Page 20 of Property of Grifter
“Griffin.I can’t.This skirt is way too short!It didn’t used to be.It used to hang down to my ankles before my maniacal Nana got ahold of it with her scissors from hell.Now, even Kim Kardashian would blush wearing this!”I tell him this while I’m climbing on the damn bike because I have no brain cells.Griffin laughs the entire time I do it, enjoying the fact that he and Nana have made me insane.“It’s not funny!”I snap.
“It’s hilarious,” he counters.“But that’s not why I’m laughing.I’m doing that because I’m happy.”
I glare at him.“What on earth could you possibly bethathappy about?”
He looks back at me, eyes warm.“Because if your grandmother were younger, I’d be torn and wracking my brain as I try to figure out how to get both you and her to claim me as your man.Thankfully, she’s not since I don’t think I’ve got the stamina to keep you both happy, so I’ll just stick to spoiling her and claiming you.”
“You’re crazier than Nana,” I squeak in shock.
He lets out a dry chuckle, starts the bike, and over the roar of the engine yells, “Hang on.”
I wrap my arms around him, trying not to think about how solid he feels or how good he smells.As the bike takes off, I find myself wondering if I’m going to survive the night with my heart intact—or if I’d already lost it to the man in front of me.Then, I realize that even if I did—which I highly doubt—there’s no way I’ll be a virgin by morning.I don’t have that much willpower.With that thought, I bang my head repeatedly against Griffin’s back.I hear him laughing and I sigh, enjoying the sound.I’m in so much trouble and no one is going to help me.
I don’t even want to help myself.
10GRIFTER
I’ma steak and potatoes kind of man.Give me a bloody side of beef and I’m a happy guy.It’s usually my favorite thing ever but sitting across from Georgia, in some no-name roadhouse, I realize I’ve only been living half a life.Nothing I’ve done, experienced or dreamed could live up to the pleasure I’m feeling by having Georgia sitting here in this low-lit restaurant, wearing a peach, silk blouse tucked into her black skirt Nana had butchered into a mini skirt that makes me want to drop to my knees and worship.I’m not even going to start on the way her hair looks like she just got out of my bed.Fuck, the woman is perfection—gorgeous, dangerous, perfection.
She deserves a night out in a better place than this joint, but there’s not a large selection around here.Still, this place smells like sizzling steaks and warm butter.Soft music is being played overhead.It’s the kind of music that makes everything slow down a notch.It’s all dim lighting, dark wood and leather booths.It’s eclectic with mismatched tables in different tones of dark wood.Booths have worn leather for cushions and manage to be comfortable and welcoming all at once.I have to admit that I like it.I almost feel …civilized.The thought makes a smile pull at the corner of my lips.
I reach across the table, brushing a strand of hair from Georgia’s face.She shies away slightly, making me smile.
“Have you been here before, Georgie?”
She blinks, pink creeping up her neck.“No … I like food, but the diner in town is about the only place I’ve been.If I take Nana out of town, she usually demands we eat at McDonalds.Why a grown woman loves that place, I have no idea.”
“Davis never bothered to take you to a nice restaurant?”I ask before I can stop myself.
“D-D-Davis?”she asks, surprise written on her face.
“You’ve gone out with him, right?”
“No, I mean, not on a real date.At least, that’s not what I would call it.He’s joined me and Nana for dinner a couple of times.Sometimes when I’m in the diner, he comes in for his lunch hour.”
“How often is that?”
I see her face colors prettily.“Um …”
The son of a bitch has been dating her, and she didn’t even know.What a limp dick move.It’s a good thing I’ve come into Georgia’s life.She’d have been miserable saddled to that asshole the rest of her life.
“How often, Georgia,” I push, wanting her to give me an answer—even if I already know what it is.
“A lot.We have lunch at the same time every day.He’s a really good friend, Griffin.I don’t have many of those in this town.”
“So, Monday through Friday,” I murmur.“No weekends?”
“Why are you asking me all these questions?”
“You’re mine, Georgia, and Deputy Do-Right wants what belongs to me.I need to see how serious this is between the two of you because I’m not the type to share.”
“Um …”
“Do you see him on the weekends?”
“No.I mean, nothing planned out.”
“Explain that to me,” I demand.
