Page 19 of Chief's Addiction

I approached Chief’s table again when I couldn’t reasonably avoid it any longer.

“Refill?” I asked, holding up the coffee pot.

“What time do you get off?” he countered.

“None of your business.”

“I’m driving you home.”

“Like hell you are.”

He leaned forward, his voice dropping. “Cora, don’t be a bitch. Your brother is worried. I promised him I’d keep an eye on you until shit settled down. Give me a fucking break, yeah?”

The nerve of this asshole.

Leaning in to match his fucking audacity, I growled, “I’ve been taking care of myself for a long time, buddy. Tonight won’t be any different. And don’t call me a bitch.”

The corner of his stupid sexy mouth twitched. “Humor me.”

“No.” I meant it. I didn’t need a damn babysitter. Especially if it was him. I was a big girl.

A muscle ticked in his jaw. “You’re still stubborn as hell.”

“And you’re an asshole who lied about being married!” The words spilled out before I could stop them.

The semi-playful gleam in his eyes shuttered and I instantly hated myself for it. “Haven’t been married for a long time.”

“I… I’m sorry,” I said genuinely meaning it.

“Four o’clock,” he said, completely ignoring my apology. “That’s when your shift ends, right? I’ll be waiting outside.”

My cheeks burned with indignation. “How do you?—”

“It’s posted on the door.” He pointed to the sign on the door that listed the The Burger Shack’s hours of operation. “I’ll be in my truck.”

“Do whatever you want. I’m not going anywhere with you.”

Chief’s expression didn’t change, but something in his eyes suggested he found my defiance amusing rather than deterring.

The smug bastard. I hated him.

“We’ll see.” He laid a fifty on the table, way more than his meal cost, and slide out of his seat. Even after all these years, his sheer size caught me off guard.

“See you at four, Cora.”

I stared at the money on the table, fighting the urge to run after him and shove it down his throat.

Bastard.

* * *

At ten after four I hung up my apron in the kitchen and said goodbye to Earl and Bethany.

“Have fun with Mr. tall, dark, and handsome,” she teased, waggling her eyebrows.

“I’m not—” I started, then stopped. There was no use wasting my breath. Bethany had been teasing me about Chief since he’d left earlier. “See you tomorrow.”

When I shoved open the door and stepped out into the late afternoon heat, I was hoping he had gotten tired of waiting and left.

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