Page 45 of Hot Stuff
“Okay.” I grab the door handle but look back to say, “And, Mrs. Cantrell, I hope you get to sever those ties fast and cleanly.”
“I appreciate the thought, but you know Jerry.”
The smile she gives me says it all. Her husband isn’t going to go away easily and what that means for the Knights is anyone’s guess.
Good thing as of tomorrow, I’ll be free to join the Rogues and leave all the drama behind me.
Oakley
I check my phone one more time to be sure I’ve got the right address. The small grocery store on the corner doesn’t look large enough to offer more than snacks but it’s where Walker said to meet him.
Thanking the driver, I hop out of the car and glance around to see if Walker is here yet.
We said four but it’s only five to, so I’m not surprised I don’t see him.
Moving toward the store, I stand off to the left of the door and pull out my phone. I wrote a list of things to get for dinner but now I’m wondering if I’ll have to rework it.
I didn’t think I was being extravagant in my choice of meal when I decided what we’d have, and I still don’t think I am except now I’m rethinking it because of the small store behind me.
“Hey.”
My head snaps up to find Walker standing in front of me. How he got there, so close, without me noticing is a worry but it doesn’t stop the smile spreading across my face. “Hey.”
He reaches for me, and quickly has me in his arms, his mouth on mine.
The kiss is a little passionate for a public street although I can’t seem to care about that when he’s touching me.
I have a plan.
I know I have a plan.
I just can’t remember what that is right now…
He pulls away and rests his forehead on mine. “Damn. I needed that.”
“Bad day?”
“Strange day.”
“You get everything sorted out?” The worry I feel is for him, not that he might be tied up and unable to join the Rogues yet.
“Yes. We could have released the announcement this afternoon, but I’ve asked Drake to hold off until tomorrow. I wanted to speak to you first.”
“Oh?” I’m surprised he wants to talk to me about it. “Why?”
“Because I don’t want it to conflict with anything you have planned. I know you were hatching something all day, and I’ll slide into that plan wherever you think is best.”
“Ah, right. Okay, let’s get the groceries for dinner and head to your place. We can go over everything while we cook.”
“We’recooking?” Walker entwines his fingers with mine and tugs me toward the store.
“Yes. Although I’m rethinking my choice of meal,” I say as he pulls me through the doorway.
“You wanted to grill, right? They have great steaks here and their veggie choice is always fresh and varied.”
He scoops up a basket as we pass the stack and leads me straight toward the back. “You shop here a lot?” I ask looking at the shelves as we pass. He’s right about variety. There’s plenty in this aisle.
“Yes. They’re open early ’til late so it fits with my schedule.” He stops us in front of a refrigerator filled with meat. “Now where… Ah, here.”
