Live Free (Lords of Mayhem 3)

“I bet they did.” He smirked, taking a swig of the beer she set on table for him.

“What?” she asked.

“Bitches like to talk,” he said.

“So conceited.” She clicked her tongue.

“You telling me I’m wrong?” He watched her as she ran a hand along the back of her neck.

“No,” she mumbled.

“Mm-hmm.” He grinned and took another sip of beer. Might not be so bad having her around.

A timer dinged.

“And we’re ready to eat. I know you have a diet you keep to. I’m hoping this won’t wreck it too badly?”

“Naw, you’re good. I can indulge every now and then. Rule of thumb, lean protein, some veggie and some fruit.”

“Gotcha.” She bobbed her head and the dark hair she’d slicked back and put up into a high ponytail swayed from side to side.

Rocky didn’t have a type, really. An equal-opportunity man, he’d been with girls of all shades and shapes. Yet there was something Evonne had going he liked on a level deeper than physical. Fuck, she’s the first girl I’ve slept with who I didn’t want to make disappear in the morning. Gives shit a different perspective.

“I’ll serve you this time, but don’t think this is going to be a habit,” Evonne warned as she cut up pieces of bread and then the lasagna, placing them on his plain black ceramic plates.

Rocky laughed, relieved she wasn’t trying to play house. “That’s fair enough. You going to make me do dishes too?”

“Hey, I cooked, least you can do is clean.”

“I don’t know, might mess up my pretty hands.”

She snorted. “Please.” She walked to the table and placed the dishes across from one another. A glass of white wine sat at her place. “It feels nice to sit; it’s been awhile since I’ve been so domestic.”

“What, you don’t do this for yourself?”

She shook her head. “Maybe once or twice a week. I don’t have to make as much for just me and I usually go with light and quick. By the end of the day, my brain is fried from all the numbers and dealing with people. This may come as a surprise, but the more money people make, the bigger the assholes they tend to be when it comes time to do taxes and examine finances.”

Rocky threw his head back and laughed. “Where the hell have you been hiding this personality?”

She paused, swirling her wineglass around. “I’m not sure.”

“Most people don’t react this way to finding out something like you did.” Yep, she intrigued him.

“Hmm. Long story short, it sort of woke me up, you know? I’ve been asleep at the wheel a long time. It’s time I actually drive again.”

“Well, if you ever need a joystick…mine’s just down the hall and available.” He grinned wickedly.

She chuckled. “Thanks, I’ll keep that in mind. Bonus to your offer, I know you’re not a psycho taking pictures of me via hidden cameras in the wall.” Her expression clouded over and she stabbed at the lasagna while going quiet.

Taking the lull as his cue, he took a bite and moaned. “Good shit, Firecracker.”

“Thanks, it’s my gram’s recipe.”

“Big ups to gram,” he said, taking a huge bite of the garlic bread. The decadent taste soothed his craving for something other than health food. It was a tough balance, life in the M.C. and training for mixed martial arts, but it had stockpiled them a lot of money and made them good connections. Not that you’d see him in any legal ring. Rule one, stay off the radar as much as possible.

They finished their dinner around light conversation and witty banter. She seemed sharp as a tack and not afraid to kid with him. It earned his respect. When he’d seen her in the past, he used to wonder if she was shy or just plain scared of him and his brothers. “Okay, I got dish duty.” He pushed the chair back and stood, taking both of their plates.

“Thanks. You know I was serious about not wanting to cramp your style,” she said almost tentatively.