Page 8 of Wild Curves
My breathing is ragged, and I have to get out of here. I have to get back to the kitchen and the safety of the things I know. Arlo’s making me want things that I can never have, things that I can never give a man.
I love the pretty words he’s saying to me, but he’s just flirting, I remind myself. Already playing a part.
“And if I was your girlfriend, I’d be up at 4 a.m. every morning for work. And when I work my way up to head pastry chef, it’d get worse. I’d work until midnight, I’d never be home for dinner, there’d be no date nights, no time for children, and you’d never see me.”
His mouth drops open in surprise, and his eyebrows pull into a frown. I’ve wiped the smirk off his face, but it doesn’t feel as satisfying as I thought it would.
I stand up abruptly.
“So it’s just as well that this is a pretend scenario for one weekend only, because I’m not girlfriend material.”
With that, I pick up my chef’s hat and head back to the kitchen. I feel shitty, but it’s best he knows straight up. There’s no point in flirting with me. I’ve got no room for a man in my life.
4
ARLO
Iwatch Maggie’s hips sway as she crosses the room and goes through to the kitchen without a backward glance.
I’m processing the unsaid message in her outburst. Maggie thinks she can’t date because her job is too demanding. Fuck that. If she wants to work all the hours, I’ll be waiting for her with a hot chocolate after every shift, no matter if it’s the middle of the night.
Someone’s given her this idea that she has to choose between her career and love. Maybe that’s why she’s immune to my flirting.
But if she thinks I’m not taking full advantage of this weekend, then she doesn’t know me at all. The kitchen doors are still swinging shut when I go to find Travis in his office out back.
“I need a favor, boss.”
We have a good relationship, and I’m a reliable worker and a member of the MC.
“What do you need?”
I love that there’s no hesitation. That’s what keeps me in the MC. We’ve got each other’s backs. We’re all military and know what that means. If anyone needs anything, someone will help out, no questions asked.
“I need the weekend off.”
“Done,” he says with no hesitation. “I’ll get Davis to cover.”
“Thanks, man.”
“You going away?”
“Nope. I’ll be around, but not working.”
His eyebrows shoot up in an unsaid question. But when I’m not forthcoming, he doesn’t push. I don’t want everyone to know about Maggie and my charade, not until I can make it a reality.
“There’s another thing… I need Maggie off her shifts too.” His eyebrows shoot even further up his head. “But she can’t know yet.”
He peers at me, a suspicious smirk forming on his lips. “What are you up to, Prince?”
He uses my road name, maybe because he knows my scheme has something to do with a woman. The guys think I could charm the panties off a nun, which is why I’m Prince Charming. Not that I use my superpower for women. Not anymore.
There’s only one woman I’ve been interested in since she walked into the restaurant three months ago, but my charm doesn’t work on Maggie.
“I’m not going to divulge that.”
His look turns stern. “You do anything to drive Maggie away, and I’ll have your balls. She’s the best worker I got, and I’ve got her pegged for promotion once Patrick retires in a few months.”
The men here are as protective of the women as they are of each other.
