“No, though he’s my brother so even if he did I wouldn’t tell you,” Hop answered, taking the sting out of his words by grinning at me.
“Then I’ll tell you, I can’t do sweet.”
“Come again, gorgeous?”
“I can’t do sweet,” I informed him. “So don’t be sweet unless you want me to burst into tears or something.”
“Wouldn’t want that,” he said, still grinning.
“Treat me like the badass I am,” I ordered and his grin became a smile.
“That, I know.”
My head tipped to the side at his words. “Pardon?”
“That, I know. Won’t say how I know but let’s just say I know you’re bossy.”
I knew how he knew. He was full of shit. Tack talked.
I rolled my eyes.
Then I rolled them back and bossed, “So are you going to treat me like the badass I am?”
“You got it, Cherry,” he said through his still smiling lips but he barely got it said when his smile cleared, his brows shot together, his head whipped around, his torso jerked up and he leaned into the window to peer out the blinds.
Suddenly, he was on his feet, his hand to his back pocket pulling out his phone.
“What –?” I started but he stretched his other hand out to me.
“Stay there.”
Oh hell.
Hop strode to the door but it flew open before he could get there and Naomi stormed through.
Oh hell!
“Where is that motherfucker?” she shrieked.
Hop had his phone to his ear and his body between me and Naomi.
“Calm down, woman, and step outside,” he growled at Naomi.
“Fuck you!” she screeched.
“Tack,” Hop said into his phone. “Please, God, brother, be close. I’m in the office at the garage. Your old bitch is here and your old lady is also here.”
Naomi leaned to the side and pointed at me around Hop’s long, lean, jeans and tee clad body, shouting, “He gets his ass here, I’ll deal with him. Then I’ll deal with you, you cunt!”
My body jerked back in my chair at that surprising, harsh and totally uncalled for insult but Naomi was gone. This was because Hop had his hand in her chest. He reached around her and opened the door then he shoved her through and closed it.
I stared at the closed door.
“Oh no,” I whispered to it as I slowly stood, vaguely hearing Naomi’s shrieking outside. “Hell no.”
I stomped to the door, threw it open, stomped to the top landing and stared down where Hop and Naomi were at the bottom of the steps.
“What did you just call me?” I asked.