Zach (Hell's Handlers MC 1)

What were the chances that she would slap his face if he reached out and brushed it off for her?

Pretty damn high.

Her eyes narrowed at him, as though she could sense his dirty thoughts, but a pretty pink flush stole across her cheeks. That flush had nothing to do with the heat of the kitchen and everything to do with the heat of Zach’s stare. She may deny it until she turned blue, but she wanted him just as much as he wanted her. Now, how to bust down her walls?

A throat cleared. “You gonna hand over those menus, darlin’ or you want me to read them with my mind?” Maverick did his own perusal of Toni, pausing his gaze on her tits before he turned his smug grin on Zach.

Swallowing down the urge to rip the bar right out of Maverick’s eyebrow, he turned his attention back to Toni. Mav was harmless. Well not really, but despite his horny bastard status, he’d never poach on a brother’s turf. The taunting was all in good fun. Fun for Mav, anyway.

Not that Toni was Zach’s turf. But she would be. For a short while.

“Oh yes! Sorry. I, uh, I was just…”

Maverick laughed. “No need to explain. My man Zach here can turn even the most eloquent of women into a blabbering mess.”

Toni raised an eyebrow at him. Wonderful. Now she’d think he was as much of a dog as Maverick. Not that it really mattered what she thought of his character. As long as the teasing didn’t impair his chances for five weeks of no-strings sex.

She snickered. “I’m sure he does. Here’s your menus. Coffee?” she asked, after placing a laminated menu in front of each of them. They both nodded. “Be right back.”

Zach wanted to watch her ass as she walked away, but he also wanted to keep Maverick from staring at the same ass, so he kept his focus on his friend and asked. “What looks good?”

“Oh man.” Mav groaned. “Think they’d look at me funny if I ordered one of everything?”

“I don’t think your girlish figure could handle it.”

“Fuck you. Not my fault I ain’t built like the Hulk. What do you think cinnamon roll waffles are?” Face blocked by the tall menu, Maverick groaned again. “Scratch that. I don’t care what it is as long as I can get enough bacon to clog each and every one of my arteries.”

With a snicker, Zach glanced over his own menu. “I know I like cinnamon rolls. And I know I like waffles. Besides that, I don’t have a clue what they are. You’ll have to ask Toni.”

“Ask Toni what?” She reappeared with a coffee pot and filled their glasses. “Sugar and creamer,” she said, indicating a small bowl filled with coffee fixin’s. “Now, what did you want to ask me?”

Zach opened his mouth, but Maverick beat him to the punch. “Two things,” he said. “First, what are cinnamon roll waffles, and second, how the hell do you manage to make a diner T-shirt look so sexy?”

“Uh, well…” Her eyes cut to Zach, as though gauging his reaction to his brother’s blatant flirting. To put her at ease, he rolled his eyes. Nothing in the world would change who Maverick was. And neither Zach nor anyone from their club would have it any other way. He was the best of all of them in good times and could flip the switch to coldest and deadliest when necessary.

Pleasure surged in Zach when Toni decided to go along with the crazy. If she was going to be his fuck buddy for a month, she’d need to be able to handle his brothers. And they were an armful.

“It’s my gift really. Looking like this in a diner shirt.” With a giggle that was more of a snort, she struck a pose. “And my little gift to my customers.”

Mav burst out laughing and winked at Toni. “Damn, Zach, I like this one. You chose wisely.”

The smile slid right off Toni’s face, and Zach could have killed his friend in that moment. Damn idiot was going to destroy his chances with one stupid comment. He cleared his throat. “The waffles?”

“Oh, right.” She brightened again. “Well, they’re cinnamon roll dough but instead of baking them in the oven, they are pressed in the waffle iron. And they’re served with a cream cheese, cavity-inducing glaze. One of Ernesto’s new creations, and they are to die for. Well worth the six pounds you’ll gain eating just one.”

“Sold.” Mav held his menu out to Toni. “With a side of all the bacon in the joint.”

“Make it two,” Zach said. That sounded so damn good, saliva pooled in his mouth in anticipation.

“You won’t be sorry. The second you get it in your mouth—” Her eyes widened as though she suddenly realized the implication of her words. “I mean, it’s delicious, or, um…”