Loan Shark Love

The object of my daydreams, the source of my desires, stands holding me in his strong, capable arms and all I can do is shake. Grey pulls a handkerchief from his pocket and softly dabs under my eyes.

I hadn’t even realized I was crying, but it isn't a surprise to me.

Grey is a true gentleman. I can’t believe that I’m lucky enough to be saved by him.

“You did good,” Grey tells me, giving me an encouraging smile. “I came over to you as quickly as I could, but the crowd was so….”

“It’s okay,” I say, loud enough to be heard over the thumping music. “Thank you.”

“Are you okay? Did they…?”

“I’m alright, but I lost my friends, and I’m not sure where they are,” I tell him, looking around hopelessly to try and find them. “Can we just get out of here? I don’t want to be here anymore.”

Grey looks at me, his gaze full of affection, making me feel warm and giddy.

“Do you like pizza?” he asks.

CHAPTER FOUR

Grey

I still want to rip those men apart, and I would too if Rose wasn’t curled around me. I had planned to make them a bloody mess, but I want Rose to feel safe with me.

“Natalie is still at the club,” I tell her as we make our way down the street. “The driver can pick us up after she’s done. The pizza place isn’t far off from here.”

Rose doesn’t say anything, but she squeezes her arms tightly around me.

I debate picking her up and carrying her just for the hell of it, but I don’t know if she would appreciate being treated like an invalid. I’m sure that she wouldn’t.

A Slice or Two is a little brick building on a quiet street corner, with flickering lamps lighting the glass door. Inside, I can see that a few people are eating in the booths by the windows, but it will be quiet enough for us to have a nice dinner.

“Will you stay close to me?” Rose asks in a quiet voice. Her hand wraps around mine, pressing warmly against my skin. “Don’t leave me alone, please Grey.”

The sound of my name from her mouth is like a song, so very sweet in my mind.

“I won’t leave your side, I promise,” I tell her, cupping a hand to the back of her head gently for a moment. “I won’t let anyone hurt you ever again, Rosie.”

We make our way inside under the ringing doorbell, and a sweet-looking older woman guides us to a booth in a dimly lit corner, sliding menus over to us.

Rose looks overwhelmed by the various pizza and calzone selections, so I look at her.

“How about a large pepperoni pizza and an order of bacon breadsticks?” I ask her.

Rose shifts uncomfortably, looking away. “I really shouldn’t have all those carbs.”

At first, I’m not even sure what she means, but when her hand brushes absentmindedly over her stomach, looking down at it, I realize what she was implying.

“Nonsense,” I tell her. When I reach over, she puts her hand in mine once again. I’m completely honest when I say, “Only the most beautiful women eat pizza and breadsticks, and you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen, Rose.”

The pink that spreads across her cheeks is so enticing, and I see her push her shoulders back, looking a little more confident than before.

“I guess a few slices wouldn’t hurt me too much,” she says, shrugging.

Once we order and the waitress brings over our drinks and the platter of pizza and breadsticks, Rose begins to loosen up from the hard exterior she had taken on in her fear at the club.

She slathers a piece of pizza with ranch dressing and rolls it up neatly.

“What?” she asks when she sees me laughing, but there’s a smile on her face.

“Ranch dressing rolled up in pizza?” I ask her as I finish one slice and start on another.

“That’s the best way to eat it,” Rose answers with a shrug, taking a bite.

“I’ll take your word for it.” I take a bite, and Rose reaches out a hand. “What?”

“Give me your pizza slice,” she says, and I don’t think I could deny her anything at this point, so I hand it over, letting her fold a glob of ranch dressing inside it. “There you go. Now you’ll see what I mean about the ranch. Go ahead and try it.”

I shake my head, laughing as she hands it over. When I take a bite, Rose grins and I’ve never been happier than I am now. Of course, she’s happy about it too.

“It’s good,” I tell her, nodding. It’s not that good, but seeing her smile is worth it.

Rose looks up at me, uncertain. “Grey?” she asks me hesitantly, wringing her hands. I hate that she looks so unsure around me. I just want her to be happy.