I'd Rather Not (KPD Motorcycle Patrol 3)

“Do y’all need anything? Ketchup? Extra napkins?” She twirled a piece of her hair between her fingers.

I opened my food and started to eat my large fries with extra cheese and chili.

The girl’s eyes went to me and they widened.

I wasn’t sure if it was because I’d started eating instead of answering or because she was disgusted by the amount of food that had to be mine.

When I took a rather long slurp of my chocolate shake, Pace started to snicker.

“Nah, I think we’re good,” he said. “Thanks, though.”

She tossed me a look, then smiled brightly at Pace, eyeing his lower body in his pants.

When her eyes lit on his legs, I could tell that there were about half a million questions on her mind.

“Oh, wow,” she said. “I didn’t realize you were missing your feet. How do you live like that? Is it tough to do daily activities?”

“He can fuck just fine, in case you were wondering,” I said around a mouthful of chili-cheese fries. “He’s actually great at it. Just yesterday he did me up against the kitchen counter. When he was done, he was able to wash the dishes, mow the lawn, and go for a short run.”

The girl was silent for a few seconds following that statement. Pace, however, had no problem bellowing with laughter.

“I’m…okay. Let us know if y’all need anything.” She skated off faster than she’d arrived.

I took another bite of my fries and looked over at Pace who looked like he was having trouble breathing.

“Are you okay?” I asked between bites.

“You just told that girl I fucked you against the counter,” he said. “And then mowed the lawn after.”

“Yeah, so?” I reached for my burger.

I was starving.

I had no idea how hungry I was until he’d forced me over here.

He just shook his head and started to dig into his own food.

It was as I was finishing up my chocolate shake and considering ordering another one that he said, “I love how protective you are.”

I grinned.

“I’m just being a decent human being,” I told him. “That girl was way out of line. Who the hell asks someone that?”

“People are curious,” he said. “I’m not offended. I don’t mind when they ask.”

I huffed out an annoyed breath.

“Just because you are comfortable doesn’t mean that I am,” I said. “I’m just annoyed. I…I’m in a bad mood. I think I’m about to start my period.”

Which explained my crazy outburst today. “I also got a prescription for birth control. I’ll start that once my period is over. Then we can do it without a condom.”

There was utter silence from the seat beside me.

When I chanced a look over at him, I saw that his eyes were heated and directly on me.

“What?” I asked.

“How long do you have to be on it for it to be effective?” he rumbled.

I licked my lips and fidgeted in my seat.

“He said a week,” I answered. “He also suggested I get on an IUD if I wasn’t planning on getting pregnant any time soon.”

There was silence following that statement.

“How many kids do you want?” I asked when he said nothing.

I could see him sitting stiffly in the seat at my side, and I was confused. Was he scared about the question I’d just asked him or was he still focusing on the no birth control?

“One. Maybe two.” He paused. “I’m not sure. I’m not sure how I feel about kids. I want at least one, but if that kid’s bad, I only want one.”

I laughed at that. “You never know. You could get a really good one, have another, and then get a really bad one. I mean, that’s what happened with Ford and me!”

Pace began to laugh and polished off the rest of his burger.

When he was done, he walked our trash to the trash can next to the door and got the entire Sonic employee roster watching him move.

I rolled my eyes at him when he turned on his prosthetic blades and started striding back toward me.

He was unaware of his fan club at his back, and I couldn’t help but grin at the look they made, all pressing themselves against the glass as if they’d never seen a man in a tight uniform before.

“What’s that look for?” he asked as he jumped in.

I gestured to the windows and Pace’s eyes traveled there.

And, comically, all the employees scattered, trying to look busy.

I grinned.

“You have a fan club,” I said.

He grunted something under his breath.

“What was that?” I teased.

“Fuckin’ KPD,” he muttered. “They’re all about getting us these stupid uniforms. Then complain when we get caught on fuckin’ social media.”

I was about to reply when Jackson pulled up in his squad car directly next to us.

“Goddammit.” Pace looked at the roof. “I swear to God, the universe hates me.”

Grinning, I started the Jeep up and started backing up before Sergeant Jackson could roll his window down or get out and engage us in conversation.