Passing the Torch (Devil's Knights 2nd Generation 1)

Yeah, the question popped out. At this point, I wasn’t surprised at my lack of filter. Might as well just roll with it. Might help me get answers to the questions that were swirling around my mind.

Hero chuckled. “I’m not there every day, Sunshine.”

“Every other day?” I quipped.

He shook his head and smirked. “Awkward and sassy.”

I worked on slathering both pieces of bread with mayo and then made an intricate blanket on one of the pieces. I slapped the other piece on, mayo side down, and handed it to him. “Eat up. I gotta work in forty-five minutes.”

Hero took the sandwich and chomped into it with a huge bite. I built my sandwich, twisted the lid back on the mayo, put it in the fridge, and turned back to see Hero had already finished his sandwich.

“Holy hell, man. Did you inhale that?”

Hero drained his coffee cup and moved to the pot for a refill. “I was hungry.”

Obviously. “Do you want another one?”

He shook his head. “No, Sunshine. I’m good. Just need about two more cups of coffee and I’ll be good for the day.” He filled his cup and turned to lean on the counter. “That was good, though.”

Well, that was nice to hear. “Thank you.”

He looked me up and down. “You ready for work?”

I glanced down at my faded jeans and orange shirt. The word Sunkist was sprawled across my chest. I was a junkie for vintage shirts. “Yes.”

I grabbed my sandwich and took a big bite. I didn’t know if that was a loaded question or not. I had darted to my room when I had woken up before Hero and gotten ready. I wouldn’t have won any beauty contests, but at least I looked presentable.

He nodded but didn’t say anything. He asked me if I was ready for work as if I didn’t look like I was ready. What exactly did he expect me to wear to wash and groom dogs all day.

“Are you ready for work?” I countered.

Hero choked on his coffee. He swiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “You keep me on my toes, Sunshine.” He wiped his hand on his jeans. “I’m about ready as I can be.”

Even sleeping in his clothes, Hero still looked good. If I would have worn the clothes I had slept in all night, I would have looked like a wrinkled mess.

I ate three more bites of my sandwich while he finished his coffee. He set his cup in the sink and stepped toward me. “I’m gonna run, Sunshine.”

Oh. Okay. I swallowed the bite I had just taken and set my sandwich down. “Okay?” Why did I always sound like I was so unsure of myself when he told me something. Lord.

He took another step toward me. He was an arm’s length away. Wanna know how I knew that?

Because he reached out and laid his hand on my waist. The heat of his palm burned through the thin material of my shirt. “I don’t know if I’ll have time to stop by the shop today.”

I didn’t think he would, but I was still a little disappointed. “No worries. It’s not like Barbara will be there waiting for you or anything.”

He laughed and shook his head. “As much as I think Barbara is a good girl, I don’t come there for her.” He leaned into me, and his other hand wrapped around my waist. He pulled me close, until my lips were a breath away from his. “You good if I kiss you?”

Whew, Lord! His words sent goosebumps up my arms, and my heart fluttered. “Uh, are we doing that? Kissing, I mean?” I still didn’t get what we were doing. I mean, if he wanted to kiss, then who I was to tell him no?

“Only if you’re down with it, Sunshine. I need a green light from you right now.”

I blinked twice. Hero was taking the lead, but I was still in control. I could tell him to leave right now and he would. “Just what are we doing here, Hero?” I whispered.

He smiled.

Sweet Jesus. I thought his smile was lethal before when he was across the room. Up close and personal was out of this world.

“We really gotta give it a name?”