Page 40 of Junkyard Dog

“Friends withlimitedbenefits,” he interjected under his breath, his eyes tracking the new customer.

“Friends withlimitedbenefits…” she hushed, glancing back to ensure she wasn’t being overheard. “Should have pretty clear lines between the friends and the benefits,limitedas they may be.” She hunched over her coffee, her throat tightening in anticipation of her next statement. “Maybe we should keep this more in booty-call territory. If you’re okay with it.”

His eyes widened for a moment before they darkened, his lips drawing tight. “Booty-call territory.”

Keeping her attention on her mug, she nodded. “Yeah, well, you’re leaving soon. I could transfer out whenever something comes up. Neither of us are in a position to actually have a relationship, whether we want one or not.”

Ignoring the immense man with the long black hair sitting at the end of the bar, he spread his hands on the counter and narrowed his eyes. “You want this to be nothing more than a hookup?”

“No. Yes. No,” she stammered, flustered. “I’m trying to be realistic.”

“Realistic,” he echoed.

Looking up at him, she shrugged. “What do I say? Yeah, I want more than a hookup, but I’m not dumb enough to think it can be anything else.”

“You’ve had a brutal twenty-four hours. You’ve probably slept, what, two or three of those? I’m going to hazard a guess based on your ponytail that you were at work this morning.” He ran his hands over his face. “I’m not sure you saying this now isn’t some knee-jerk reaction to the stuff you’re dealing with.”

“I freaked out before I found the…” She paused as the visual flashed across her mind and set her coffee down. “I’m almost as bad at this as you are. And you, Alex, are really, really bad.” When he pursed his lips to keep from smiling, she leaned across the bar and stretched one hand toward him. “I forgave you for your ‘Becky’s my type’ speech, so you kind of owe me a mulligan. Think about it and text me when you decide what you want.”

His strange eyes narrowed at her, his hand inching across the bar toward hers before he adjusted his stance, blocking her view of the large man behind him. “Are we negotiating the benefits, too?” he asked quietly, giving her fingers a quick squeeze and releasing them.

“Ha! Maybe.”

*

Hades remained inplace until the door closed behind Charlotte. “You heed her call.”

Twisting the cap off a bottle of beer, Alex slid it across the bar and knelt to resume counting inventory. “Guy’s gotta get laid, right?”

“You’ve yet to bed her,” Hades stated as he took a sip of the drink and thumped it down. “She still watches you with uncertainty and curiosity.”

Jotting down the final tally, he tossed his notepad beside the till. “Just chasing rabbits. It’s always about the hunt, isn’t it?”

His master rose to his feet slowly, his immense height dominating even Alex’s considerable size. Hades sauntered around the bar until he stood toe-to-toe with him. “Ryan will always return to me willingly,” he said, crossing his arms. “It’s in his nature to obey, to carry out my commands. He has always derived satisfaction from a mission well done.” When Alex looked away, he sighed. “And Bo? Bo follows Dionysus in all his incarnations, be it up here or back home. He’s easily leashed. Easily subdued with the right persuasions. But you, Alexandros.” He chuckled. “You obey out of obligation, an internal sense of duty. And I suspect my orders will not always take precedence.”

Ducking out of Hades’s intense stare, he took a step back. “I’ve given you no reason to question the depth of my loyalty.”

His boss glanced over his shoulder. “It’s not the depth I question.”

Without another word, Hades strode past him and out the door, leaving him alone in the dimly lit lounge.

He eased his cell from his pocket and tapped the phone to life. “Hey. Can I come over?”

*

Alex snorted asCharlotte’s front door was flung open, Max stomping through her kitchen.

“Does he ever knock?” he whispered, tightening his arms around her when she moved to stand.

Max poked his head around the corner, a slice of cold pizza in hand. “I’ve knocked. Chuck and I figured I’ve knocked five times since we met. And I have a key because I’m her favorite.” He crossed the room and wedged himself between the pair, forcing Alex to release Charlotte before she was crushed. “What are we watching?”

Charlotte booted Max’s foot off her coffee table. “Alex and I are watching an old Kevin Smith. You, however, are leaving.”

Max glanced over at him. “You hear how she treats me? Mean, mean, mean.” He stuffed the last of the pizza in his mouth. “We’ve been put on mornings for the next two weeks to aid in the sweep of the park.”

“And you couldn’t text me?” Charlotte snarled, looking over to Alex apologetically. “I’m sorry my baggage has such poor manners and smells like teriyaki chicken.”

“Mean, I tell you,” Max reiterated as he stood. “Lost my phone somewhere on the trail. It must’ve flown off the dash on a corner.” He strode toward the open door. “If you plan on scoring tonight, do it quick. None of that drawn-out tantric bullshit. I’m picking you up in seven hours.”

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