Her glare turned slightly more sinister and he had to bite back a laugh as he handed them over. So fucking adorable.
***
“You’ve got the heat too low.”
Fox stared at the grill, wondering why his father thought so. The heat was perfectly fine. The old man probably just liked to hear himself talk. One of the things he didn’t miss about being with family was his father armchair-coaching when he was grilling, but it looked like that wasn’t going to change at his own place. Hopefully the two-day visit wouldn’t feel like two weeks.
No support was forthcoming from Atlas or Luke, who were in the pool and probably hadn’t heard anything. If they had, they’d be steering his father away from the steaks before he made Fox overcook everything.
“What the fuck, Steve?” his uncle Scott immediately grumbled, then sipped his beer. “Leave the kid alone. You burn the shit out of everything, and you know it. Fox knows what he’s doing.”
Typical. If there was a disagreement to be had, his father and the old man’s brother would find it. They were best friends but in an annoying, constantly bickering way.
There was no wonder they’d both divorced young and stayed single. There was no room in their symbiotic relationship for other people. It also meant he and Atlas had been raised with Luke by two hardened criminals for fathers. His uncle also approved of him more than his father ever had.
Having at least one mother in the house would have made for a very different childhood than the one they’d had, but neither of their moms had stuck around. At least Luke’s little sister Macy’s mother had insisted on visitation. But even that was hard since their profession moved them around so much. It wasn’t safe to stay in the same area long. They’d seen a lot of the world, yes, but sometimes he wondered if the lack of stability had affected him somehow.
Macy sighed and pushed back her dark ringlets without bothering to look up from the textbook she was reading. It had gotten to the point where she was almost the older men’s handler, since they were getting grumpier as they aged and she was home alone with them now. As soon as she finished pre-med, she was talking about going away for med school. How their dads would manage on their own none of them knew, but it wasn’t fair to trap Macy with them forever.
Actually, he’d probably worry more about his father and his uncle than about Macy, who’d turned out pretty tough, despite the fact that they’d been overprotective of her growing up.
“So this Marcel character has the corner on the market for the whole fucking town?” Uncle Scott asked. “Like Brian back in New York?”
Luke and Atlas padded over, toweling off, likely lured by the aroma of grilled meat.
“Yeah, but Marcel is more of a thug than Brian was,” Atlas grumbled. “At least Brian had class.”
They all grunted in agreement. After Luke had accidentally scooped one of Brian’s jobs when they were young, the guy had talked to Scott rather than lose his shit and threaten them. Marcel would have inspired more respect if he’d negotiated rather than resorted to violence.
Atlas handed him plates as the steaks came off the grill, and soon they were all too busy eating to talk. When the feeding frenzy died down, Macy put her plate aside and grinned at Fox.
“So, Lukey tells me there’s a girl on your team now, Fox. Is that true?” Her mouth twisted and a brow raised in challenge. They’d been giving Macy the brush-off for years, hoping she’d pick a safer profession. Medicine was her new passion, but she had no qualms about regularly giving them shit for leaving her out. She had always believed it was because she was female, but it was more that she had been born years after Atlas. It was hard to think of her as anything more than a cute and pesky kid who needed supervision.
Well, it was that and it was weird thinking about bringing home women with her hanging around. So maybe it was a little because she was a girl.
“A girl? What girl?” Uncle Scott asked sharply. “What did I tell you boys?”
“Only trust family.” Atlas chuckled. “But honestly, that only works until you want to get laid.”
“Be careful what you say around her,” his father said, shaking his head like Fox wasn’t the shiniest penny in the bank. “There’s no reason to tell some whore your business.”
Fox could feel his hackles rising. Atlas and Luke were both in silent laughter mode. Why, oh why did Macy have to stir shit?
His uncle and father were both staring at him. Macy got to her feet and started clearing dishes, but not before Fox saw the amusement in her eyes. She was going to get a serious noogie later.
“She’s not some whore,” Fox snapped. His voice was loud above the quiet hum of the pool filter. “She’s my girlfriend.” Well maybe not exactly, but he wasn’t about to go into detail about their relationship.
“She stalked us and convinced us to take her on.” Atlas grinned. “She’s hilarious. You’ll love her.” He and Luke both liked Addison far too much, and every time he took his eyes off her for five minutes she was hanging out with them, shooting the shit. The woman needed to be tied to the foot of his bed when he was busy. At the same time, if he was ever going to get married, she would have to get along with his family.
Fuck. Why was he thinking about that now?
Luke nodded. “She’s a good kid.”
“Kid?” his father bellowed. “Crap on a cracker. Fox, don’t tell me you’re banging some high school girl.”
“What?” Fox frowned at him. “No! She’s in school for engineering. She’s very smart . . .” Funny, talented, sexy as hell . . .
“If she was smart she wouldn’t be dating you.” His father belched and rubbed his stomach.
“So you’re letting her do what?” Uncle Scott asked. “Answer the phone? Do your taxes?”
Sexist jackass.
Macy saved Fox the trouble and smacked her father, who only chuckled.
“She was already stealing cars when I met her.” Fox shrugged. “I’m just showing her a few more tricks.”
Uncle Scott began sputtering. “That’s just a bad fucking idea. You boys know better! What if she tips off the cops? What if she gets her ass thrown in jail and she rolls over on you? You can’t invite every hot set of tits you meet into your business.”
“That’s what I said.” Atlas smiled wryly. “Though it’s true. She does have great tits.”
Fox stabbed his brother repeatedly with his eyes. The bastard didn’t die.
“It would be a shame to leave her on her own or have her recruited by Marcel,” Luke pointed out. Fox could tell Addison was starting to win him over. They’d bonded.
Macy plonked a fresh bottle of beer down in front of Fox and mouthed “sorry”. She probably hadn’t thought it would turn into the Inquisition.
“Well, you boys have your own business now,” his uncle conceded. “I just wish you’d be more careful, like we taught you. Until the Marcel issue is settled, though, I think you should avoid taking her on runs. Getting her killed would be a shitty thing to do.”
An argument about how best to handle things ensued, but after about two minutes Fox realized the old men were going to shout it out between themselves, and they didn’t need anyone interrupting with pesky facts.
When Atlas went in to grab the playing cards, Fox relaxed.
“Hey.” Scott nudged Luke with his elbow. “If you fall in love with a woman, you just do what I said and keep her in the dark. Lots of healthy marriages are built on a solid foundation of keeping-the-missus-in-the-dark.”
“From the man whose ex is still blackmailing him to keep her mouth shut?” Fox’s father shot back.
Ooh. Low blow.
“Yeah, well, don’t fuck an accountant or a cop and you’ll be fine.” His uncle chuckled with self-derision. “How was I supposed to know she wouldn’t believe we ran a thriving computer repair business?”
“You asked her
to keep the books, idiot,” his father reminded him.
The sun and the company were giving him a headache, but at least they were only visiting for a couple of days. It was going to feel longer without seeing Addison. He didn’t want to drag her over here if his dad and his uncle were going to be dumbasses to her though. Time enough for her to walk through that fire if things between them got serious.
Chapter 11
The smell of onions cooking lured Addison from her room and into the kitchen. Mariella stood at their tiny stove, stirring something in a steaming pot.
“What are you making?” Addison leaned against the breakfast bar that split the living room and kitchen.
“I’m glad you’re up,” Mariella said, facing the stove. “Taste this.” She scooped liquid from the pot then brought it over to Addison.
Since Mariella had started culinary school, Addison had been her guinea pig. Not that she minded. The last few years, she’d been surviving on cheap packaged food, with the exception of Sunday night dinners at her parents’ house. It was refreshing to have actual human food a few times a week, even if it was a little burnt now and then. Still, Mariella was a better chef than Addison’s mother. Her mom stuck to a few basics—meat loaf, steak and potatoes, chicken casserole. Mariella’s food was much more adventurous.
Addison sipped the broth off the spoon. “Wow. That’s good, Mari.”
Mariella smiled then went back to the stove. “It’s a twist on chicken soup I’m trying. Gave it a little Dominican flavor.” She winked.
“Mmm,” Addison smacked her lips together. “Jeez. If I was into girls, I’d marry you.” With her adorable curly hair, smooth dark skin, and gorgeous smile, who wouldn’t?
Laughing, Mariella gave her a cocky look. “As if I’d go for you.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You have commitment issues.”
“I do not!”
Mariella snorted while Addison grumbled under her breath. Her friend was starting to sound like her parents, always going on about her relationship status. But she wasn’t a commitment-phobe. She just hadn’t found anyone interesting enough to keep around for long. There was a difference.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said to Mariella. “You’re more high-maintenance than I am. And you’re supposed to be a lesbian.”
“Stereotype much?” She turned and waved a spoon at Addison. “Me liking girls has nothing to do with wanting to look nice when I go out dancing. Speaking of which . . . Where the hell is the new skirt I left in your car?
“In the wash. I had to borrow it. It was a girl emergency.” Mariella was probably better off not knowing what went on in that skirt on the rooftop club.
“A girl emergency?” She put a hand on her hip. “Did you meet some guy you suddenly had to impress?”
Addison dropped her gaze. A moment later, she realized her mistake.
Mariella gasped. “You did! You bitch!” She threw a kitchen towel at her but Addison caught it. “Why didn’t you tell me? Spill. I want all the details.”
Her head fell back and she sighed loudly. “Nooo.”
This was exactly why she hadn’t been hanging out here much. What she had with Fox wasn’t what you’d call a normal boyfriend/girlfriend relationship. It was a weird, twisted, kinky mess. Part business partners, part mind-blowing sex. Then there was some amount of friendship and romantic feelings but . . . Those were the things that eventually bored her with other guys.
Nothing about Fox was boring. Even their dates were a blast. She remembered the rush of getting the tattoo, then how warm and intimate she felt about him after. In the moment, it’d been more intense than stealing her first car. But now, she burned with embarrassment. She’d actually thought she had feelings for him. Ridiculous. Maybe. They barely knew each other. Maybe adrenaline and sex didn’t mix as well as she’d thought they did. It made her temporarily insane.
“No wonder you’ve been so distracted lately,” Mariella said with a sly smile.
“No, I haven’t!”
Mariella leaned over the counter, resting on her forearms, her eyes twinkling with humor. “You look like a girl who’s gettin’ some.”
“Shut up!” She threw the dish rag back at Mariella, who laughed.
Was she that transparent? Fox was supposed to be a fling—a hot guy to fuck around with while she inserted herself into his business. Sex hadn’t been this good since . . . forever. Plus he was funny, caring, smart . . .
But still a fling. With cuddling and feelings.
She winced. No. She had more important things to think about. Her grandparents. Her parent’s home. Money. Finishing school. A boyfriend wasn’t on the list, no matter how hot the sex was.
Although . . . was Fox her boyfriend now? They hadn’t really defined themselves. She preferred not using labels anyway. Labels just got in the way of natural chemistry.
Oh god. Maybe Mariella was right about the whole commitment issue thing.
“Ugh. I’m going out.” Addison grabbed her purse then walked to the door. She wasn’t in the mood for deep introspection. Fox had texted her earlier that he had a puzzle for her to work on. Pleased he’d thought of her for the job, she wanted to get there before he did something stupid like panic about her safety again.
Although she had a paper due, it could wait. This sounded way more fun. Plus, practical application. What was better for learning engineering than that?
“Make good choices!” Mariella called after her, still cackling.
As she drove to Fox’s house, Mariella’s words echoed in her mind. In the past, she’d gotten bored of her boyfriends and discarded them, gently, after a few months. But Fox was different, wasn’t he? She tried to imagine him at Sunday dinner with her family then grimaced. With his tattoos and dodgy career explanation, her father wouldn’t be impressed.
But the more they spent time together, the deeper their connection. She was afraid she was falling for him. It terrified her, but at the same time a giddy feeling grew whenever she thought about him.
On the highway now, the car behind her was riding her ass hard. She slowed down to frustrate the driver, hoping he or she would switch lanes and pass her. But the car matched her speed, still hugging her bumper.
“Asshole,” she murmured, taking a good look at the driver through the rearview.
It was a guy driving a sleek black car with tinted windows. An expensive car that looked like it belonged in a Fast and Furious movie. Was that . . . a Jaguar?
She signaled then moved to the right lane.
He followed her.
Shit. Was this the beginning of a road rage incident or could this be one of Fox’s enemies he’d told her about? One of the people who’d destroyed the auto shop? Was he trailing her or planning to run her off the road? She slapped the off button of her stereo system, and the car was filled with the loud sound of her own nervous breathing. Stealing cars was one thing, but getting followed by thugs was entirely different.
She just wanted to get to the safety of Fox’s house, but she had to get rid of this guy first. At the last second, she swerved off the highway onto an exit two before her usual route to Fox’s. With a screech of his tires, the guy followed her.
Way to be subtle, idiot.
Either the guy was trying to scare her on purpose or he didn’t give a shit about discretion.
At least she knew her way around the area enough to take a more scenic route to Fox’s house. She weaved her way through traffic, trying to lose him on a crowded street in the city.
At a light, the car pulled up in the lane next to her. She stared straight ahead, dread running down her spine. What the fuck was she supposed to do? If she sat there avoiding eye contact and looking scared, would he feel like he won?
It wasn’t as if she could scare the guy off by herself—not like Fox had
with the guy on the road outside the dealership that time. She knew how to throw a punch but she’d never been in an actual fight.
Well, the last thing she wanted was to let the guy believe he’d successfully scared her.
Brazenly, she turned her head and glared. The guy stared back. Oversized sunglasses and a long mane of hair shielded his face. Who the fuck was this douchebag?
Wondering where she got the balls, she revved the car engine and gave him the finger. The man smiled a slow, dangerous smile. He made a gun sign with his hand and pretended to shoot her.
Oh my god. She felt like she was going to throw up, but she forced herself to stare him down.
As soon as the light turned green, she took off, tires squealing. She turned left then made a quick right. Two more lefts, with no sign of her tail, and she was back on the highway.
The rest of the drive to Fox’s she spent looking in her rearview every ten seconds, but the Jaguar hadn’t reappeared.
She pulled into Fox’s driveway, trying to calm her nerves. No way could she tell Fox about this. He’d flip. Not only could it start a war but it would seriously hinder her career goals. Putting on her best poker face, she left her car and walked up the path.
Fox was in the doorway grinning at her by the time she made it there.
“Hi.” He grabbed her and kissed her deeply. With an arm around her lower back, he pulled her closer as he pressed his body against hers, bowing her slightly backward.
Apparently the man had missed her.
When he finally let her go, her head felt a little fuzzy. Just before she followed him inside, she checked one more time for the Jaguar that’d been tailing her. Bushes blocked her view of the road but it hadn’t pulled into the driveway at least. It would’ve been a stupid move but she didn’t know whether this rival gang would attack in broad daylight or at all. Maybe she was in over her head.
When she turned back to Fox, he was looking down at her through narrowed eyes. “What are you looking for?”
“Huh? Nothing.” She did her best to smile reassuringly but he still seemed suspicious. Shit. The last thing she needed was him freaking out and getting overprotective again.
Stealing His Thunder (Masters of Adrenaline) Page 16
