“I can’t believe you’re seriously going to do this for me,” I say, reaching into my apron for my keys. “You’re like a genie in a bottle.”
His dark eyes dance with amusement. “You must’ve rubbed me the right way.”
My jaw drops open.
“Sorry,” he says immediately, shaking his head. “You work for me. That was inappropriate.”
So are the mental images I now have of rubbing his dick. Well, at least those are nicer than the cozy images of cuddling with Nate on our stupid fucking couch.
Clearly unsure whether or not I took him seriously, he adds, “Also, I’m in a relationship, so I didn’t mean…”
Seeking to rescue him from his inadvertent, obviously not that serious advance, I inform him wryly, “I wasn’t thinking about fucking you, I was envisioning you listening to Christina Aguilera.”
A burst of surprised laughter later, he smiles wryly. “And that didn’t make you want to fuck me? Weird.”
I nod my mock-agreement. “It’s all very manly. My self-control is most impressive.”
“I hope I’m at least shirtless and pumping iron. That’s the only way I listen to my X-tina.”
Snorting with amusement, I can’t help grinning. “Well, you are now. And there’s a bikini-clad babe standing by with a protein shake, so no worries. Very masculine.”
“As long as the douchiest douche at the frat house would be impressed, then I’m happy.”
Grinning, I can’t help voicing my surprise. “You’re funny.”
Flashing me a truly devastating smile that plants hooks in my heart, he says, “What, bad guys can’t be funny?”
His smile may plant stakes in my heart so he can set up camp there, but his words rob me of my smile. “You’re not a bad guy.”
“There are a lot of people who m
ight disagree with you there, sweetheart.”
I would have been one of them, up until ten minutes ago. Now I shrug. “They can be wrong; I won’t lose any sleep over it.”
He smiles again. “Yeah, me neither.” Extending his large hand, he says expectantly, “Phone.”
I can’t believe I’m going to sic a mobster on my boyfriend. Oh well, asshole should have kept his dick in his pants. It’s not even that impressive a dick that he owed it to the world to spread it around. Stupid asshole.
I draw my phone out of my apron and hand it to Rafe.
“I’ll bring these back later when I’m done,” he assures me.
“You should really advertise these fringe benefits, I bet you’d get a lot more employment applications,” I tell him.
Even though he obviously knows I’m not serious, he shakes his head dismissively. “I save these benefits for my favorite employees.”
My brain knows he’s blowing smoke up my ass, being nice to the crying girl who got cheated on, but my heart… man, my heart soaks up his words like they’re its lifeblood. “Your favorite, huh?” I murmur, lightly.
He nods confidently. “Just don’t tell anybody.”
“My lips are sealed,” I assure him.
With another easy smile, he turns and leaves.
To him, I know it was nothing. A casual act of kindness, maybe even a chance to show off. He could do a nice thing (for me, anyway, certainly not for Nate) and come off as the hero. Maybe it was an ego boost, for all I know.
But to me, it meant something.