“She’s wearing a gold cross around her neck.”
Excitement buzzes through me.Fuck yeah. That’s a sign right there!
I’m halfway through my beer when my phone chimes. When I look down at it, my heart jolts. “She matched me!” I cheer. “If I spend some time with her, that should make Grace leave me alone too. I’m just saying... two birds, one stone.” Grace can move on to one of my brothers.
Viper throws his head back. “Ha! The only way you’re going to get into that pussy is in your dreams!”
I pull at my cut, then mockingly run a hand through my hair like he usually does. “We all can’t be as pretty as you.”
He laughs. “She looks young and classy. Take another look at her picture! Her clothes cover most of her skin. I’m sure she has a chastity belt on too. I’m telling you—she will never go out with a biker.”
The photo of the innocent woman glows from my screen.
“You want to make a bet on that? I guarantee I can get into a relationship with her, and I’ll take it one step further and make her fall in love with me.” Because I’m pretty sure that’s the only way I’ll be getting into those sweet panties. I can’t help myself. I’m spurred on by the thrill of the gamble and of getting with someone I’ve never been with before.
Viper’s smile widens and his hand shoots out. I grip his hand and shake it. “Easiest money I’ve ever made,” he says confidently.
My eyes tighten. “You’re wrong, and I can’t wait to wipe that smug smile right off your face.”
“Don’t forget,” he remarks with a cocky smirk, “she probably won’t have sex till marriage.”
My eyes bulge and I swallow hard. “She better not! That’s old school anyway.” I wave him off. “No one does that anymore.”
“Yeah, they do,” he says, and chuckles. “And here’s another thought. You’ll be talking to her through messages. How’s she going to understand your dyslexic ass?”
A sigh escapes me. I’d forgotten about that. I’m going to have to download an autocorrect app on my phone to double check everything I write because I’m terrible at spelling—well, anything related to writing and reading. I’m good at fixing shit, which is why I’m a mechanic.
“I’ll work it out. I’ve never seen her before. Her profile says she lives in Crown Village. She must have just moved here.”
He shrugs. “Talk to her and find out.”
“Oh, I plan to.” I might even get Twitch, our club’s tech guy, to stalk her online for me.
Four
Dating App
Elena
Focusingon the glasses of wine on my tray, I stroll to the table that ordered them.Nearly there... Someone at a table nearby scoots their chair out in front of me. I gasp, then trip over the chair legs. I stagger and, with a high-pitched clatter, the glasses of red wine shatter on the wooden floor. For a second I seem to regain my balance, but then I fall next to the wine and broken glass.
My face is on fire as I assess the mess. When I look up, everyone in the restaurant is staring at me. “I’m so sorry,” I stutter, not sure who I’m apologizing to. “I’ll clean it up,” I say in a rush. I turn to the customers who ordered the wine. “I’ll get you another two glasses.”
The woman who pushed out her chair doesn’t even apologize—she just turns her nose up at me and walks away. So rude!
Then Cameron is by my side, wearing his customer service smile. “I’ll get you your drinks right away,” he says to the couple whose drinks are now on the floor. “Can you two clean this up?” he points to Mel and another waitress. Mel’s eyes widen and her mouth twists.
“Sorry,” I mouth as Cameron grabs my elbow and ushers me away to the kitchen. I close my eyes when he turns to me, waiting to be yelled at.
“Are you okay?” he asks.
I open one eye. I was not expecting that. “Uh... yes.”
His eyes wander over me, and he smiles wide. “I’m glad.”
Guilt pricks me. “I’d better go help them clean it up.” I take a step away, but he grasps my elbow again and with his other hand waves it off. “Don’t worry about them. I said they can clean it.” I glance at the door, then at him. He’s the boss, but Mel was scowling at us as we left. She did not look happy.
After our shift,Mel and I take some leftover food in containers and go to the beach to eat it. Sitting on a chair, I slurp up my noodles. “This seafood marinara is to die for.”
