How the heck had he known I needed a ride? And furthermore why would he come to give me one without me asking him?
Shaking my head in confusion I followed him to the table.
"Marcus, man you missed the meal," Rock teased.
"Yeah I can see that but I'm here for Low not you." Krit glanced past Marcus and locked eyes with me. His blond eyebrows shot up in question at Marcus's comment.
"You taking Low somewhere Marcus?" Krit asked tearing his gaze off me and staring back up at Marcus.
This might get more interesting than was good. I'd been dodging Krit's advances for almost a year. The boy didn't take "no" for an answer.
"Yep, you got a problem with that?" Marcus asked pulling up a chair and sitting down beside Green.
"I guess I do. I'd been hoping to convince her to go out with me when she got off work tonight. Kinda screws that up if you're here for her."
I couldn't help but watch Marcus's face to see how he reacted to Krit's explanation. He scowled and leaned back in the chair.
"No I don't think that's a good idea Krit. You aren't Low's type."
"And you are?"
I couldn't bring myself to walk completely up to the table.
This was as embarrassing as it was fascinating.
"Alright boys calm down," Rock interrupted them and waved me over.
"I'm gonna pay for this meal and Krit you're going to leave with us. Low has plans tonight to leave with Marcus. You two can argue this out or beat the shit out of each other whatever, some other time. Right now I want to get home and spend some time with my girl, alone." Marcus looked entirely too pleased with everything. If he wasn't so darn cute I'd remind him I wasn't some piece of property he owned. Heck we hadn't even been out on a date and here he is acting like he has some claim on me.
His eyes lifted and locked with mine. All the reasons I had to be aggravated with him vanished. Who could stay mad at that face?
Chapter Seven
Marcus
Will ow didn't say much on the ride to her sister's house. I wasn't sure if she was mad at me about the confrontation I'd had with Krit or what but she was quiet. I hadn't meant to step out of bounds with her. Just the thought of Krit taking advantage of her or treating her like I knew he treated women made my skin crawl. Low was too sweet for someone like him. She needed someone to handle her gently.
"Look, I'm sorry about what I said to Krit. It isn't my business who you date. I was out of line."
Not that I wouldn't do it again if I had to but I wanted to see her smile at me. She would be getting out of my truck in just a few minutes and I needed the sound of her laughter to keep me warm tonight.
"You were out of line. But you were right. Krit isn't my type.
I've been dodging him for awhile now."
Good. She knew he was an ass**le.
"So do you forgive me?" I asked glancing over at her.
A small smile lifted the corner of her lips.
"Yes, I suppose I do."
I let out a dramatic sigh of relief.
"Dang girl you had me sweating over here." The laughter I'd wanted to hear filled the truck. My chest expanded and I suddenly wanted to beat on it with my fist.
The girl was making me go all caveman.
"I'm sorry I worried you. I'm just tired tonight. It's been a long day."
"Will you be able to go straight to bed when you get there?" I didn't like the idea of leaving her at her sister's. I was growing accustomed to knowing she was safe and sound in the apartment at night.
"I'll get a shower first but then, yes, I'll go right to bed," she shifted in her seat and turned her head toward me. "Is everything okay with your sister?"
The memory of our almost kiss made me desperate to pull over and finish what was interrupted this morning.
"She's fine. Thanks."
"Good."
I waited hoping she'd bring up the kiss but she didn't.
Instead, we drove the rest of the way in silence. When she pointed to the small cinder block house I pulled into the driveway. Wishing there was some way to keep her with me.
"This is it," she said with a sleepy tone to her voice.
Unbuckling her seatbelt she reached for the handle on the door then glanced back at me, "Thank you for the ride tonight. I don't know how you knew I needed a ride but I'm very thankful you showed up. I'm exhausted and walking would have sucked."
I'd overheard Cage talking to her earlier on the phone. I knew from his end of the conversation that she needed a ride tonight but that she was going to get one from a coworker. I figured she was either telling Cage a lie to appease him and needed a ride or she had a ride but would cave in and let me take her home if I just showed up.
I'd been pretty dang determined when I walked into the restaurant tonight that I would be walking out with Low beside me.
"Yeah well I got my ways. But you know it would be easier on my superhuman powers if you'd call me next time. That way I won't have to use my mind reading skills." She giggled, "Okay I'll do that. I wouldn't want to be the cause of you overusing your super powers."
"My thoughts exactly. It would be incredibly helpful." Her laughter faded and she smiled at me then turned and stepped out of the truck.
I thought about walking her to the door but then I'd kiss her and suddenly that first kiss had become incredibly important. I didn't want it to be outside her sister's house.
Somewhere she hated. I wanted it to be somewhere she'd remember fondly. So instead I watched her until she was safely inside before I backed out of the drive and headed home.
Willow
When I got my hands on Tawny I was going to strangle her.
No strangling would be too good for her. I was going to pull out her hair one strand at a time. No, I was going to pull it out in large handfuls at at time. How were we even related?