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“Taylor is a perfectly nice guy.”

“He wants me to eat fucking chia seeds, sis. I don’t even know what the hell a chia seed is!”

“That’s what Google is for, Grif. Don’t give him anymore grief. I don’t want to have to field calls from him telling me how much of a pain in the ass you are.”

“Oh yeah? Well, what about you? Am I going to get phone calls from your team telling me that you’ve been a hard ass?”

When he says that, I remember the dick I bumped earlier this afternoon and I’m pissed all over again. “You might if I run into this jerk of a guy again.”

Griffin is quiet for a moment before he chuckles. “Uh oh. Did you meet your new nemesis already? I thought you said you haven’t started your actual job yet.”

“I haven’t…I met this asshole in the parking lot after he bumped into my car and accused me of hitting him as an insurance scam. I almost decked him.”

Griffin’s laughter melts some of my anger, but I can still see that man’s face in my mind, and I’m annoyed not only by his accusations, but also by how attractive he was. Why is it always the cocky, beautiful ones who make you want to launch your shoe at their head.

His dark hair was thick and perfectly fell over his forehead matching the dark scruff around his jaw and chin. I don’t remember the exact color of his eyes, but I remember thinking his voice was like butter. If not for the scowl on his face, I would have said he had nice lips too. As it is, the fact that he’s cute makes me want to find him and punch him.

“Jesus sis.”

“It wasn’t my fault,” I insist. “I was backing out and he turned the corner like it personally offended him. He ran into me.” I make sure to emphasize that point because it’s the truth.

“Still, did you catch his name or anything?”

I suck my teeth for a moment before responding. “No. His front bumper got a little crunched, but since there was no paint swapped between our cars, he said to forget it. I wasn’t about to borrow trouble or watch my insurance rates skyrocket, so I left well enough alone.”

“You didn’t even get his number?” Griffin’s voice goes shrill, and I have to pull the phone away from my ear for a moment. “What if later on something goes wrong with your car? or worse, he decides to screw you with a claim.”

“I know where he works, so it’s not like I can’t find him. I pull my hair free from my over-tightened ponytail. “I swear, some people were put on this planet just to piss me off.”

Griffin’s tone sharpens. “Speaking of assholes—there’s a guy your team just picked up. We dumped him for a reason. Do yourself a favor and stay the hell away from him.”

“Damn, okay. What’s his deal?”

“He’s poison, Kat. The kind who tanks a team from the inside. Arrogant, reckless, thinks rules don’t apply to him. Doesn’t care who he drags down as long as he gets what he wants.”

“Noted.”

“No, Kat. I mean it…he’s a walking goddamn crime scene. Stay away from him.”

“Yeah. Got it.”

I clear my throat, needing to change the subject. “Alright, overprotective lecture received…

Grif, I have to go. Layla will be here any minute with dinner. It’s pizza party night.”

“I can’t believe you’re still doing those, but fine. I’ll call you tomorrow.” He is worse than a mother hen at times when it comes to hovering.

“Tell her I said hi. And make sure she brought enough for leftovers.”

“I’ll guard them with my life.”

“Is Aurora coming too—wait, she’s knee-deep mommy shit. Scratch that.”

I smirk. “Yeah, she barely remembers to text back unless I bribe her with pictures of Layla’s new boyfriend drama.”

“Then thank God for Layla, “ he mocks. “The real MVP.”

“No kidding.”