Stud Muffin (Donner Bakery #2) - Jiffy Kate Page 0,64

that.

Tempest squirms a bit, moving away from him, and I instantly relax. I hate that he made her feel uncomfortable, though. I should kick his ass for that, too.

Shit, maybe I need to put the new bags I just bought to use tonight and blow off some of this pent-up aggression I’m feeling. Jacking off would probably help, too, if I’m being completely honest.

Anyone in their right mind would be able to tell Tempest is wanting her conversation with Mr. Handsy to be over based on her body language alone, but the guy just can’t take a hint. She’s being too nice and I’m about to lose my cool, I can feel it. She edges closer to the truck and I take that as my cue to do something.

Stepping out of the truck, I walk over to the passenger side and open her door like a fucking gentleman.

“Hey, T, you ready to get some dinner?”

Tempest looks a little surprised to see me but she plays it off well. “Oh, hey! Yeah, I’m definitely ready for food.” Turning toward her escort, she thanks him for walking with her and tells him to have a good night. Her back is facing me as I help her into the cab of the truck, so I use the opportunity to look over my shoulder and glare at her buddy, daring him to try something with her again.

Fortunately for him, he’s smart enough to concede and walk off.

Sorry, not sorry, dude.

Once Tempest is settled in her seat and buckled in, I hop back in the truck and start it up. Glancing at her, I’m about to ask where she wants to go eat when I notice the expression on her face. It’s a new one for me, one I’m not sure how to decipher. She looks a little annoyed but also amused, perhaps? Either way, I should probably address it before driving anywhere.

“Everything okay?”

“Did you seriously call me ‘T’ out there?” Her body is turned fully in my direction and when I start to stutter a bit, she quirks an eyebrow at me, letting me know she’s onto me.

“I, yeah, well… I mean—”

“Do you not think I can handle myself, take care of myself?”

Oh, shit. I should’ve known that would piss her off.

Is it wrong that I find her even more attractive right now?

She continues, “Are you not the person teaching me how to protect myself? Do you doubt your own skills as a teacher?”

“Now, wait a minute,” I say, holding up a finger between us. “I may have jumped the gun a bit, but that’s because I didn’t like that guy putting his hands on you. It had nothing to do with me doubting you or my skills.”

Tempest starts laughing, which only confuses me more.

“Cage, I’m just teasing you.” She grabs my upheld fingers and pushes them down to the seat, and even though I’m relieved she’s not angry with me, I’m struggling to concentrate thanks to the feel of her skin on mine. Jolts of electricity sear where she’s touching me, making me wonder what would happen if she touched me in other places. She must feel it too, because her pupils have dilated and she seems to have lost her train of thought.

A moment later, she clears her throat, which breaks the tension a little bit. “I’ll be honest. Normally, I hate all that ‘pissing on my leg’ business but it was actually kind of cute. That doesn’t mean I need to be rescued all the time, though, got it?”

“I got it, I do. I didn’t plan on overstepping any boundaries today and I’m sorry if I upset you, I just didn’t like that guy. You were obviously trying to end the conversation, but he refused to take the hint. I see that shit and worse at the club all the time and it pisses me off.”

“I can appreciate that and I’m grateful for your concern, but Andy is nice guy... from what I can tell. I don’t think he meant any harm.”

I don’t tell her I disagree. Instead, I ask what I meant to ask a few minutes ago. “Where do you want to eat?”

Tempest tells me how to get to a Mexican restaurant that she swears is ‘the real deal’. Being from Dallas, I’m pretty sure I know more about real Mexican food than she does, but I’ll trust her opinion this time. Truth be told, I couldn’t give two shits where we go as long as I get to