Hot & Sticky

I grin. “I’m eighteen.”

“Sure about that,” he grunts.

“Want to see my ID?”

“Yes.”

I roll my eyes. “I’m eighteen, okay? It’s fine.”

He shrugs, and I sigh. “Okay, fine, jeez.” I march over to the rack of shelves by the storage closet and grab my wallet out of my purse.

“Here,” I giggle, handing him the ID.

He takes it and groans. “Jesus.”

“What?”

“Your birthday was like two months ago.” He looks up at me with a frown, but even I can see the hunger in his eyes.

“Yeah,” I murmur. “See? Eighteen.” I bite my lip, feeling wild and reckless as I step closer to him. “Barely,” I whisper.

West groans deeply, savagely.

“And you’re Matt’s niece.”

I wrinkle my nose. “Unfortunately. He’s kind of a disgusting creep.”

“Yeah, picked up on that.” West grins, rolling his eyes.

“So, you just always wanted to work at a cinnamon bun shop?”

“Oh, definitely,” I throw back dryly. “Just like you always wanted to fix air conditioners and get all dirty and sweaty.”

He grins. “Maybe I did. Maybe I like being dirty and sweaty.”

“Well maybe I love being sticky.”

God, if my mouth could just shut the fuck up sometimes, that’d be great.

“You guys open?”

Mercifully, I’m saved from my own word vomit by a customer at the window. I glance back at West, and I shudder when I see the heat in his eyes.

“Better get to work,” he growls quietly. “Looks like it’s going to be another hot one today.”

Tell me about it…

Regretfully, I make my way to the front of the shop, and another day in sweaty, sugar-frosted paradise begins. The first few customers are fine, followed by some real annoying touristy types. About half an hour in, though, suddenly a guy in all black strolls up to the window.

“Hi!” I smile. “What can I get you today?”

He grins wickedly. “How about you show me those tits?”

I blink, my jaw dropping. “Excuse me?”

He laughs. “Tits, baby. And while you’re at it…”

It happens to fast, I don’t even see him reach into his belt. But suddenly, right there pointed right at me, is a gun. My heart stops, and it feels like the whole freaking world just pauses around me.