CHAPTER SEVEN

Payton

He frowned. “Fuck, Payton. You’re givin’ up before we’ve even started!”

“Better now than to end up hurting each other later.”

“I didn’t peg you for a coward.”

I knew he said this to goad me, but I wasn’t particularly liking the emotions running through me, so I wasn’t going to bite. I needed to stay strong, not allow the sadness of never seeing him again rule my actions. “Yep, I’m a coward. And if you knew anything about me, you’d pick up on that pretty quickly.”

“What I’m pickin’ up on, baby, is you’re a shit liar.” He smiled. “So, how about you come with me and we’ll talk some more.”

I let out an irritated groan. “Have you not heard a word I’ve said?”

“Have you eaten?”

“Alex.”

He pushed away from the car, closing the distance between us. “Babe, have you eaten?”

My traitorous stomach rumbled. “No. But I’m just a step away from a food source, so I’m all good.”

“Come eat with me.” Alex took my hand and gave it a squeeze. “We’ll talk.”

“I don’t do this, Alex.”

“Pickin’ up on that, Payton.”

“Why are you pushing?” I demanded, but of course I still stood there holding his hand.

“Can’t tell you why, babe, just know I have to.”

I studied him. Wrong choice. He was far too gorgeous for his own good and staring at him just made me want to get naked, so I looked at my feet. But that brought into view his muscular legs and sexy as hell motorcycle boots, so I moved my eyes away, catching a glimpse of our hands entwined, a silver dog skull ring on his finger, and that just about had me kneeling before him. Gah! I was far too easy.

“Fine. Dinner,” I said, and pulled out my cell phone. I texted my mom to let her know I wouldn’t be home for a few hours, even though my car was in the driveway. My parents were out anyway, so it’s not like they would be peeking out of the front room window to see who I was with, so I didn’t give them any further information.

After locking up my car, I let Alex lead me to his truck. It wasn’t old, but it was certainly beat up. He held the passenger door open for me and I had to climb into it, it was so high. As he made his way around the front of the truck, I took in the CB radio, grate between the front and back seats, and general disarray of the cab.

He climbed in beside me and started the engine.

“What do you do?” I glanced around the cab. “Assuming you do something outside of the club.”

“Bounty hunter.”

“Of course you are,” I muttered under my breath.

Alex laughed. “I get better looking by the second, admit it.”

“Wow,” I said. “Cocky much?”

He didn’t answer as he grinned and pulled away from the curb.

As we drove toward I-5, my phone rang and I pulled it out to find Macey calling. “Hey, Mace.”

“Hey. Did I leave one of my bags in your trunk?”

“I have no idea,” I said. “I’m actually not home right now, but I can check when I’m back.”

“Where are you?”

“With Alex.”

“Shut the front door. How did that happen?”

“No clue. He just showed up at home as I pulled in.”

“Are you okay with that?” she asked. “’Cause I’ll get Dallas to track you and pick you up if you want.”

I glanced at Alex who raised an eyebrow at me before focusing back on the road.

“I’m fine, Mace. But I’ll keep that in mind if he gets out of hand.”

“I want details.”

“It’s just dinner.”

“Still want details when you can talk,” she said.

“Yeah, yeah.” I smiled. “I’ll call you later.”

“’Bye,” she said, and hung up.

I dropped my phone back in my purse and glanced at Alex again. “Why are you called Hawk?”

“I was a sharp shooter in the marines.”

“Did you do any tours?”

“Two. Iraq.”

“Wow,” I whispered. “Thank you.”

He took my hand, linking his fingers with mine. “You’re welcome.”

“Where are we going?”

“What do you feel like?”

“Typically on a first date, I’d say somewhere I can get a salad.”

“But?” he countered.

“But, that’s because I usually eat beforehand in an effort to keep the fact that I eat like a four-hundred pound man a secret for a while. And since I didn’t do that, I’m in the mood for burgers, fries, and a big ass chocolate shake,” I admitted. “You wanted to get to know me. Welcome to the show.”

Alex laughed. “Burgerville it is.”