“I’m not picking fights, baby. I’m trying to make sure my son does his homework, on his own, with no strange men sliding in and making themselves at home. We already have man trouble. We aren’t inviting more in.”
“For fuck’s sake.” Leaning to the side, I pull my wallet out and flip it open. Taking out my driver’s license, my insurance, a credit card, and a debit card, I drop them to the table and meet her beautiful eyes. “You know my name is Eric DeWhit; I’m not a creep, and I’m not looking to hurt anyone’s kids.” When she doesn’t soften, I pick up my license and push it into her hand. “I’ve been coming in here for ages, so you know I’m not running out tomorrow just because you talked to me. The address says I’m over in the ‘burbs, though I don’t actually live there anymore. That’s Bishop’s place. I’m staying just up the street, literally a two-minute walk, in the apartment above the garage, and I’m renting it from Angelo Alesi, the guy who owns the garage. You know Alesi; he’s a local since forever. I used to be employed by the federal government, which means I passed a background check, and now I’m in security, employed by Kane Bishop at the Checkmate offices a couple blocks up. Pretty sure you know the Bishops, too.”
Bright red lipstick shimmers on her pouty bottom lip while Mac ducks his head low and pretends he doesn’t hear me snapping at his mom. I really should take my ass back to my booth and wait for my burger, but I can’t breathe properly unless I’m looking at this chick. I don’t understand her magic, and I really should get the fuck over it, but I’ve kept to myself for too long, minded my manners and left her be. But now I kinda don’t want to.
She’s not saying yes right now, but if she’d stop snapping at me, she might feel some of the pull I feel. She might agree to two minutes of selfishness that would make us both feel better.
“The Bishops?” She coughs to clear the nerves from her throat and lies straight to my face. “I don’t know the Bishops, but I heard they were trouble.”
I accept my card back with a humorless chuckle and slide it back into my wallet. “The Bishops are definitely trouble, so steer clear if you can, but they’re also legitimate businessmen, with a legitimate company and legitimate clients. One of them is dating a local lawyer, sister to your friendly PD, so he can’t be all bad, right?” She purses her lips like she knows I’m full of it.Kane Bishop really is all bad, and he ain’t sorry for it.“I’ve been living in this town for two years already, and I can prove that. But Iseemnew, since I was working for most of that time, and I was under orders to be quiet.”
“You don’t work anymore?” She folds her arms across her chest and inadvertently lifts her breasts. “You lazy?”
I can read Katrina like a damn book. Hard workers are attracted to hard workers, and she’s over deadbeats sniffing around hoping for a minute of her time. “No, I’m not lazy, and I’m not unemployed. I just decided to slow down, so to speak.”
“Well, ain’t that nice for you?” she sasses back. “Some of us don’t get a chance to slow down. Some of us have to run faster and faster just to keep up. You feel smug being able to chill?”
Mac’s wide eyes ping back and forth between the dueling adults.
“Do I look smug?” I lift my hands and open myself up. “You’re projecting, Katrina. Your ex came in here last night and made a dick of himself, so now you’re projecting your man issues on me. I’m not your enemy, and nothing he did was my fault.”
Katrina leans in closer and bats her son away when he tries to stop her. Bringing her eyes down to my level, she seethes, “Men are pigs. Every last one of them. And none of them deserve my time or get to sit with my kid.”
“You’re on the man hater train and vilify me for something someone else did to you.”
“Yup!” Reaching out, Katrina snaps Mac’s book closed and sweeps his shit into his backpack. The bell over the door jingles as a blonde chick in jeans and white sneakers rushes in. “Get up, baby. Tammy’s here, which means it’s time to knock off.”
Mac checks his watch with a frown, then huffs when she turns her evil glare on him. “We’re not supposed to leave for another half hour, Mom. I was in the middle of my homework.”
“Go to Tammy now, babe. Get a slice of pie, then move your tush.”
It’s like he knows she means business this time, because his games end, and he stops pressing her buttons. Lifting to his feet with an old-man grunt, he swings his bag over his shoulders and turns on a stiff leg to head for the front counter.
“I told you last night to stay out of my business,” Katrina growls. “That includes my kid. Itespeciallyincludes him.”
“I’m not a threat to you. I was only trying to help.”
“Every man except my son and dad are threats to me. I’ve worked hard to get to where we are, to be free of my son’s father and his bullshit threats, but you stepping up for shit you know nothing about has caused problems for me. You have a pretty smile, Eric, big hands and a chest I wouldn’t mind touching if this was a different life. But it’s not. This is the life I get; these are the cards I was dealt, so you and your stupid hat aren’t gonna tempt me over to the dark side now.” Turning with a flourish, her unique scent wafting straight into my lungs, she unties her apron as she speeds into the hall.
She comes back a second later minus the apron, but with an added handbag and a dangerous glare for her kid. “Move, baby. And don’t talk to strangers again. We’ve been over this.”
Rolling his eyes, Mac follows his mom toward the door and flashes a peace sign as they exit.
“Well, shit.” I blow out an explosive exhale. “She gets intense fast, huh?”
“Don’t take it personally, son.” Ray turns in his seat as Katrina and Mac disappear out of sight. “She’s the kindest ice queen I ever met. Her heart is pure, but her protective streak is a mile wide and impenetrable. She has to be this way. She doesn’t get a choice.”
“I’m not a threat to her.”
He sips his coffee and glances outside into the darkness. “Our beautiful Katrina doesn’t want a man. She doesn’t need a man. And she especially doesn’t share her kid. Suggest you go back to your life and forget about her. She ain’t changing her ways now.”
Within a minute of the Blairs leaving, the new waitress drops my burger and fries in front of me, then on her second pass, she drops a fresh set of silverware. “Here you go, sugar. My name’s Tammy, and I’ll be your server for the rest of the night. You just call out if you need anything.”
“Wait.” I grab her narrow wrist before she can hurry away. “Why’d they rush out?” I nod toward the door. “I haven’t seen her leave this early… ever.”
“Dunno that they’re doing anything special.” Tammy tugs her hand free and tucks a pen behind her ear. “It’s Katrina’s birthday today, but I think they’re just going home to chill. They usually do movies and pie for the special occasions.”