No Perfect Hero(30)

Stewart keeps eyeballing her, something that brings a growl up my throat.

My jealous eyes can't help watching her, too. The way she moves with quick grace and confidence, you’d never know this was her first day on the job. The way she smiles, a flash of sass in every grin, in the glitter of her eyes, while teasing boys reach out with flirtatious hands...

They're mighty disappointed when she dances deftly out of the way and warns them with a half-playful, mock-serious look.

Fuck. The sheer wild heart in this woman, after the crap it seems like she’s been through? Anyone else would be crying at their own pity bash.

Not Hay.

First thing she did was start looking for ways to fix her dilemma.

“War? You still with me?” Stew's teasing tone causes me to whip my head around. “Do I detect a touch of admiration?”

“She’s a babe,” I admit with a shrug. “I’ll give her that. Same thing I'll give plenty of girls.”

That's a half lie.

“Yeah, cute,” Stewart echoes. “Young 'un, too. Barely older than those college brats. What is she, twenty-five, twenty-six?”

“Not sure.” I try to keep my tone bland. “You interested?”

“Nah, you know me, man. I keep my hands to myself when a brother's already staked a claim,” Stewart answers slyly.

Goddamn.

My fist coils against my knee.

This boy knows how to push my buttons too damn well. My hackles are rising and I don’t even know why.

Stew’s my friend, someone I’ve always trusted. I know he’s good to women, but something about the way he talks about Hay sets my teeth on edge. I clench my jaw, forcing my tone to remain even, calm, friendly.

“I haven’t staked nothing,” I say. “No need to yack about her like that.”

He arches a slow brow. “Like what?”

“Like she’s an object to be passed around.”

Stewart blinks, then breaks into a broad grin. “So you do like her.”

My blood's about to boil over.

“I like treating her like a human being, Stew. That’s it,” I growl. “Don’t much think she likes being called ‘sugar,’ FYI.”

He spreads his hands apologetically. “Ms. West it is, then.” He turns his head to watch her for a bit longer. “It is Miss West, right? I didn’t see no ring.”

Why are you so curious? I want to roar but keep it to myself. Under the table, now I've got both hands forming fists.

Christ. Easy.

Why's this getting to me so much?

“Yeah,” I mutter. “She said something about a cheating dickwad fiancé, so I don’t think she’s feeling too charitable toward men right now.”

“You sure it’s not just toward you, Mr. Sunshine?”

I glower at Stewart’s wide, companionable grin. “Bite me.”

Anything else we might say gets cut off as Haley comes swinging toward us, balancing a tray effortlessly. She slides a plate in front of me with a thick, steaming burger dripping with swiss cheese and a side of onion rings.

Thank God for the distraction.

“Here’s your beer and burger,” she says tartly, her venom-smile back, and damn if I don’t want to kiss it right off her as she bends over us, sliding a frothing mug of beer toward me. “And your surprise,” she adds, spinning another plate down deftly in front of Stewart. Looks like fried shrimp tails arranged in a spiral and a little plastic cup of red sauce.

Stewart picks up a shrimp and swirls it in the sauce, taking a crunchy bite, then swallows with an appreciative grunt.

“Shrimp and spicy cocktail sauce!” he says, licking his lips. “My favorite.”

Hay smiles, tucking her tray against her stomach, flicking us both with penetrating looks. “Anything else you boys need?”

“We’re good,” I say, while Stewart just locks eyes with me and grins.

“What he said,” he tells her, never taking his gaze away from me, although he pitches his voice to Haley. “Don’t forget to call me tomorrow, though!”

“Call him?” I snap without thinking, even though I know damn well he's baiting me just to get a rise over a girl.

But it’s too late. Hay’s smile is gone, and she flashes me a sharp, irritated look. “Mind your own business.”

Then she pivots and practically flounces away, the lash of her hair like a whip threatening to cut me open if I push too far.

Stewart watches me knowingly, toying a piece of shrimp against his mouth. “About the new carburetor,” he clarifies. “That's why I need her on the horn. We were talking about the make and model before I order the part. Should be able to get it for her in a couple days, before that little duct-tape job you did goes pop!” His grin widens. “What'd you think she was calling me for, War?”

I swallow another growl.

I’m not gonna let him do this. Not the fuck tonight.

He’s always teased me, ever since high school. One of his favorite tricks was to get me flustered over a girl. After Jenna, he backed off, but fuck if you can keep the class clown down forever.

But this isn’t senior year, or that time I had a crush on Tammy Preacher so bad my eyes crossed every time I saw her.

This thing with Hay’s different.