Page 5 of Dusty and Dented
She lifted her head enough to glare at him.“Ha.Shows what you know.I still have the key.I can go home on my own any time I want.”
“But now you’ve been drinking.Are you sure you should get on the road after drinking?”He couldn’t help the patient smile that spread across his face.He hadn’t thought about her having the key when he’d told her he would take her home, or when he’d brought the whiskey, only that she’d looked like she could use it.And it looked like he hadn’t been wrong.She had more color in her face and more fire in her attitude than he’d seen from her all day.
“You son of a bitch.You did that on purpose.”Her eyes all but shot fire at him.
“No, actually, I didn’t.I gave you the shot because I thought you needed it.And I’ll stand by that.You’ve got better color and look less like death warmed over.I hadn’t even thought about you having the key or going home on your own until you brought it up.But now that you have, I’m glad I brought it to you.Like I said before, it’s better if you’re not behind the wheel.”He kept his voice soft and gentle.She’d been through enough today.He didn’t need to add to it if he could help it.
With another glare, she turned her attention back to her food, this time taking a bite before glaring at him again.
He watched her for a moment before digging into his own food.He was going to have his hands full with her, that was for sure.But he would do it.He would take care of her until she was able to take care of herself again.For Panther.Hell, if this continued, he might even enjoy it.
Chapter Five
Fire burned in Andy’sstomach.Not fire but the whiskey Dagger had insisted she’d drink.Okay, so he’d been trying to take it back when she’d picked it up and downed it, but still, he was the one who’d brought it to her and pushed her to drink it in the first place.
She stared down at her plate, focusing on eating so he would take her home.She took a bite and chewed it mechanically.She didn’t care about food.She didn’t care about the people around her talking and laughing as if Travis was here with them and not in a box in the ground.
Before she realized it, tears were streaming down her face again.Andy was so used to crying these days she barely noticed.But she continued eating, she had to finish this plate so the ass beside her would take her home where she could be alone.That’s all she wanted was to be alone to deal with her grief.
A couple of people approached and spoke to her.She nodded and accepted their condolences, but Dagger dealt with them mostly, and they quickly moved on.That suited Andy perfectly.She didn’t want to have to deal with anyone, to listen to anyone else tell her how sorry they were or ask if they could help.She just wanted to finish eating so she could get out of here.
She was almost finished with the food on her plate when someone sat across from her at the table.She didn’t look up right away, hoping whoever it was would take the hint and go away.But they didn’t.
“We need to make sure she’s taken care of until this is settled,” the newcomer said.
“I’m on it.I’ll keep her covered and make sure someone takes my place when I can’t be available.”
“Sounds like you’ve got it under control.”There was a pause, then the new guy spoke again.“Is she pissed at us or is something wrong?”
“I don’t think she’s pissed at the Angels.But maybe at me.And it’s been a hard day for her,” Dagger said from beside her.
“What did you do to piss her off, and why?”
Andy hated that they were talking about her as if she wasn’t even there, but since she refused to look up or acknowledge the newcomer, she also couldn’t tell him to go away, whoever he was.
“I brought her a shot of whiskey.”Dagger shrugged.Because he sat close enough to her that she could see him out of her peripheral vision she had a harder time ignoring him, even with her head down.“She was either in shock or damned close.Then I argued with her about drinking it.I was about to take it back when she snatched it up and drank it.I didn’t plan it, but it worked out.Then she threatened to leave and drive herself.I had to remind her she’d been drinking, and it wouldn’t be smart.Now she’s giving me the silent treatment.”
