a step toward her. He was a grown man and could handle a shit load of rejection, not that he’d experienced much of it. Most had come from this woman in front of him, but she had also shown him part of herself. The part that had started out enjoying his touch. “I saw you, Maddie. I felt you. I … I know you were like fire in my arms, ready to go up in flames. I felt it. I know what it was like. I wanted you again, and again. You craved my kisses, you wanted my hands on your body. What the fuck did I do to change it?”
Tears glistened in her eyes, and her lip wobbled.
She shook her head, biting her lip, and he saw how torn up she was. It broke his fucking heart. No woman had ever hit him like this, but damn it, Maddie was proving to be more special than he anticipated, and it was fucking killing him inside.