He must have parked on the side, she thought as she walked forward. She would be damned if she ran like a scared rabbit and went back inside.
“What do you want?”
“I want to make sure you’re not spreading rumors you can’t back up.” The mild-mannered man she had dated was gone. The ugly expression he made no effort to hide gave her the willies.
“I don’t spread rumors. Fucker, I’m giving you a heads-up; you need to stay the fuck away from me before you discover a world of hurt that you never knew existed.”
“I’m not afraid of the Destructors. You’re not the only one with friends. You’re the one who should be afraid of me.”
“You’re threatening me?” she scoffed. “Your idea of getting laid is to roofie a defenseless woman. I’m done talking to you. I see your ugly face come near me again, you won’t be missing work; you’ll be claiming disability.” She shoved him away from her car door to open it, making sure she didn’t turn her back to him as she slid into the seat then slammed the door closed.
Sam was walking back to his car when she started driving out.
Safely on the road, she started shaking. It had enraged him that she had dared to shove him away from her. Sam had a loose screw, but she had already found that out when he tried to drug her.
She should go to Stud and tell him what was going on, yet she couldn’t bring herself to do that with Fat Louise wanting that job. She and Cade had a kid, and Cade had sunk money into going into business with Killyama’s friends, Hammer and Jonas. They were bounty hunters. With Cade joining them, they had been able to guarantee higher bonds. Until they were able to recoup their investment, they needed Fat Louise’s paycheck.
All Crazy Bitch wanted was a bath and bed, but she had forgotten about Calder until she saw his motorcycle sitting out front of her apartment.
She smelled the food he was cooking as she climbed the stairs. She had given him a key so he wouldn’t have to wait outside for her to get off. However, she hadn’t expected him to already be cooking.
He opened the door before she could. Looking flustered, he then turned back to the stove. He had changed from his jeans and T-shirt he had worn that morning into shorts and a tee so faded you couldn’t make out the words scrolled across the front.
“You hungry? You’re late. I was afraid I would burn it before you got here. I took a shower to clean off after work. I hope that’s okay?”
“I told you I didn’t care when I gave you my key. I’m starved. It doesn’t smell burned. How’d you figure out the recipe?”
“I didn’t. I just put it all in a pan.”
“It’s called cowboy casserole.” Reaching for the plates in a cabinet, she held them out for him to spoon the glob he had made.
“Casserole.” He gave each of them a generous portion before turning off the stove. “I fucked that up, then.”
“I’m sure it’ll taste the same.”
They took a seat at the counter, both of them experimentally tasting the food.
“It’s good. If Greer gives us another recipe, it’s all yours,” she complimented.
“It’s not much of a clue. We still don’t know where the next clue is.” Calder stood up to get a second helping.
Crazy Bitch scooted her plate across the counter, not bothering to get up. “Hit me again.”
Calder smiled, giving her what was left before sitting back down.
“Thanks for cooking.”
“Glad to help out. You work some long-ass hours.”
“It wasn’t as bad when Sex Piston bought the shop, but the days are getting longer, or I’m getting older.”
“You’re not old.”
“I’m not nineteen anymore, that’s for damn sure.”
“You’re not the only one. I wouldn’t go back to nineteen if I had to.”
“I wouldn’t mind having my nineteen-year-old ass again.”
Calder put their dishes in the sink with the dirty pan. “I remember your ass back then. It’s better now.”
She avoided his admiring gaze. “I’ll load the dishwasher after taking a shower. Don’t forget to leave my key on the counter before you go.”
Calder came around the counter, reaching into his pocket and coming out with the key, which he placed down beside her hand. “You sure you don’t want me to stay the night in case we come up with the next clue?”
Thinking more about not wanting to be left alone after Sam’s threatening behavior, she didn’t nix the suggestion.
“Fine, you can load the dishwasher.” She moved around him to go take a shower, expecting him to complain about doing the dishes after cooking. He didn’t.
Damn, he was looking sexier by the minute. Not only had he looked all house-wifey when she had come in the door, but now the stud muffin was going to do her dishes.