I didn’t date much at all through college—I didn’t have the time between caring for Matthias and my studies—but I spent two freaking hours getting ready to go out with that jackass only to have him dump me five minutes before he was due to pick me up. He claimed he had diarrhea. It was only the next day his social feeds were filled with pictures of him and the aforementioned Lakers’ girl. Asshole!
“So there’s nobody?” he asks again.
“No, Jax,” I snap at him. It’s unnecessary, but I can’t help it. “We’re not all lucky enough to be able to hook up with complete strangers every night of the week.”
“Lucia.”
“What?”
“Hooking up with randoms. That’s not for you.”
“You’re a hypocrite. You know that?” I snarl.
“And you’re fucking exhausting,” he rolls his eyes. “We’ve been in the car less than ten minutes and you’re already giving me attitude.”
“I’m not.” I pout, aware that I’m completely proving his point.
“I hope you’re not going to be this much of a spoiled brat once you start working for Montoya Inc.”
I turn and glare at him, my mouth open as I’m about to give him a snarky comeback, but he’s grinning. He knows I hate it when he calls me a spoiled brat. I’m not one and he knows that too.
“You’re an asshole.” I say instead with a grin.
“An asshole and a hypocrite?” he chuckles softly.
“Yup!”
“Good to know.”
We’re both quiet for a few moments before he speaks again. “I didn’t mean that you couldn’t hook up with randoms,” he says softly. “Just that I know it’s not your style, is all.”
“Yeah, well, hooking up with anyone looks attractive right now,” I sigh deeply. He’s right that I’m not usually into casual hookups, but I haven’t even dated anyone for months. I see other people my age out in clubs and meeting people, and I wonder if I’m missing out on something.
“You’ll meet the right guy one day,” he offers.
I swallow hard and resist the urge to tell him that I already have met him, but he is completely off limits and will only ever see me at his best friend’s daughter. “Yeah,” I say instead.
We stop at a traffic signal and he reaches over and cups my chin, making electricity crackle up my spine. “Hey.”
I turn and face him again.
“You will, Lucia, because you’re…” his dark eyes search mine. I try to look away because I feel like he can read my mind, but he holds me with the intensity of his gaze.
“I’m what?” I whisper.
“You’re... you.”
“I’m me? Wow! That’s some deep shit, Jax.” I arch an eyebrow at him.
The traffic moves again and he turns back to the road. “Stop cussing. And I hope you’re not going to be this annoying when we’re working together.”
“You and me will be working together?” I blink at him because the idea of that is both terrifying and exciting.
“Yeah. Your dad asked me to show you the ropes for a few weeks.”
“You mean babysit me?” I say with a roll of my eyes.
“No. I don’t do babysitting. You should think yourself lucky. I don’t usually take rookies under my wing.”
“So why am I getting special treatment then?”
“Like it or not, you’re the boss’s daughter. You want to work with us, you got to learn the business, and who better to learn from than the best?” He winks at me and warmth floods my center.
“You’re so modest.” I flutter my eyelashes at him.
“You’re a real smartass today, aren’t you?” he grins. “But boss’s daughter or not, any of that attitude when we’re working together and I will think nothing of whooping your ass.”
“Hmm, we’ll see.” I smile as I settle back in my seat again and close my eyes.
Images of Jax putting me over his knee and spanking me are now swimming around my head and they are not even the slightest bit unpleasant.