Chapter Thirteen: A Little Romance
Harper
“Are you okay?” I asked Bones as I walked the casino floor and spotted him sitting at the bar.
He wasn’t exactly playing the part of the incognito security agent today. Instead, he sat on a stool with his back pressed against the bar, his eyes darting around with a look of suspicion on his face. “Sure,” he said, his tone short.
I was taken aback. I glanced at the can in his hand, but it was a soda, so he wasn’t drinking on the job. “Have you seen something suspicious?” I asked, trying to follow his gaze as he focused on something on the other side of the room. I couldn’t figure out who he was looking at, but I didn’t see anything to be concerned about, just customers gambling.
“Not yet.” He ground his teeth together while looking in the same direction for a few more seconds. Then, he met my eyes and I could see anger there. “But you can be sure that nothing’s going to get by me.”
“I believe that,” I said, confused about what was fueling this intensity. “But it seems like you’re being a little obvious.”
“I’m trying to do my job,” he snapped.
I flinched. I tried to remind myself I was the manager here, the one in charge, but his attitude had taken me by surprise. It was out of character for the man I thought I was getting to know pretty well. “Fine,” I said, my voice so cold that I barely recognized it. “Let me know if there’s a problem.” I started to walk away, planning to go back to my office and cool off for a few minutes, but I was stopped by a hand grabbing a hold of my wrist.
“Wait,” Bones said, all irritation gone from his voice. “Don’t go.”
I turned back to him, pulling my wrist away and giving him a withering look. “Why not?” I challenged.
Bones let out a sigh, running his hand down his face as his shoulders slumped. “I’m sorry, I’m a total dick.” He paused for a moment.
If he was waiting for me to disagree, he was wasting his time. I wasn’t going to let him off the hook that easily.
“I’m just stressed. I don’t like that someone was dealing coke here again.”
“Me either,” I agreed, softening slightly. I had the feeling there was more to it than that, but Bones didn’t offer more information, and I didn’t ask. I felt glad he was acting more like the man I knew. “You have a bit of a temper, huh?”
“I try to control it,” he said. His eye scanned the room again.
I had the impression he was slightly embarrassed by his behavior.
His eyes met mine again. “I’ve always been a bit of a hothead.”
“Don’t expect me to stand around and put up with it,” I told him, lifting my chin. “Next time you act like an asshole, I’m calling you out on it.”
“Deal,” he said, giving me a little half-grin. “Let me make it up to you. You’re off tomorrow, right? Let’s go on a date.”
“I had plans with Roscoe to binge-watch Mindhunter and eat junk food, but I guess I can reschedule.”
Bones laughed.
Damn, it was a full-bodied sound that made my heart feel lighter inside of my chest.
“I’ll bring him some milk bones to make up for it. How about I pick you up at seven?” he asked.
“Only if you promise to bring the bike,” I said. I was eager to go on another ride.
“Oh, baby, you know exactly what a man wants to hear.”
I couldn’t seem to erase the silly grin I could feel on my face as I made my way to my office. No matter what Bones planned, this date was sure to top my last one.
At five minutes until seven the following evening, I stood in front of my mirror, trying to make sure my eyeliner looked even on both eyes. If it wasn’t even, one eye would end up looking wider than the other, and I would be obsessed over it all night long.
I’d pulled my hair back in a slick ponytail, not wasting a lot of time doing anything special with it, because I knew I would be wearing a helmet that would mess it up. I focused on my makeup instead. Smokey eyes and pink lipstick gave me a seductive look – at least, this was what I was going for – and I wore what I called my ‘nice ass jeans.’ They were dark blue skinny jeans that hugged my hips and clung to my legs. Black knee-high boots and a red shirt with a plunging neckline that showed off the swell of my breasts completed the outfit, and I hoped Bones appreciated the effort I went to.
I also hoped he liked my lingerie, which was black lace, but I wasn’t sure if we’d get far enough for him to see it. In fact, I wasn’t even sure what we were doing tonight. Bones hadn’t been specific about the plans.