“So, I’d rather you use me and then leave the clean up for your friends? Is that how you did this with other women?” she asked.
“Not all of them would stay long enough for me.”
“I’m a slut for letting you have your way?”
“What? No, I never said that.”
“Good, then next time we’re all together, you’ll be the one staying to do the clean up after wards.” She walked right up to Connor and poked his chest. Jake fell totally, completely in love with her for that action alone. She was proving she could stand up to them. He damn well liked it. Especially because the person getting the poked chest was Connor. The guy needed to learn some manners. “I swear, Connor, the next time you walk away I’ll crush your balls. Do you understand?”
Connor stared at her. Jake saw the admiration in his eyes. “Next time?”
“You guys said you wanted me for more than a one night stand, so you’ll prove it.” She moved back to pour herself a coffee. Jake saw her hand shaking. He stayed in his seat waiting for her to make the next move. This was what she needed. He knew that and understood why. “I’m not moving in with you. I’m not ready for that. However, the other stuff. The dating you guys used to ask me on, I’ll be willing.”
“Good, but you’ve got to promise us something, Zoe,” Jake said.
“What do you want?”
“You’ve got to promise us you’ll not step foot outside of Law Castle. You’re ours until further notice.”
She nodded her head. “All right. I promise I will not leave Law Castle.”
“Good.”
Chapter Twelve
Zoe finished her coffee while Jake, Brent, and Connor tried to eat some of the food Connor had cooked. He’d tried to get her to eat. She might be a big woman, but she couldn’t stomach food first thing in the morning. Maybe it was one of the reasons her weight stayed, no matter how many diets and exercise regimes she followed.
“I can take the food with me to The Dugout. I need to go and speak to the manager to make sure I can continue to work there.”
“Tell Steve he’d be doing us a big favour, and we’d offer to do something for him,” Jake said.
Steve, no last name known to her, rarely stayed at the bar after hours. He was there for the morning deliveries and when she went to pick up her wages. For a bar owner, he lived like a recluse.
“I will. Can someone give me a ride?”
“Sure, I’ll drive you over,” Connor said.
She went to argue with him and thought better of it. Jake and Brent kissed her before they left the house leaving her alone with Connor. He packaged the food into boxes for her. She helped him transport them to his truck. They walked back in the house together. Zoe didn’t see him stop until it was too late. She careened into his back. Connor caught her in time so her ass wouldn’t hit the floor.
“Thank you,” she said.
“You’re welcome.”
He kept looking at her. She knew he had something to say. Instead of waiting for him, she pulled out of his hold. “We’d better get that food to The Dugout.”
Connor nodded pulling away from her. He switched off the lights and wiped down the counter. They walked out to his truck together. He opened the door for her then helped her inside.
“Thank you,” she said.
He nodded his head. The tension between them was mounting. She didn’t like it. Zoe felt like he was trying to talk to her without saying words. It was a strange feeling to have. She’d never communicated through eye contact before. He got in on the driver’s side, started the car, and pulled away from the curb.
Zoe spent a most of the trip looking out of the window. It was only a short trip. When he pulled up outside The Dugout, he cut the engine, and neither moved.
“Did I hurt you last night?” he asked.
She turned to face him, not answering his question.
“Did I?” he asked, after some time had passed.
“It is a hard question to answer, Connor.”
“Physically, did I hurt you?”
“A little, but you’re a big guy. I imagine some women struggle with you.”
“Then how else did I hurt you?”
She sighed not wanting the conversation.
“Can we leave this to another time?”
“No, I want to have this conversation now.”
“Fine, then what happened to your parents?” she asked. Her anger increased as the walls pulled up around him.
“I’m not talking about my parents—”
“Then I’m not talking about last night.”
She pulled on the truck handle. The door didn’t budge. “What’s wrong with this door?”