Making the Break (Beating the Biker 2)

“What?”

“Well, the woman your grandfather wanted to marry chose my Grandpa instead.”

“Wait, what? All this bullshit these years between our families is because of a romantic rivalry?”

“Apparently so.”

“And your uncle concocted this plan, why?”

“Who can tell who came up with it first? But one thing I can be sure of: he picked me knowing it would tick off your grandfather.”

Chrissy cursed as she cooked the food. She looked around the kitchenette. “You don’t have a toaster?”

Saks shrugged. “Nope.”

Chrissy muttered as she opened the oven and stuck the English muffins under the broiler.

“Smells good,” said Saks hopefully.

“Madonna,” snapped Chrissy, ignoring the compliment. “Why are they engineering a gang war? This is ridiculous!”

“I have no idea. It does neither family good.”

“There has to be a long-term payoff.”

“Like being the major crime family in the state?”

“Like that’s going to happen. There’re at least six minor families ready to step up.”

“Seriously?”

Chrissy put the spatula on the counter. “You really don’t know, do you?”

“I’ve tried to stay out of the business,” said Saks.

“Maybe if you kept plugged in, you would have steered your uncle away from this crazy plan.”

“Me?” said Saks. “You’re blaming me?” He glared at Chrissy in disbelief. The last thing he wanted was to get involved Uncle Vits’ crazy plan. “You’re the one who said that you didn’t want anything to do with a Rocco man.”

Chrissy stared at him, her eyes wide, with the spatula in her hand again like she was going to swat him. Her mouth was open, but no words came out.

“You’d better watch that bacon,” he said, peering over the counter at the pan of frying bacon. “It looks like it’s about to burn.”

She shook the spatula at him and looked at the bacon, muttering as she swiped the pan off the burner. “Who cooks with electric heat, anyway?” she sputtered. She turned her back to him to grab paper towels from the holder but cursed when there weren’t any. “How’s anyone supposed to drain bacon without paper towels!”

Even Saks, who could count his long-term success with women on one thumb, realized this woman was on the verge of a meltdown. “Baby,” he said, “it doesn’t matter.”

“What? That I ruined bacon, or my life?”

Saks stood, not sure what to do, but wanted to do something, anything to get Chrissy to calm down. Though he was extremely aware that he was entering Chrissy’s war zone, he scooted through the opening to the kitchenette and wrapped his arms around her waist. “How is your life ruined?” he said gently.

Chrissy looked up at him with her liquid caramel eyes, and then closed them as tears spilled out. “Damn you,” she said, hitting her fits on his chest. “Damn you. Why did it have to be you?”

“What, baby? What’s bothering you?”

“You!” she exploded, pushing him hard.

He let her go, surprised at her sudden desire to get away from him.