Jared (The Protectors #2)(28)
“I’m good.” She held her pad and pencil close to her chest. “You want the regular tonight?”
“Nah, think I’ll change it up a bit.” He grabbed a menu, even though he had just eaten, glancing over it longer than he needed to just to keep her there for a while. “What do you suggest?”
“McDonalds.” She leaned down to whisper then laughed. “I’m kidding. The pulled pork sandwich is pretty good with a side of chips.”
Adam had to fight the urge to reach up and trace the soft pattern of her smiling lips. “Pulled pork it is.” He said with a nod. “If I don’t like it I’m cutting your tip in half though.”
“Deal.” She smiled at his teasing then left to fill his order.
Finishing his meal quickly Adam glanced at his watch. He noticed he was the only one left in the small diner. “So how was it?” Angelina grinned at his empty plate. “Awesome. Thanks.” Adam grabbed his bill on the table and stood. She barely came to his shoulders. She looked so tiny and frail next to his large frame. “Can I walk you home?”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” With a frown she picked up his empty plate and glass heading to the back. “Have a good night Adam.”
Watching her go he pulled out a twenty and laid it on the table. Walking to the register he paid his bill then headed into the night.
“Adam, wait.” Angelina ran outside behind him holding the twenty in her hand. “You dropped this.”
Looking at the twenty Adam didn’t move to grab it. “I didn’t drop it.”
Shock widened her eyes. “I can’t take this.” She gasped trying to shove it in his hand. “It’s too much.”
“You going to let me walk you home?” Adam didn’t even look at the twenty. When she shook her head no he shrugged. “I’ll see you on your next shift then and bring twenty-five for your tip.”
“I’ll refuse to wait on your table.” She put her hand on her hip with a frown making her forehead crease in a cute way.
“No you won’t.” Adam replied his tone deep and serious. “You’re too nice to do that.”
“I’m not that nice.” She looked away from his probing stare. “You don’t even know my schedule.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow.” Adam turned to walk away.
“Why do you want to walk me home so bad?” She called out to his back.
He turned, leaning close to her. “Why don’t you want me to?”
She stared into his eyes before looking away. “It’s complicated.”
“Because I’m a half-breed vampire now?” He didn’t budge. “A freak?”
“No.” She whispered shocked, before her voice took on a pissed tone. “It has nothing to do with you being a vampire in my eyes Adam, but it does in yours. Before you were turned you didn’t even know I was alive. Now that Beth Ann wants nothing to do with you since your change you finally noticed me. I refuse to be used as a runner up to Beth Ann Foltz.” She slammed the twenty to his chest before running into the diner, her ponytail falling, her pale blonde hair flying out behind her.
After picking up the twenty Adam walked over to the blue hair band that had fallen out of her hair and picked it up slipping it around his wrist. He had never loved Beth Ann and there was no way in Hell his Angel could come second to anyone. With one last look at the diner he headed back up the hill. He refused to look into her mind. He wanted to be a normal guy, a guy who didn’t lurk in the mind of the girl he had fallen in love with. He did however, on his walk back home, open his mind to the person who turned him. “Come on asswipe…make your move. I’m ready for you.”
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Tessa sat at the kitchen table doing the one eyed peek at her checkbook, her stomach in a nauseous twist. She needed to get food in the house, but after paying bills and now losing her job they all may be going on a diet…a very strict diet. Hell, she needed to lose weight anyway and vampires could live on blood…right?
It was still early for her. Working at the bar she usually didn’t hit her bed until after two or three in the morning. Adam had come back after his little stint of freedom grumbling a goodnight as he stomped through the house to his room. Jill had followed shortly after and she could hear the deep rumble of Jared’s voice in the living room.
Tessa took a deep breath giving herself a small pep talk before she had a full blown panic attack. That sure would put the icing on the shit cake she’d been served. She knew Adam had his college money left, at least most of it anyway, but she didn’t want to touch it. She still wanted him to go, but since football had been taken off the table so had his full ride and his interest in even going wasn’t there anymore. The money their mother had saved for their college was the only thing left, at least Adam’s. Hers was long gone.
Glancing up she watched as Jared took a seat across from her, still on the phone. She studied him under lowered lashes, her eyes traveling from his broad shoulders down his muscled arms to the large strong manly hands which were holding a book. Squinting to see the title her shocked eyes shot to his. He tossed her a wink making his crooked grin more crooked. Oh. My. God. How did he find that?
Tessa shot up from the table trying to reach across to grab her very used copy of ‘My Vampire Master.’ Heat slammed into her body, embarrassment flooded her senses.