“We’re ready,” Duke said. “So, you’ve been in town long?”
“Er, not really. I’m house-sitting for my parents, and well, I’m not working at the diner again.”
“Are you back for good?” Duke asked.
“I don’t know. Nothing is really set in stone.” This was even worse than she could have imagined.
This was Matthew’s dad, and yeah, he was as terrifying as she remembered.
Was it the leather cut? The ink? The muscles? Or the if-you-hurt-my-son-I’ll-kill-you look? It was probably the former in this situation.
Not that Duke should have a problem with her. The heartbreaking was donetoher, notbyher. Matthew had done a number on her. A bad number, and she had tried to get over it. She’d dated a couple of times, but other than a few kisses, it never went anywhere. Never. Not to the bedroom.
Her only sexual experience had been that one time in the back of Matthew’s truck. This was horrible. She was thinking about that awful sex while serving the guy’s dad. This was what her life had turned into.
They ordered some breakfast and a couple of coffees.
Luna was more than happy to run away at that moment. She didn’t want to hear any more than she needed to. When it came to club business, Matthew had always told her to stay the hell away from it.
She went to the main desk and slid the order across the counter. Mac walked over, picked it up, and read it. He grunted, scrunching it up, and then headed back into the kitchen.
Mac had also changed. There was a time he seemed a little dirty. Grease, tomato stains, and pretty much whatever he cooked was on his apron. Now, his hair was neatly cut, the apron was constantly clean, and he was different. Like he cared about his appearance. He actually looked cute. In an older-man-cutekind of way.
She picked up the coffee pot and walked across the diner, going to Duke and Preach once again. Filling up their drinks, she was aware they had stopped talking.
Did Duke even realize that she knew a few details about the club? Had known them for a long time now? They were not her secrets to spill.
Matthew had talked about the club all the time. How he wanted to be a prospect for them. The kind of shit they would have to do. It was all so very intense.
After she filled their coffee, more people began to enter, and Luna didn’t have time to even think, let alone worry about Duke being in the diner.
They needed to find some help and fast. She didn’t know why Mac was being so difficult, but she was going to have to remind him that she could only do so much.
Fortunately, no one tried to cause a scene, and she was able to create a nice orderly system that meant everyone got their food and there were no complaints. Throughout working, she had a feeling someone was watching her though.
Each time she glanced at Duke, he wasn’t looking her way. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end, and something twisted in her stomach to suggest something was happening.
Was this what coming home got her? Suspicious? Thinking someone wanted to see her dead?
This was crazy talk and crazy thinking. Insane. Stupid.
All she was doing was house-sitting and working over the summer while trying to make a decision on what to do with the rest of her life. That wasn’t so complicated. It had nothing to do with Matthew. Nothing to do with him at all.
She had promised herself years ago she’d never be the doormat ex pining for him to take even a glimpse at her. Thatwasn’t her. It would never be her.
Then why did she feel like it was?
****
Matthew was washing bikes, again.
He was pretty sure his dad was doing this on purpose. While Kid and Rick got to do something exciting like shadowing a couple of the club brothers, or even running errands they couldn’t talk about, he was cleaning bikes.
This had to be the fourth time this week. He didn’t get it. He wasn’t asking for favors from his dad. What he wanted was the same kind of chances the other prospects got, and it kind of felt like he was being given the lamest fucking tasks.
When was he going to get his chance to shine?
“Hey.”