Xavier Cold (Hard Knocks #2)(11)

I smile, thinking about how two of my favorite people in the world want to protect me. It’s nice to know that they love me that much.

We make small talk as Xavier directs Quinn off the freeway and through all the streets leading us to Nettie’s diner. We turn the last corner, and the restaurant comes into view. It’s standing just the same as we left it a few weeks ago with its white brick exterior and the blue sign hanging over the entrance that simply reads, Diner. This is Xavier’s comfort spot, the place that feels like home to him, which is why he leaves his motorcycle parked in the shed at the back of the building.

Nettie and Carl are two people he trusts. They are more like parents to him than friends.

Quinn parks in the diner parking lot. “I’ll wait here and then follow you to where you are staying to drop off your luggage.”

“Sounds good,” Xavier tells her before he opens the car door.

His lean frame towers over the vehicle as he steps outside. He folds the passenger seat forward, extends his hand to me, and helps me get out of Quinn’s two-door coupe.

“We to get the key to the house.” His strong arm snakes around my shoulders as he leads me inside. “We need to at least go inside and make sure that Nettie knows we’ll be in town for a while.”

I laugh. “You’d better, or Nettie might give you that spanking she threatened you with the past couple of times she saw you.”

The corner of his mouth turns up into a grin. “She’s been threatening me with that for years, and she’s yet to make good on it.”

“She might just surprise you one day.”

He gazes down at me with what can only be described as a you-can’t-be-serious-right-now expression. “I’m pretty sure I can take her if she comes at me.”

“I don’t know,” I say in a singsong voice. “According to Carl, he can take you. If you mess with Nettie, he might just step in.”

Xavier throws his head back and laughs as he pushes open the door to the diner. “I’d like to see him try.”

The sound of his laugh catches Nettie’s attention, and her face lights up when her eyes land on Xavier. She races out from behind the counter and bear-hugs him. His impressive arms make Nettie appear so tiny as he squeezes her against his chest in a loving embrace.

It’s sweet how she treats him like a son. I’m glad that he’s had Nettie and Carl looking out for him all these years.

Nettie pulls back, but she’s still holding Xavier in front of her by gripping his arms. “You’re back already? Not that I’m complaining. You know I always love to see you. I’m surprised because I didn’t expect to see you again for a while since your vacation just ended.” Her gaze flicks over to me, and her grin widens when she notices me standing next to Xavier. “Anna, honey, it’s good to see you, too.”

I grin. “How have you been, Nettie?”

“Oh, can’t complain too much, sugar. Business has picked up a little, so Carl and I have been busy, which is great. We could use our busboy back to help out around here.” Nettie winks at Xavier.

“The way things have been going, Nettie, I might take you up on that offer.”

She tilts her head and studies his face. Xavier sighs under the weight of her stare.

He and Nettie have such a connection that she’s able to read the hesitation on his face, and she instantly knows that something is wrong.

Nettie clucks her tongue. “I know that expression. You going to tell me what’s wrong, or am I gonna have to pry it out of ya?”

“It’s work,” he admits. “I f*cked up, Nettie.”

Her face softens. “Well, we all do from time to time, honey. Come on in here and let me fix you something to eat while you tell me all about it.”

“No, Nettie. We really can’t—”

“Of course you can,” she completely cuts off Xavier’s attempt to explain that Quinn’s waiting out front for us.

She jerks her head toward the cooking area on the other side of the counter so fast that her braids whip around her face. “Carl, get your butt out here.”

“Hold your damn horses, woman. I’m coming,” Carl calls from the other side of the door that leads back into what I’ve learned is the stockroom officebreak room.

The gray-headed cook swings open the heavy wooden door that separates the front of the restaurant from the back. Carl’s eyes light up as soon as he spots us. “What up, X? You back already? Did you get canned over that match going south the other night? I saw that on TV. Man, you really fu—”

“Hush, Carl. Don’t be jumping to conclusions like that. He’s done told us over and over that everything is scripted. None of them boys really fight.”

“Actually, Nettie, Carl’s right,” Xavier admits. “I got suspended for losing my shit and attacking Rex in the ring.”

Nettie’s mouth gapes open while Carl shouts, “Told ya!” behind her.

“What?” She’s shocked by the news. “I thought you was done with all that fighting bullshit when you turned legit. You know the trouble that comes with laying your hands on another man. You should know better.”

“I know. The guy has been giving me shit for months, and I let it all go, but he crossed the line when he started f*cking with Anna. I wasn’t going to allow him to hurt her or take her away from me.”