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I force myself not to grind my teeth. “What does your friend drive?”
“Oh, uh…” When he shoves his hands in his pockets and shuffles his feet, I want to fucking laugh. Dude can’t tell a lie to save his life. “It’s a…truck like mine.”
A pause hangs between us. “I get it. You like her.”
His face turns bright red, but his jaw tightens. He glances past me, no doubt searching for sight of Mac.
Evidently, he doesn’t spot her because he advances on me, a determined gleam in his eyes. I don’t budge from where I stand, because I’m sure as shit not intimidated by a pretty boy like him.
He draws to a stop in front of me, and I bite back a smirk when he has to nudge his chin up to meet my eyes. I’ve got a few inches of height on him, but I’ve got to give the dude credit. He’s got balls of steel.
“Look, man, I’m not pretendin’ to understand what you’re doin’ here, but it’s clear by your car”—he tips his head, gesturing to where it’s parked—“that trouble follows you. That’s not what Mac needs.”
“And you’re an expert on what she needs?” I challenge. In my face the way he is, I wonder if he can smell her fucking pussy on me. I nearly grin at the thought.
He expels a sigh. “Can you stop with the pissin’ contest already? You know what I mean. She doesn’t need somebody puttin’ her in danger.”
A rough sound climbs up my throat. “So, what? You’re warnin’ me off her?”
He folds his arms across his chest, his stare resolute. “If you’re not gonna respect her or keep her safe, yeah. Yeah, I am. Mac’s good people, and I don’t wanna see her hurt in any way.”
I’ve got to give the man credit. He’s not backing down, and there aren’t many men who would go toe-to-toe with me. Plus, he seems to genuinely care about her.
Still don’t like him, though. I don’t trust a man who can’t get a normal fucking haircut to keep his goddamn hair out of his eyes.
I dip my chin in a curt nod. “Understood.”
Our eyes hold for a long beat before his mouth parts, but he’s interrupted by Mac’s return. “Found one!”
33
MAC
Hayden’s quieter demeanor when I rang him up for the rim pisses me off to no end. He was subdued and not at all his normal easygoing and smiley self, which can only mean one thing.
The man who’s currently haunting my doorway is to blame.
“What did you say to him?”
Leaning casually against the doorframe, he appears to not have a care in the world. That shrewd gaze of his belies his nonchalant stance, however. “Nothin’ much.”
I let out a grunt of disbelief. “Right.”
“He a good guy?”
His question catches me off guard. “Hayden?” When Daniel nods, I shrug. “Yeah, sure. He’s definitely not an asshole like some of the others.”
I file the copy of Hayden’s receipt and pin Daniel with a scathing look. “He’d never pull a gun on me, if that’s what you’re asking.”
His voice holds a caustic edginess. “You like him?”
“He’s a nice enough guy.”
Daniel straightens. “Not what I asked.”
I exhale slowly. “Look, maybe you weren’t taught manners, but this is the point where you’ve worn out your welcome.”
He crosses the room and braces his hands on the counter across from me. “Told you I needed your help.”
