He felt bad about her losing her job, but it had actually worked in his favor. It would give him a chance to spend more time with her without a job keeping her busy. Now he just had to get her away from working in a bar. He had enough money to support her while he got her out of his system. After it was over, he would make sure she had a much better job.
He looked back at her face and saw the surprise in her eyes. She really needed to believe him. He wouldn’t be able to get her in his bed if she was still angry about losing her job.
“You wouldn’t mind calling, then?” she asked hopefully.
Nick tried to hide his smile. He knew she was trying to fight her attraction to him. She could try, but she would be his when it was all said and done.
“First thing in the morning,” Nick assured.
“Thank you. It will make it much easier for me to find a job.”
They reached the parking lot of the bar, and he saw the lone car parked there. He felt the anger rise in him again.
“I still can’t fucking believe you work here. When’s your next shift?” he asked roughly as they got out of the car.
“It’s a good paying job. Quit making me feel bad about it!” Ria yelled at him.
“First of all, don’t yell at me. And I just want to make sure you’re safe until you quit,” Nick replied calmly, but inside, he wanted to shake some sense into her.
She sighed. “I work Friday and Saturday nights. Do you have jumper cables? My car didn’t start because I had left my lights on.”
Nick looked at her car. It was a piece of shit which had to be at least fifteen years old. Something about it was familiar to him, but he figured he had just seen a similar car at some point in the past.
“Yes, I do.” He clicked open the trunk of his car and pulled the cables out. He then adjusted his car so the cables could reach.
He handed Ria the key. “Hop in your car, and I’ll tell you when to start it.”
He saw her nod and then watched as she unlocked her car and got in.
“Pop the hood for me,” he instructed.
She did as he asked.
He hooked the cables to both of their batteries, and, once everything was in place, told her to start the car, which started on the first try. He looked up to see the relief on her face. Obviously, she couldn’t afford to pay for any repairs if it didn’t start.
She got back out of the car and walked toward him. “Thank you so much. I learned a hard lesson from my stupidity,” she said ruefully.
“It sucks that we always have to learn from our mistakes, doesn’t it?” Nick grinned at her.
“Isn’t that the truth?”
“Where did you lose your phone? Maybe we’ll get lucky.” Nick looked around.
“Oh, yeah. I almost forgot. It was that way.” She pointed.
They walked about a block before she stopped.
“I was walking past this building when he came up behind me and pushed me into the alley.” Ria looked for her phone on the ground.
Nick had to control himself. He wanted to kill the man who’d done this to her. He and Zane would find the fucker and make him pay.
“Oh, my gosh! There it is!” He heard Ria exclaim as she bent over to pick it up. “Today has turned out to be so much better than yesterday,” Ria said to him.
“I’m glad we could be there,” Nick replied. He wished he didn’t have to say we, but he couldn’t take credit for saving her last night.
“What are you doing for the rest of the day?” he asked her.
“Studying.”
“Can I take you to lunch first?” Nick asked softly.
He watched as a myriad of emotions crossed over her face—from confusion to surprise to pleasure. Finally, she nodded.
“How about Sully’s? It’s on the way back to my gym,” Nick told her.
“Oh, you don’t work with Zane?”
“No, my father and I own a gym, as well; but I’ve been working with some of Zane’s guys while I heal.”
“I thought you did a good job with Ty,” Ria said.
Nick kept a straight face. He still didn’t like that Ty already had a connection with her. Right now, Nick was the only man she needed to be thinking about.
“Yeah, he’s a good kid.”
They reached their cars and Nick opened Ria’s door for her.
“I’ll be right behind you,” he said as he shut the door and walked to his own car.
He looked around at the surroundings in disgust before pulling out of the parking lot. She didn’t belong here.
He was going to make sure she got offered a job in the city—after their affair was finished—one she wouldn’t be able to turn down. She was too beautiful to be working in this rat-hole.