“No man-handling the customers,” I snarled.
She rolled her eyes at me and gave Nash a peck on the cheek that made me want to set my own brother on fire.
“Also figured I’d see if you wanted a lift home after your shift,” he offered.
Fuck me.
She didn’t have a car. She probably rode her goddamn bike here and planned to ride it home after closing. In the dark.
Over my dead fucking body.
“That is so sweet of you to offer,” Naomi said.
“Not necessary,” I said, butting into the conversation. “She’s already got a ride. Sherry’ll take her.”
“Sorry, Knox. I’m off in ten,” my business manager said smugly.
“Then so’s she.”
“I can’t close out my tables and do my side work in ten minutes,” Naomi argued. “Max is showing me how to close in case you don’t fire me after tonight.”
“Fine. Then I’m driving you home.”
“I’m sure you have better things to do than to drive a needy pain in the ass home.”
“Burn,” Fi whispered gleefully.
“I’m driving you home. Law and Order lives right upstairs. You’re out of his way. It’d be an inconvenience to him to haul your ass home.”
I knew I’d pushed the right button when Naomi’s smile faltered.
“I don’t mind,” Nash insisted.
But Naomi shook her head. “As much as it pains me to admit, your brother is right. It’ll be late, and I’m out of your way.”
Nash opened his mouth, but I cut him off. “I’m driving her.”
I could probably keep my mouth shut and my hands off her for the five-minute drive.
“In that case, you got a minute?” he asked Naomi.
“You can have her for ten minutes,” Max said, pushing Naomi at my brother.
She laughed and held up a hand. “Actually, I have tables I need to get to. Do you need something, Nash?”
He glanced my way. “D.C. cops found your car today,” he said.
Her face lit up. “That’s great news.”
Nash winced and shook his head. “Sorry, honey. It’s not. They found it at a chop shop in pieces.”
Naomi’s shoulders slumped. “What about Tina?”
/> “No sign of her.”
She looked even more dejected, and I was just about to order her to quit worrying when Nash reached out and tipped her chin up. “Don’t let this get you down, honey. You’re in Knockemout. We take care of our own.”
Once my handsy fucking brother and Wylie Ogden left, I locked myself in my office and focused on paperwork rather than watching Daisy bravely smile her way into the hearts of Knockemout.