I highly doubt that. “What did you promise her?”
“Nothin’.”
“Don’t you lie to me, Duke Colter.”
He sighs, loud and long. “Fine. I promised her two seats at the thirty-yard line to a game against the Chicago Steam and the Philadelphia Wildcats.”
“But…you’re not on those teams.”
“Her grandson is a fan of Chicago, apparently—not Texas or New York.”
“That’s it? Two tickets to a game?”
He’s quiet a few seconds before he admits, “And…a gift card to the Sunset Skillet.”
“The Sunset Skillet?” I giggle. “That’s where all the older people in town go for breakfast every morning. It’s like a pickup bar for grandparents.”
“And…” he begins.
“Stop it! There’s more?”
“And a pedicure at the Curl Up and Dye.”
That old woman is diabolical and has some nerve shaking down my houseguest for free shit when all he needed to agree to was filling her tank with gas and maybe running it through the car wash.
Anyway, still. It was nice of her to do but completely unnecessary.
My chin goes up a notch. “I was handling everything just fine, thank you very much.”
I don’t need a man to come galloping to my rescue, or in this case, in his burgundy steel steed.
“I wasn’t tryin’ to rescue you. I said I wanted chicken, and I wanted chicken.” He snatches up the container to show me the remains. “See?”
Not impressed.
“This whole car smells like chicken.” I glance in the back seat. “You’re going to have to air it out tomorrow or get air fresheners or something.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah.” He rolls his eyes and looks over at me. “But for real. You okay?”
I suck in a deep breath and glance out the window. Brian has long gone, peeling out of the parking lot with a squeal, not having bothered to put on his turn signal, probably more pissed off than he’s ever been a day in his life.
Or not.
For all I know he’s a hothead.
“I’m fine. It was weird when he picked me up…” I gulp. “Worst hug ever.”
Duke doesn’t respond, just nods solemnly in support. “Yeah. Worst hug ever.”
“How long were you watching us when you went inside to get your chicken?”
“Not long,” he says. “But…” He clears his throat. “I could tell by your body language you weren’t into it. You weren’t touchin’ your drink, and he wouldn’t shut his fuckin’ mouth, and it looked off.” He shrugs. “So I waited. Just in case.”
I don’t believe for one minute he borrowed a car and came to the same place where my date was for the express purpose of getting fried meat, but I’ll never get him to admit it.
I’ve known Duke Colter for one week, and he’s already got my back.
My heart constricts.