Page 63 of Will Bark for Pizza
Fuck, she was beautiful.
I yearned to explore every peak and valley with my fingertips.
The moment was shattered a second later when those blue eyes narrowed into daggers directed right at me. She spun away, putting her back firmly to me.
Message received.
“Heard you got assaulted by the book club today,” Luke said from behind a menu he probably didn’t need to look at but studied anyway every time we came here. He always ordered the same damn thing.
“I joined them for lunch,” I offered, sneaking another glance at Kira.
“You sure you want to go there?” Thoren asked, hisvoice low enough to be drowned out by the country music so Luke didn’t hear.
Fuck, had I been that obvious?
“Not going anywhere.”
Kira Mason was off limits.
Whether she hated me or not, that would never change.
But fuck, I was only a man. It was impossible not to appreciate the view.
“Guess we’re both full of shit tonight, huh?” I asked him.
“They had some opinions about Dad selling the bookstore?” Luke asked of the book club ladies.
“When did you become such a gossip girl?” Thoren ribbed.
“It’s not fucking gossip,” Luke shot back. “I need to know what’s going on in my town.”
“Sure,Glenda.”
Luke shot him a pissy look.
Kat Hayes broke the tension, arriving at the table with a tray of drinks—iced tea for Luke, who was in uniform, a water for me, and a lager for Thoren. She dropped a fully tattooed arm around Thoren’s shoulders and squeezed him in a half hug. “You boys need an appetizer?”
“Surprise us?” Thoren said to his aunt.
“I got something I think you’ll like.”
“No jalapenos,” Luke pleaded.
“I’ll go easy on you. This time.”
“I appreciate that. Say, you going soft, Kat?” Luke asked, nodding to the women in the corner by the dartboard.
“Don’t you worry about me,” she said to Luke. “Your sister’s on probation, and I refuse to serve her any alcohol, even if she’s on her best behavior.”
“If she gives you any trouble?—”
“I’ll let you do the honors.”
Thoren looked at me. “Luke put Kira in the back of his patrol car last summer, in the cage, and drove out of here with lights flashing.”
“Seems excessive,” I said.
Luke’s expression soured, but before he could explain himself, Thoren chimed in.
