Lou’s eyes grew wide.
“You didn’t think I was going to tell you who I’ve screwed?”
“Trying to get a date with a woman doesn’t start out by telling that woman who you’ve fucked before.”
“I figured out early on that you’re not like any other woman. I’m going to be upfront with you.”
“Interesting,” she said.
“Can I help you with anything?” a waitress asked, interrupting their conversation.
“I’d like your burger with everything on it,” Lou said. “Don’t skip anything. I’m not going to be on a diet today.”
After she ordered, Jacob watched as she looked across the diner, clocking his guards. Jacob was a strong man, and he’d take whatever was thrown at him, but he was also the oldest son of a Denton. His father wouldn’t let him go anywhere without a guard.
Once he finished ordering, he waited for Lou to return her attention to him.
“Those two men are watching you,” she said.
“They’re paid to watch me.”
“Oh, bodyguards.”
“Yes.”
“So, have you ever been married?” she asked.
“No.”
“This business requires you to marry well, right?”
He shook his head. “I’ll marry who I want to marry, and I won’t be told before then.”
“Must be nice to have that kind of control.”
“You don’t think you have?”
“I can work in shitty jobs, and piss my parents off, but at the end of the day, they’re the ones who always have the control.”
“Who?”
“My brother, Riley. They like to put him in circumstances to keep me in line.”
“Why were you at the fight the other day?”
“My parents weren’t going to be there, and I heard who he was fighting. I care about my brother, Jacob. He’s the only family I have, and I love him very much.”
They paused as the waitress brought them out their drinks order. He had a strong coffee while she had a milkshake.
“This work you’re taking him out on, it’s dangerous, right? More dangerous than getting into a fight?”
“The fights can sometimes be to the death, you know that?”
“I know that. Riley, he doesn’t fight to the death. He told me he doesn’t.”
“And you believe him?”
“I’ve got no reason to doubt him.”
Riley had lied to her. Jacob had seen Riley fight, and he’d watched Riley kill his opponent. This was not his confession to make.
“I’m not going to lie and say the work isn’t dangerous. It is. Please be reassured that I’m the one going to be there by his side. I’ll keep him safe.”
“Do you promise?”
“I promise.”
The waitress came back to the table with their food. “This looks really good.”
He watched as Lou grabbed her burger and took a huge bite.
“Wow, just wow, that is so amazing,” she said.
“I told you this was a good place.”
“And to think I wasn’t going to take you up on that date.”
“Ah, you admit you’ll go on a date with me?”
She shrugged. “I’ve not got anything else to do. I may as well have some fun with you.” She gave him a wink, and Jacob relished the small victory. He wasn’t fucking her yet, but he would.
****
“Once you’ve vetted my boss will you give me permission to work for him?” Riley asked.
Lou glanced over at her brother, who had stopped by while she’d been getting ready to go out on her date. “I’m not vetting your boss.”
“You screw him and I’d probably get a raise.”
She rolled her eyes. “Will you stop? The only way you’ll be getting a raise is if you work damned hard.”
“I know that, but Jacob has a thing for you.”
“Please stop.”
“He’s asked you out on a date, and he pretty much had to tempt that curiosity of yours before you’d give in.”
Lou shrugged. “Nothing is going to happen.”
“No? Wow, think of how much the parentals would love you.”
“Stop it, Riley.”
Her brother held his hands up. “I’m just, you know, putting it out there for you.”
“I’d rather you didn’t. This is not about them, and I’m not going to let them spoil it by thinking it is.”
“You’ve got issues. You know that, right?” Riley asked.
“I’m already a nervous wreck. The last thing I need to be thinking about right now is my parents. Now,” she ran her hands down her legs, “how do I look?” She turned to her brother.