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She nodded and allowed him to guide her to the counter. Too embarrassed to say anything, she waited by his side while he paid the bill.
They left the diner and made their way back to his truck. Dallas escorted her to the passenger side of the vehicle and opened the door for her. Helping her in, he shut the door and walked around the car. Her gaze followed him, and she swallowed, knowing she’d probably just messed up whatever chance she had with him.
The trip to her apartment building went by in silence aside from her occasionally murmuring directions. She clutched her bags in her hands, waiting for the moment that she could jump out.
“Who was that?” The deep baritone of Dallas’s voice broke through the uncomfortable silence.
“Nobody,” she breathed. She didn’t want to explain the whole my-ex-husband-is-in-prison-and-that-was-his-shady-ass-friend situation.
“It didn’t look like nobody.”
He turned into her parking lot and pulled up to the building.
“Thanks for the ride and the meal,” she muttered before grabbing her bags and bolting from the truck.
Chapter Six
Dallas strode through the door of The Commoner. He was in a shitty mood. He was early but didn’t care. He had to see Candi. He scanned the bar, but she was nowhere to be seen.
His gaze met Van’s who tipped his head in a nod. Security would be upped now that the weekend was upon them. Most of the shifts Dallas picked up at the bar were on the weekends.
It was a Friday night, and the basketball playoffs were starting this weekend. The bar would be packed with people coming to watch the games and have a good time.
He was certain Candi would be working. She was one of the best servers, and tips would be great tonight.
He didn’t know what had spooked her the other day, but he knew he didn’t like it. The guy at the diner had certainly frightened her. Something had changed about her. Everything had been going great. He’d even gone ahead and asked her to go out with him, but her answer had never come.
The fear in her eyes didn’t sit well with him, and he would get down to the bottom of it.
Making his way past the bar, he walked down the corridor for employees only. He watched Kay come from out of the back storage room.
“Kay, where’s Candi?” he asked.
She paused and eyed him up and down. He bit back a curse at the defiant look that crossed her face.
“What do you want with her?” she asked, crossing her arms in front of her chest. Her long blonde hair was pulled up in a bun on top of her head. She was a pretty woman but she didn’t do anything for him.
“That’s none of your business. Is she working tonight?” he asked, trying to keep his voice low.
Kay stepped close to him and narrowed her eyes on him. “She’s been through a lot, you know. You’re too intense, and I’m not sure she’s ready for the likes of you.”
She reminded him of a momma bear protecting her cubs. Fierce, loyal, and would probably scratch his eyes out.
“I’m not going to hurt her. I just want to talk to her,” he said, running a hand along his jaw.
Her scowl grew, and he rolled his eyes.
“I promise. I just want to talk to her.”
“Fine, but if you hurt her, you’ll be answering to me!” she snapped. Kay stepped to the side and waved him past.
He brushed by her, determination set in his stride. He pushed the door open. Candi teetered on a ladder, pulling a large box off the shelf in front of her.
“Dammit,” she cursed, tugging on it. She gave it one good yank, and the ladder wavered away from the wall.
She shrieked, and Dallas flew across the small room.
“Gotcha,” he announced.
