The Hookup (Moonlight and Motor Oil #1)(97)

That was when her face got soft.

“I don’t need fine china, Johnny.”

“Then you’ll get whatever you want and it’ll be goddamned new,” he returned.

She ignored him and said, “I just need a guy who’s mine who cares enough about me to get angry enough to throw plates.”

Christ, she was so damned sweet, he wanted to fuck her all the time.

“Baby,” he growled. “How much trouble will you get in if you’re late to work?”

Pink hit her cheeks and she answered, “I’m never late.”

“Right, then grab your purse and let’s roll.”

“We need to clean—”

“Sp?tzchen, we’re rolling.”

Her brows knit. “You shouldn’t leave that egg—”

“Eliza,” he bit out.

Her expression changed.

“You want me to be open with you?” she asked tartly.

“Yup. And right now you got about five seconds to do that.”

“You can be extremely annoying when you’re being pushy. And you calling me ‘Eliza’ when I annoy you further annoys me.”

“Noted,” he replied. “Now get your purse.”

She rolled her eyes before she announced, “I need a travel mug of coffee.”

“I’ll get the mug, you get your purse.”

She pointed at the island, which was two feet away from where she was standing. “My purse is right there.”

Johnny looked to the ceiling. “Oh for fuck’s sake.”

She strutted on those freaking heels to the coffeepot, stating, “If we have children and you curse like that in front of them, it’ll be me throwing plates.”

He ignored that since they were having children and he wouldn’t curse like that in front of them (at least not the girls, the boys, when they reached a certain age . . . ) and she already knew that (probably).

Instead, he asked, “Your bag in the bathroom?”

“Yes,” she answered, grabbing a travel mug.

“It packed or you leaving it?”

“It’s packed. But I have to repack it tonight so I need to take it.”

“Stock up tonight, sp?tzchen.”

“Roger that, Ghostrider,” she returned wryly as she splashed cream into the mug.

Yeah.

He wanted to fuck her all the time.

Johnny managed not to tackle her at the coffeepot and he and Ranger went to get her bag.

Then he and Ranger walked her and her purse and her travel mug to her car.

He dumped the bag in her back seat.

That done, he allowed himself some time to make out with her, hot and heavy at her car door.

Then he and Ranger loaded up in his truck and followed her down the lane from the mill.



“I’m staying.”

Suffice it to say Johnny was thrilled his brother was making this statement.

However, the instant he did, that afternoon after he’d found out Izzy’s dad was not just an epic dick, but an asshole of massive proportions, while they stood in the lone bay of the first Gamble Garage (this the only one having one bay, the others had at least two, some of them four), he thought of Toby sitting at Izzy’s outdoor table looking up at Izzy’s bedroom window.

So he did not share he was thrilled.

He felt his brows draw together and he asked, “Why?”

Toby shrugged.

Shit.

“Tobe—”

“I might not be settling in. I don’t know my plans. I just know I’m staying for a while.”

“You got trouble somewhere?” Johnny asked.

“Nope,” Toby answered, and Johnny watched him closely as he did.

When he saw his brother wasn’t lying, he asked, “Feel like consoling a not-so-suddenly single mom after her husband proved how big of a dipshit he is?”

Toby’s face changed, a nuance, a nuance only their dad, Margot and Johnny could catch, and he replied, “Nope.”

Now that was a lie.

“Hands off, brother,” Johnny declared.

It was then Toby got pissed. “I’m not going there,” he clipped. “Christ, what kind of ass do you think I am?”

“I don’t think you’re an ass. I think you’re a player and the way you play has nothing to do with me. Unless it’s Addie.”

“She’s pretty.”

“She’s off limits.”

“I’m just saying she’s pretty.”

“I know she’s pretty. And I’m just saying she’s off limits.”

“I’m not gonna go there, Johnny,” he repeated.

“I know you aren’t.”

“I wanna get to know Izzy better because I’m thinking that’s the right call about now with where you two seem to be. And with where you two seem to be, I’ll also need to be getting to know her sister, and I don’t need you breathing down my neck or treating me like I’m a complete dick who’s gonna make a play on a woman who collapsed in my arms because her man is a total tool.”

“If that’s it then great, awesome, I’m thrilled you’re gonna stick around,” Johnny said truthfully.

“You know, the time I needed an older brother ended about a decade ago,” Toby shared.