“Fuck you.”
“If you really want to add that to the price, we can talk about it, but first, I want to know you’re actually willing to work for something.”
How dare he… Was he insinuating… “That’s absurd. Just tell me how much you charge for a rush body job, and—”
“Are you scared someone will find out? I chose a week because Remington’s out of town. He never needs to know.”
I glared at him. “How do you know when he’ll be back?”
“I keep up with handy information. Do we have a deal?”
The room swam around me. This was insane. He couldn’t really expect me to work for him. I’d never worked for anyone but my father and my brother, and they didn’t… believe I could do a damn thing or act responsibly. If I did this, maybe they would… No, I wouldn’t be able to tell them unless I could find some excuse like needing work done on my motorcycle and not wanting to ask for money. It would prove I could get something done on my own.
As to the rest of it, I wanted Beau like I’d never wanted anyone else, but I also knew that, while we’d be explosive together, we would also be as destructive as a volcanic eruption.
Seven
Beau
“You haven’t answered me,” I growled.
I gripped Corbin’s chin, forcing him to look at me.
That was a mistake.
Once I touched him, I didn’t want to take my hand away. I wanted to rip off his clothes and feel his skin against mine. I wanted to change my mind and make him pay with his body.
He raised his eyes to mine, and they were filled with defiance. “I accept your price.”
My lips curved up, and it was all I could do not to laugh. I’d dealt with a lot of shit in the last few weeks. I deserved to have some fun, but there was a limit. I wasn’t afraid of Corbin’s brothers, not the way most people would be. If you’d dealt with what I had in prison and from my enemies before, not much would scare you. Once you’ve seen hell, what’s anyone going to do to you that’s worse? Still, I didn’t want to piss off the Theriot family. They were useful allies, and they could put me out of business easily if they decided to. They also wouldn’t hesitate to kill me—or at least try. I’d gotten damn good at avoiding attempts on my life once I found out my “friends” weren’t who I thought they were.
I was good at protecting myself, but I liked my life. I already had an unidentified enemy trying to frame me for murder and scare me off. I wasn’t starting over again, which meant I had to solve this problem, and that would be easier if I kept my hands to myself.
I let go of Corbin and stepped away. “I’ll expect you here Monday at seven.”
“Seven?”
“You could come earlier if you prefer. I can go ahead and tell you what to get started on now.”
He looked at me like I’d lost my mind. “I don’t—”
“Want your brother’s car fixed. All right then, I’ll—
“Do you have to be such a dick about it?”
I grinned. “I’m not the one who fucked up the car.”
“I’m not either.”
“You left that gorgeous piece of machinery in the public parking area of the casino. What the fuck were you thinking?”
“All I had to do was run in and talk to someone quickly.”
“You wanted everyone to see you, so you made a big show of getting out and prancing into the place, didn’t you?”
Corbin grimaced as he turned away and looked out the window despite it being too dark for him to see a thing.
“Look at me, Corbin.”
Several seconds passed in silence. I was willing to wait as long as I needed to. Slowly, he turned to face me. When our eyes met, I saw the resentment in his. He hadn’t wanted to obey, but he had. That was what was important. For now.
“Have you ever had to work for anything?” He glared at me. Then he said something I never anticipated.
“My family’s respect.”
As soon as the words were out, he started to walk away, but I grabbed his arm, pulled him back, and cupped his face in my hands. “I can teach you how to earn that if you’re not too much of a brat to learn.”
For the first time he didn’t look angry, he looked hopeful. “Are you sure that’s possible?”
“It is if you’re willing to listen to me.”
He laughed, but he didn’t look happy. “That’s the problem. I’m not sure if I am.”
“Then you might have to learn some lessons the hard way.”
He narrowed his eyes. “You won’t hurt me.”
“Are you sure about that?”
“You can say all you want that you’re not afraid of my brother, but I’m not stupid. No one wants to stand face-to-face with him. You’re not going to hurt me.”