Page 49 of Dirty Dealer


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“Did you see that poor mother’s face?” Rachel laughs. “She was horrified!”

I join in, shaking my head. “I was more preoccupied with getting him off the damn thing without causing a puncture.”

“Poor turtle.” She giggles, wiping beneath her eyes, then going back to petting Walter’s coat. Her voice is soft and serious when she speaks again. “Thank you. For tonight.”

“Of course. We should do it again. Tomorrow?”

“You don’t need to feed me and show me a good time. I’m fine on my own.”

“Oh, I’m sure of that.” I swallow, then chance a moment of honesty. “I happen to enjoy taking you to dinner, and spending time with you. You make me smile.” I glance away from the road, needing to know her reaction. Unsure if she’ll dismiss my comments, argue them, or ignore the sentiment altogether.

Shadows from the street lights pass over her face. A slight smile plays at her lips. Pride fills my chest for being the one who put it there.

A familiar melody draws my attention back to the road. I glance down at the dash of my SUV to see Chance Bateman’s name scroll across the screen with an incoming call. Now, he’s someone I don’t mind picking up with Rachel in the car.

“Do you mind?” I point at the dashboard.

“Not at all.”

I press the button on my steering wheel to connect the call. “Hey, Chance, how’s it going?”

“Good, mate! Got a surprise on my doorstep just now. I’m guessing I have you to thank?”

“Sure do. I’m still working on the rest.” I glance over at Rachel’s puzzled expression. The way her nose crinkles just the slightest. She’s adorable. “Does this get us on track?”

“Definitely helps.”

“You’ll have more coming, just tell me when to cut off the supply.”

“Good. I’ll focus on getting the scales complete. Hopefully the plastic comes through, or it’ll be a headless, hairless body.”

I almost laugh out loud. Out of context, my conversation with Chance must sound absurd. “I’m on it.”

“If I find out you took a trip to Costco for a few cases just to dump perfectly good water, our friendship is over.” His warning comes with laughter, but I know how important this is for him.

“I’d never cross you.”

A baby cries in the background. “Gotta run. Later, mate.”

I glance over to find Rachel’s eyes wide and her mouth ajar. “Questions?”

“I don’t know where to begin.” She shakes her head. “I really hope that was your artist friend, and you aren’t supplying some dude with parts for a headless robot.”

“Yeah, Chance is the artist I told you about. You know when we went to my favorite burger joint the other night? I convinced the corporate office to collect their bottle caps as a recycling effort.”

It’s quiet a moment. I can feel her gaze on me. At the next break in traffic I turn to meet her stare. “What?”

“First, you’re besties with one of my favorite rock stars. Now, I find out you have an Australian artist friend. How could you keep this from me?”

Oh. Of course she’d be impressed by my famous connections. I don’t know why that fills me with disappointment but it does.Because I want all her interest on me.

“Chance.” The way she says his name causes irritation to prickle my spine. “Does he look like Thor? If he’s single, promise you’ll introduce us immediately.”

Fucker. An irrational desire to murder Chance for choosing this moment to call rips through me. “I’ll do no such thing.”

“What? Why?” Rachel laughs, and though I realize she’s probably joking, the thought of giving her any guy’s number incites a wave of rage. “I thought we were friends.”

Fucking friends. Jealously coils in my gut at the thought of being “just friends” with Rachel. Does she not see how much I want her? How I go out of my way to spend more time with her? How she’s reduced me to following her around like a dog in pursuit of a bone? I thought a romantic dinner near the ocean and a walk along the beach after would seal the deal. Goes to show how much I still need to learn about this woman.