Page 111 of X's and O's

“I can clean toilets.”

I glanced at him skeptically. “Why would you want to though?”

He brushed past me. “Because I like being around you, Violet. Even if you don’t like being around me.”

I bristled. He was wrong about me not liking being around him. I liked being around him way too much, actually. But could he blame me for not wanting himaround? Was I supposed to like being reminded I hadn’t been good enough? Surely I was entitled to some amount of pride. He could say it was him, not me, all he wanted, but every big girl had heard that a million times.

We knew what it meant.

“It’s a free world, and your friends own this club. I doubt they’re going to kick you out if you follow me inside.”

He clearly already knew that though, because he was holding the door open for me.

I sighed as I walked past into the dim interior of Psychos.

Bliss and Rebel looked up from behind the bar when we entered, both their gazes flicking to Levi.

Rebel grinned and walked past me with her arms full of cutlery and ketchup bottles. “Didn’t realize it was bring your boyfriend to work day, sis.”

“He’s not…I’m not… I didn’t.”

“I’m joking.” She winked at me with a laugh and then called out, “Hi, Levi. This place is a pigsty, so run now if you don’t want to be put to work.”

He glanced over at me and then back at his best friend’s woman. “Just consider me Violet’s assistant today. I’m more than happy to get my hands dirty.”

Bliss frowned and motioned me over. I went, and Levi was smart enough to give us some space when she dragged me into the back office that held a desk covered in paperwork.

“Are you okay with him being here? Say the word and I’ll kick him out.”

I shook my head quickly. “I don’t want any trouble. I didn’t ask him to come. I know it’s my first day, and I don’twant you to think I’m just going to hang out with him. I just…” I shrugged. “He was at my place this morning, and now…”

Bliss perched her behind on the desk. “And now you can’t get rid of him? Been there. I swear, the club men are all bark on the outside but gooey saps on the inside. War used to follow me around like that when we first started dating too. Fang was even worse with Rebel.” She paused. “Actually, nothing much has changed there.” She shrugged a shoulder. “It’s kind of nice though. Just means he cares about you and wants to make sure you’re safe.”

“I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself.”

“Of course you are. But these guys are hardwired to protect those they care about. I think because their lifestyles make them targets, and so by association, we are too. They feel guilt and fear around that, so it manifests in them being overprotective.” She leaned toward the open door, peering out at Levi waiting for me. “He seems to care about you.”

“He has a funny way of showing it,” I grumbled.

Bliss patted my arms. “Make him grovel before you give in and forgive him.”

“I’m not giving in,” I said stubbornly.

Bliss laughed. “The way you keep glancing back at him, and the fact you got on the back of his bike says otherwise.” She cocked her head to one side. “You know that means something to these guys, right? They don’t let just anyone ride with them.”

I didn’t know what that meant, nor did I care. I was still licking my wounds, and they hadn’t healed enough for me to forgive him. I didn’t know Bliss well enough to unload all of my emotional baggage when it came to Levi.She was my boss, at least for today, and I wanted to make a good first impression. “So, what do you want me to start with?”

“Anywhere you want, really. We haven’t had a cleaner in for a couple of weeks now, and it shows. We’ve all been doing what we can, and the kitchen staff keeps that area clean, but the rest…” She made a face. “You’re probably going to be grateful we pay well. And I apologize in advance.”

But I wasn’t fazed. I’d cleaned more than my share of disgusting things. I actually liked when I got to a job and the place was a disaster. It was so much more satisfying to get it all shiny again than the jobs where I was really just wiping over surfaces that were already pretty spotless and really not making much of a difference at all.

“Just point me in the direction of your supplies.”

“There’s a cupboard in between the bathrooms on this side of the club.” She plucked a key from a pegboard on the wall behind the desk and tossed it at me. “Everything should be in there.”

I caught it easily and nodded at her before striding out of the room.

I walked straight past Levi but wasn’t terribly surprised when he followed.