Custom Built (Fast & Fury #1) - Chantal Fernando Page 0,21

explanation, probably the truth this time.

“I mean, I have no idea. There’s something there between us, but I think we both know it’s going to be a bad idea to act on it. We’ve been circling each other at work, Crow has been an asshole at times, making me think he didn’t even like me at times, if I’m being honest. Like he’s fine with everyone else, but with me he goes from chill to broody instantly. Yet at the same time there’s some weird connection, and this is the first time I’m admitting this out loud.”

“Interesting. In the entire time I’ve known Crow, I’ve never seen him with a girlfriend,” she says, tapping a black manicured fingernail against her chin.

“Okay, so he’s not the commitment type,” I mutter, pursing my lips.

Crow is a ladies’ man. I knew that from the second I saw him, because he is so damn confident, calm and good looking, there is no way in hell he doesn’t attract women.

Hell, it attracted me.

“Well,” she replies, wrinkling her nose. “I mean, he’s a Knight. It’s never going to be a problem for them to get a woman, okay?”

“Great.”

“But that doesn’t mean they can’t commit and be faithful. It just means they like to have fun when they are single, and there’s nothing wrong with that. No slut shaming in 2020.”

“You calling Crow a slut?” I tease, laughing back when she does the same.

“I never said that,” she says, raising her hands in the air. “He’s just a very...friendly guy.”

I cover my face with my hands. “Exactly. Except with me he was standoffish at the start and it threw me off. But then last night we actually spoke and hung out—”

“And dirty danced.”

“Yes, and danced.” I sigh, staring down at the cake on my plate and wishing it would solve all my problems. “And I don’t know where we stand, but work is probably going to be awkward tomorrow, so I’m looking forward to that.”

“So, nothing, right?” she teases, using my original statement against me.

“Nothing.” I nod.

“He’s a really nice guy,” Abbie says after a few moments. “He is used to taking care of everyone. He was a prospect when Skylar came into the Knights’ world and was ‘assigned’”—she uses air quotes—“to watch her and keep her safe when Saint wasn’t around. That included Izzy and me as well, so us women are a bit protective of him. He’s one of the good ones.”

“Prospect?” I ask with a wrinkle in my brow.

Abbie looks at me in confusion for a second before understanding what I was asking. “Oh, that means he wasn’t officially a member of the Knights. He was pledging, or whatever the boys call it. He was on probation.”

“Got it. But he’s now a member?”

“Yes. And honestly, Bronte, you have nothing to worry about with him. He never has anything bad to say about anybody. He’s just one of those easygoing, nothing-fazes-him types.”

“Not around me. He was broody as shit.”

“That’s because you’re different, and I don’t think he knows how to handle it,” she states, pushing her coffee away and bringing the lemon cake closer to her. “And I don’t think you do either.”

I’ve had a few boyfriends in my time. Nothing amazing and no one really worth mentioning, but I’m not completely inexperienced. But she’s right.

I have no fucking idea how to handle this situation.

“He’s my boss, and I actually really love this job and all the people I work with. I take it seriously, you know? Getting involved with a boss is never a good idea. I think we should all let it go, because these things usually don’t end well.”

“Technically Temper is your boss, not Crow,” Abbie adds, lip twitching. “I mean, Temper is the actual owner of the garage. Crow just runs it.”

Did she just find a loophole for me?

“We almost kissed last night,” I confide to her, feeling the heat rush to my cheeks. “I wanted him to kiss me, and then he was leaning in...”

“And what happened?” she asks, sitting up straighter in excitement.

“His phone rang and a woman’s name popped up, so I got the hell out of there, and that was how the night ended.” I wince, puffing out a deep breath.

“What was her name?” she asks, bringing her face closer to mine.

“Heidi.”

She blinks slowly a few times. “Heidi is Crow’s sister.”

Fuck.

Chapter Seven

After spending three hours with Abbie discussing everything from our childhoods to our friends to her dad, I decide to drive over to surprise my own