Without hesitation, Tori went back to eating. She kept her eyes on me the entire time.
Her face never paled.
* * *
Back pressed against the window of a 2017 Dodge Charger, jaw set tight, arms crossed and muscles tense, I scanned the lot at Asher Automotives while Dash stood beside me.
He was scanning, too, but doing it looking less inclined to beat someone’s ass.
I called as soon as the dealership opened and found out Wes was coming in at ten. Hearing that, I pushed my lessons back and took an early lunch.
It was nine fifty-five.
“There.” Dash pointed at the cherry red Corvette pulling into the lot.
My gaze hardened.
“See he got new tires,” I observed, keeping my position as I watched Wes park near the door in one of the labeled employee parking spots. “Legs wanted to set his ride on fire that night. Kinda wishing I’d let her do it.”
Dash chuckled next to me.
“That was some funny shit,” he mumbled. “You remember what they were wearing?”
I nodded, thinking back to that night I saw Tori going to town on this motherfucker’s car, dressed like a fucking cartoon character and still making my balls ache.
Wes climbed out, closed the driver’s-side door and straightened fully. He was tall. Lean build. A little scrawny in the arms.
I wasn’t worried.
“Wasn’t him who sold me my car,” Dash said. “Good to know I didn’t make that asshole any money.”
The older guy I worked with a few months back, Dave, stepped out of the office and met Wes halfway up the ramp.
I spoke to him when I got here, letting him know who we were waiting for and shooting down the impression that I was looking to give a sale to someone other than him.
He seemed understanding of my issue with Wes. Apparently the shithead stole customers out from under people all the time. Being the owner’s grandson, he had job security, which sucked for everyone else. Dave also shared that the cameras pointed on the lot were on the fritz and set to get worked on next week.
I thanked him by offering up my business for life.
Wes looked across the lot after getting word on us waiting for him. The fucker grinned in our direction, most likely thinking he was getting a sale.
Dick.
“I’m gonna beat that fuckin’ smile off his face,” I bit out.
“Thought you were just here to talk?” Dash questioned, turning his head to look at me.
I met his eyes and then cut away.
Wes started walking over. He was still wearing that grin.
“Change of plans,” I said, cracking my neck from side to side.
“Fuck,” Dash mumbled. He exhaled a tense breath. “Do me a favor and try talking first. I get what you’re feeling but you got a lot to lose, Jamie. You might be able to settle this without risking what you’ve worked hard for.”
I was hearing Dash, I just wasn’t caring for what he had to say. Still, he was right.
“Fine,” I said, growing more annoyed.
“You’re gonna talk?”
“Yeah. Whatever.”
Wes stopped in front of us, smiling and giving it to us both. “Gentlemen, Dave says you were asking for me. What can I do you for?”
Dash stayed quiet. I didn’t say shit.
Wes looked between us, brow tight when we didn’t answer, then he moved closer and gestured at the car I was leaning on. “Just got this in. It’s a 2017 Do—”
“Shut the fuck up and listen,” I interrupted.
Wes blinked, stepping close. He looked at Dash and then back at me. “Excuse me?”
I wasn’t in the mood to repeat myself so I got straight to the point. “Tori Rivera,” I snapped.
His eyes slowly narrowed. That was the only tell he gave to let me know he was following me. That was enough.
“You’re done, asshole. Stay the fuck away from her.”
Wes laughed under his breath. He mimicked my pose, standing defensively before uttering, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
He was lying. Probably because he was married and didn’t need anyone else knowing he was running around on his wife.
I kept at him. “Don’t call. Don’t show up. I hear you’re even thinkin’ about her, and we’re gonna have a major fuckin’ problem. You get me?”
“Dude, seriously, think you got the wrong guy.”
Now he was just starting to piss me off. I pushed off from the car and got in his face. Dash was at my back, bracing.
“Held her last night,” I shared, eye to eye with this prick. “All fucking night, had that beauty in my arms.”
His jaw clenched and his nostrils started flaring.
“I see that bothers you. Funny, since I got the wrong guy.”
Wes pushed against me, stepping up. “What I got with her doesn’t concern you.”
“You got dick, motherfucker. She’s mine.”
“Yeah?” He leaned closer. “What, was my bitch banging you, too?”
“What the fuck did you just call her?”
“Dude, shut the fuck up,” Dash warned, coming to stand on my left so he could face Wes.
“Stay away from her,” I repeated when I had his eyes. “Not gonna tell you again.”
He grinned and licked his bottom lip, “You taste her yet? She melts like sugar, doesn’t she?”
Rage burned like a fire in my veins.
“You fuckin’ idiot,” Dash uttered a second before I threw a right hook and connected with Wes’s jaw, dropping him. Then I bent down, fisted his shirt, and yanked his whining ass up until we were nose to nose.