“Cool story, bro.”
When I climbed back into the truck, I didn’t find Aiden nervous and scrambling. He had multiple dogs cooking, was grilling the onions and pickles, had buns toasting, and waters lined up on the counter ready to be handed out.
He turned to me. “Could you have walked any slower?”
“I sure could have. Would you like me to show you?” I turned as if to leave.
“Can you just start taking money while I finish cooking?” He’d rolled up his sleeves, displaying strong, corded forearms. His shoulders were high and stiff, but his chatter with the customers was relaxed.
“Chief, who’s your assistant?”
He ignored the question, barely giving me a glance.
Damn. He was really pissed off at me. I looked at the growing crowd of mostly middle-aged men and wondered where the hell they’d come from all of a sudden. Giving a half-hearted wave, I mumbled, “Kate.”
Aiden tilted his wrist at me, his watch flashing in the sunlight breaking through the trees. “It’s noon. This is what happens at noon.” He handed me three loaded dogs for me to place in their paper boats.
“Are these for one person or three different people?” I tried to assess the group of men. I had no idea who was first.
Aiden shouted, “Line up.” Which they did. He gestured at the dogs. “The two onion and pickles go to Charlie, first in line. The chili and cheese goes to Mike, second.”
“Got it.” I raised my voice. “Good afternoon, gentlemen. Thank you for making the hot dog truck your choice for lunch today. We know you could have chosen many other restaurants, so we thank you for your patronage.” I smiled broadly at one and all.
Aiden paused in his grilling, expression incredulous.
I shrugged. “It works for airlines.”
Shaking his head, he handed me three more dogs. I kept waiting for him to hand me the spatula and duck out, but he stayed to get through the rush. At one point, his radio crackled and asked for him. He told the woman to contact a cop named Sharon and went back to cooking. Within ten minutes, we had the crowd cleared.
He wiped down the grill and utensils, then washed the rag in the sink. “I can’t believe you don’t have any sauerkraut.”
I lined up waiting paper boats for the next group of people to arrive. “The can was three years old! I threw it out.”
“It’s sauerkraut. What the hell’s going to happen to it? It’s already pickled.” Untying the apron, he stepped back from the grill.
“Wait. Should I pull the can out of the garbage?” I probably should have opened the can to make sure it was a problem. I went still as he reached around me, wrapping the apron around my waist. He tied the strings in front. His chest pressed against my back as he looked over my shoulder. Hot breath on my neck.
When he finished, his fingers lightly trailed over my stomach before coming to rest on my hips. “Feel like doing your own job now?”
The heat from his big, possessive hands and the rumble of his deep voice scattered my thoughts. “What?”
His arms coiled around me, crushing me against his chest. I felt his lips on my neck. I may have sighed. If he tells you I moaned, he’s a dirty, dirty liar. It was just a sigh. With some groany bits thrown in.
He let go of me. “Let’s see if you can handle a half day’s work.” A moment later, he was gone.
Wait, what? “Hey,” I yelled at him as he sauntered past. “You can’t just ruthlessly kiss me and then be a dick! Keep your lips to yourself.”
No men!
How hard was that to remember? And why did he always make me want to forget?
Chapter Sixteen
Aiden
Her moan echoed in my head. I raked my fingers through my hair. I needed to forget about her and her moan, or I would have to start walking around with my shirt untucked.
It was high time my dick and I had a heart-to-heart. Yes, she was adorable and wicked hot. No, she was not for me. I’d already fallen for one runner—I didn’t need to add another to my life. I was doing a good deed with the extermination thing, that’s all. Plus, it saved me from seeing her every day when I cleaned out traps. Katie was not going to worm her way in. No. I forced myself to remember Alice. The look on her face as she told me she loved me. The touches and giggles. The sighs in bed. All lies.
