Page 22 of Tarnished Hands (Chained Hearts Duet #7)

Chapter Twenty-Two

EZRA

A qua is amazing. Probably the best hire I’ve ever had. She doesn’t ask questions. When I tell her what to order, she knows precisely what to do. I can honestly say I feel like I have the right fit with her.

“Got you lunch,” she says as she strolls into the garage and hands me a burger.

“Thanks, you didn’t have to do that.”

“I wanted to talk to you, actually. Figured food was the right angle.”

I wipe my hands and pull up a seat. Pushing a chair Aqua’s way, she thanks me as she takes a seat in it.

“Go ahead.”

“I love this shop. I really do.” She smiles. “I want to know if I can buy it from you.” The burger pauses at my mouth. “I mean, you can still stay on. You are amazing at what you do, there is no doubt about that. But I’d like to buy it.”

“It’s not for sale.”

“Come on, everything has a price.”

I put the burger in my lap. “Aqua, it’s not for sale,” I say again.

“Okay, what about a business partner?”

“No. I don’t need anyone else running my business with me.”

“But—”

“I’m sorry, but no. Will this be an issue going forward?”

“No, it’s fine. I can take a hint. I just really love it, you know? And what I’ve learned over the last year is… if you love something, go for it. So I was trying.” She shrugs, then unwraps her burger and takes a large bite.

“So, are you leaving?” I ask.

She shakes her head as she chews. “Oh, gosh, no. I want to stay as an owner or employee. Just figured it wouldn’t hurt to ask. I didn’t mean to offend you. I was only asking because I have too much money and I don’t know what to do with it.” She laughs.

“Must be nice.”

“You do well here. I’ve seen your books.

This place brings in good money. I’m proud to work here.

” She doesn’t know about the other money it brings in—the jobs I do for Keir that aren’t on the books.

And, yes, my business does amazingly well.

It’s an incredibly well-known shop now, and for that, I am thankful.

“I also wanted to know if you wanted me to start you a TikTok, Instagram, or even a Facebook account. I saw you don’t have any social media, and they can one hundred percent set things in motion for you. ”

“I don’t have any of that stuff.”

“Yeah, but people love to see before and after’s. I think it could bring in even more business and revenue.”

“I’ll think about it.”

“I won’t show your face if you don’t want, but I don’t reckon the ladies would complain about seeing you.” Aqua laughs, and I smile.

“This is cute.” I look past Aqua to see Piper standing in the garage doorway. She’s in a skirt with heels so high I wonder how she can walk in them—though I know even drunk, she won’t fall—but they sure do highlight those come-fuck-me legs.

“Piper.” Aqua stands and walks over to Piper. Piper looks her up and down as Aqua wipes her hand up and down her shirt before she offers it to Piper. “Hi, nice to meet you. I’m Aqua.”

Piper glances at Aqua’s hand, then raises her gaze to me. “Am I being nice?” she asks, ignoring Aqua’s outstretched hand.

“Yes,” I say as I stand.

Piper nods to Aqua. “Pleasure is all yours, I presume,” she says before she sidesteps Aqua and approaches me. “We need to talk.”

I look over to Aqua. “Do you mind? Thanks for lunch. I appreciate it. And I’ll think about your offer.”

“It better not be sex,” Piper says, and Aqua’s eyes go wide before she runs off to the office, leaving us staring at each other.

“Want a bite?” I ask as her gaze drops to the burger in my hand. “If you close your eyes, you won’t even know the food is touching.”

“I came to talk,” she says, still eyeing the burger.

“Take a bite.”

“I’m fine.”

“Have you eaten?”

“No.”

“Have a bite, or we aren’t talking.”

“You really are bossy.” She huffs, then closes her eyes and leans forward. I bring the burger to her mouth and watch as her lips and teeth go around the top of the bun, and she bites into it. She chews as she pulls back and opens her eyes to look at me.

Those devil eyes.

“It’s good.”

“Thanks. Aqua bought it for me.”

Piper stops chewing and swallows. “You like to share what other women get you?” she questions.

“So spicy,” I tease as I sit back down and finish my burger. Piper takes the seat Aqua vacated and crosses her legs. I catch a quick flash of the pink underwear she is wearing.

“Are you going to talk to me now, or do you want to run away again?”

“I can talk,” I tell her, reaching for my drink. I take a long sip, and she sits there waiting, her long nails tapping on her bare, toned leg.

“So, you are a sharpshooter,” she says.

“Yes. I told you this.”

“You served.”

“I did.” How she found this out isn’t surprising. Keir and his team can find information on anyone, so I don’t even raise an eyebrow. Plus, I have nothing to hide from them.

“You shot that man.”

“He had his hands on you, and you were definitely too drunk to agree,” I remind her.

“So it wasn’t because another man was touching me?”

“That was part of the reason.” No point in lying to her. She would see right through it. This woman was not born yesterday—she is too damn smart for her own good.

“I didn’t like finding you eating lunch with another woman.” I stifle a laugh that jealousy, the green-eyed monster, got ahold of her again.

“She works for me.”

“Why do you only hire women?” Piper’s head drops to the side.

“I actually interviewed a man. But Aqua, believe it or not, was the best fit. And it has nothing to do with what’s between her legs.”

“It better not.” Piper leans in. “Because I have a habit of killing people who piss me off.” She winks and stands.

Stepping closer to me, she leans down, and I look up at her. “Dinner?”

“Are you asking me out?” I can’t help the twitch of my lips.

“Yes. But no sex. One date with no sex,” Piper says.

“But I like the way you taste. The way your cunt?—”

“I’ll message you where and when,” she says, cutting me off, and trying to fight a smile, but loses.

I sit there and watch as she walks out to her car.

Who knew she would be the one to ask me on a date?

My spicy little hellcat.