Page 5 of Midnight (Lotus MC #4)

I hear footsteps come up behind me, and I pull up the payment page on the computer.

“Hey, thanks,” Elle says as she comes up next to me.

“Of course,” I tell her softly.

I tell her client how much he owes and confirm his next appointment.

“Thanks, Ed, I’ll see you again in a month,” Elle says.

“Later, girls.” He waves over his shoulder and walks out.

Elle turns toward me and looks me up and down. “What in the hell are you wearing?” she asks with humor in her voice.

I look down at my graphic T-shirt that’s tucked into my bra that I paired with a skirt that brushes my knees and a pair of high-top Chucks. I even pulled out some jewelry this morning to wear, and when I looked in the mirror I felt pretty.

“Nothing’s wrong with it at all if you’re a kindergarten teacher,” she teases.

I roll my eyes, already used to her teasing. She isn’t wrong, though. Unlike the rest of the crew who works here, I wear a lot less black. I’m more preppy boho, where they are grunge and biker. I look like a fish out of water. Even though I couldn’t be any more different than them if I tried, all the employees here have treated me well. They are quite possibly the nicest crew I have ever worked with, including grumpy Midnight.

“You know I’m teasing you, right?” she says when I’ve been quiet for so long.

“I do.”

“What are you two doing?” Jerico asks as he comes up next to us.

“Plotting your demise,” Elle deadpans.

“Yeah, how’s that going for you?”

“Swimmingly. We’ve decided that Lainey is in charge of leading you to your death,” Elle tells him.

Jerico rolls his eyes. “Please, Lainey couldn’t hurt a fly. She’s got that whole Cinderella thing going on.”

“Thank you?” I say even though I’m not quite sure it’s a compliment.

I mean, does anyone want to be compared to a princess who went through what Cinderella did?

“What are we doing for lunch?” Jerico asks, rubbing his hands together.

“Are you always hungry?” I ask as I lean against the counter, crossing my arms across my chest.

Jerico slaps his chest as if he’s insulted.

Elle rolls her eyes and cuts him off before he can say anything. “Oh please, you and I both know she’s right.”

“I like food. There’s nothing wrong with that!” he protests.

“But do you need to eat after every tattoo?” I tease.

“Yes!”

“What are you bitching about now?” Midnight grumbles as he joins us.

When I see him, my heart starts to race. I know it’s wrong and I shouldn’t, but I have a small crush on the guy, even if he isn’t as warm and friendly as he was the night I met him. Not that he was particularly warm then, but he did go out on a limb and do me a solid.

Because he gave me a chance when he didn’t have to, I’ll let his grumpiness slide. I don’t know his story, so he could have a reason for it.

I haven’t been able to get the way he took charge of me in his office out of my head either. It’s like his demanding tone woke something inside of me. Now whenever he is in a room with me, I fight the urge to blush.

“The girls are teasing me because I like to eat,” Jerico tells him.

Midnight grunts before turning toward me. I fight the urge to squirm under his stare.

“My next client canceled. I told them to call you and rebook.”

I frown. “But they never called to cancel.”

“They sent me a text.”

“They shouldn’t be bothering you with that, though,” I tell him.

“It was Copeland today, right?” Elle asks.

Midnight nods.

Elle turns toward me. “Copeland has been a client of his since day one. He prefers to go through Midnight and no one else.”

“Pain in my ass,” Midnight grumbles.

“I bet that he doesn’t call Lainey and waits for you to text him a new date,” Jerico adds.

I look at Midnight. “Would you like me to call him, so he doesn’t bother you?”

Midnight sighs. “Nah, not today at least. I might have you do that later though. Anyway, I’m going to go get some shit done in my office.”

“Alrighty, Captain.” Elle salutes him, making him glare.

“Have fun.” I smile sweetly.

Midnight stares at me for a minute before turning and stomping back toward his office.

The man is so fucking confusing, and to make it worse, I don’t know if he’s always like this or if it’s because of me.

“Well, my next client didn’t cancel, so I better make sure all my shit is ready. Let me know when you two figure out the food situation,” Jerico says before walking toward his station.

“Hey, are you okay?” Elle says, touching my arm gently.

“Yeah, I’m good.”

“Are you sure? You looked a little lost right there.”

I smile softly. “I’m great. Now what should I order for lunch?”

“You don’t have to order anything. Jerico can fend for himself.”

“Yeah, but we all have to eat, so why not?”

“True…I could go for some wings.”

“Cool. I can do that. Do you know what flavors the guys like?” I say as I open the drawer I keep my phone in.

“Yeah, you should get some garlic parmesan, buffalo, and honey barbecue.”

“Easy enough,” I say as I open the delivery app.

“Oh, can you order some fries and fried pickles too? My period is kicking my ass this month with the cravings.”

“Say less. I got you.”

“Awesome, I’m going to run next door and grab a book from Tara. Do you want anything?” she says, talking about the bookstore next door.

“No, I’m not a huge reader, honestly.”

“When was the last time you picked up a book?”

I stop ordering and crinkle my nose as I think about it. “Probably high school. Whatever I had to read for my English class.”

“Then you can’t say you aren’t into reading yet. You need to try a romance or a thriller.”

“I don’t know…”

“Just trust me. I’ll grab you a book or two I think you might like and bring it back for you to try.”

“You don’t have to do that.”

“I want to.”

“Well then, let me get you some cash,” I say, even though I really don’t have any extra to spend just yet.

Elle raises her hands and backs up. “Nope. My treat, I insist. You can pay it forward sometime when you run into a ‘nonreader.’”

I laugh softly. “Okay.”

She waves as she walks out the door, making me shake my head.

Our differences might be a mile wide, but I kind of love her.

With blurry eyes, I click save and lean back in my chair.

Fuck, I hate computer work. If I could pawn some of it off onto someone else, I would. There are just some things I have to do, though, as an owner. Like go over financials that the accountant sends over and approve paychecks.

My stomach rumbles, and I look at the time. Shit, no wonder my eyes hurt. I’ve been staring at a screen for the last three hours.

I wonder if Lainey ended up ordering food and if she did, if any is left. As soon as the thought enters my mind, she’s there front and center.

Lainey.

The sweetest temptation I’ve ever had.

She looks like one of those princesses my girls were obsessed with when they were younger with all that long blond hair and her big blue eyes. I’ve thought about what that hair would look like wrapped around my fist more than I would like to admit. It won’t happen, though. It can’t.

If there is one thing that I’ve learned about Lainey, it’s that she’s the type of girl who deserves the white picket fence, with a dog and two kids. She deserves a clean-cut husband who dotes on her and brings her flowers, and that’s just not me. Never has been and never will be.

My phone rings, pulling me out of my thoughts. When I see Reaper’s name flash across the screen, I know something must be up. He only calls during the day if it’s important.

“Yeah?” I say as I answer.

“Hey, you got a minute?”

“Just doing some paperwork. What’s up?”

“Emergency church. Need you here ASAP” he says, making my stomach sink.

Leaning forward, I rest my elbow on my desk and press my palm against my forehead, feeling a headache start to take hold. “Shit, when the fuck is this bullshit going to stop?”

“Trust me, I want a break from this shit as much as you do,” he grumbles.

“Wanna give me a heads-up on what we are dealing with?” I sigh.

Reaper pauses. “Not over the phone. Just get here as soon as you can.”

“Got it. I’m actually done for the day, so I’ll head out.”

“I’ll see you soon. Ride safe,” he says before hanging up.

Tossing my phone onto the desk, I rub my face. Goddamn. What else could possibly be thrown at us right now? Haven’t we been through enough recently? I feel like over the last year, we’ve been through the wringer. It started with a bloody Natalie showing up on our doorstep and her ex harassing us and somehow having nine fucking lives. Then Colt dropped a bomb on us that he knocked up Kaitlyn and had to take an indefinite leave to Texas to take care of family matters. The real kicker, though, was losing Honk’s wife, Elenore.

Just thinking about Honk makes my heart hurt. They had been together since they were young and were very much in love. Shit, having a front-row seat to their relationship is one of the reasons I refused to settle with Miranda. Elenore was good and didn’t deserve for her life to be cut short. Honk is a fucking mess without her, and rightfully so.

My stomach rumbles again, reminding me that I haven’t eaten, and now with church, it’s not going to happen any time soon. I eye the clock and see that a solid minute has passed since I hung up the phone.

Grunting, I stand up and grab my phone before heading out of the office. My steps stutter when I see her standing at the front desk, swaying side to side to the music that plays over the speaker.

Fuck me, I want her.

Blowing out a breath, I push forward. She must sense me approaching because she looks over her shoulder and smiles. Smiles right at me, hitting me right in the solar plexus.

Goddamn.

“Hey, I ordered food earlier. I hid a dozen wings for you in the back of the fridge so Jerico wouldn’t eat them. I saved you a variety because I didn’t know what you prefer.”

Her thoughtfulness hits me in the chest. Could she be any sweeter?

“Thank you.”

“What’s up? You look like you have something on your mind,” she asks softly.

“I need to run to the clubhouse for a bit. Will you be good here?” I ask gruffly.

“Yeah, of course. Jerico and Elle are both here, so I won’t be alone. Do you need me to call anyone and reschedule?” She turns toward the computer and wakes the screen.

“Nah, I had a light day today, so I’m good.”

“Okay. Cool,” she says as she turns back toward me.

“I’ll try to be back before the shop closes. Whatever you do, don’t walk home. If you need to take the bus, leave early. If it’s too late for the bus, have Jerico or Elle give you a ride, and if they can’t, text me, and I’ll be back to get you.”

Her eyes soften. “You don’t have to come back and get me. I’ll get home on my own just fine.”

“Lainey…” I warn.

“Okay, fine. If you want to waste the gas, you can circle back if I stay late.”

“You’ll text me?”

“I’ll text you.” She nods.

“Be good.”

“Yes, sir,” she quips with a little smile on her face.

I grunt, my dick twitching. Fuck me, do I like the way that sounds coming off of her lips. I can imagine her saying it while down on her knees, stripped bare as she looks up at me.

Jesus Christ.

She’s a goddamn problem for my health, and I ain’t mad about it.

“You should probably head out, boss man, before you’re late,” she says as she turns back to the desk.

Leaving the shop, I can’t help but think of several different scenarios about how I could punish her for sass.

It can’t happen, though. It won’t. There’s nothing wrong with thinking about it, though, right?