Page 39 of Savage Prince
Another stab.
I knew this was going to be hard, but I didn’t expect to once again have to armor myself for battle. “I didn’t come here to argue, Eli.”
“Then what the hell did you come for?”
“I want to work.”
His brows go up, and he sets the angle grinder on the partially chopped car. “Never thought I’d see the day. Thought you were too good for that stuff now that you’re living in the Quarter and drinking that fancy whiskey.”
“I don’t drink whiskey,” I snap back.
“I remember one night that you did.”
He tilts his head to the side, and the memory assails me. Elijah and me in the backseat of a car ... the night I lost my virginity.
“That was the last time.”
He grins. “I got a bigger backseat these days. You’re always welcome.”
“I’ll pass. Now, are you going to let me work?”
He looks me up and down, taking in every inch of the jeans I barely have time to wear anymore, and the old LSU T-shirt that I have tied up in back.
“Help me finish up this car, and the welder and workshop are all yours for as long as you need them.”
My mouth drops open. “I’m not committing a frigging felony today.”
“Damn, you’ve got that self-righteous act down. Wouldn’t be the first time. Remember how you helped me boost that car the night we fucked in the backseat?”
“I was young and stupid. Clearly.”
“Well, you don’t seem to have wised up all that much if you’re back here asking me for favors. Seems like you’ve decided to go slummin’.”
I want to punch him in the face, but I don’t do stuff like that anymore. My misspent youth is long over, and I’m respectable now.
I spin on the heel of my scarred work boot, intending to march my ass right back to my Bronco. I don’t need this. I can find somewhere else to—
“Aw, come on, Tempe. You can’t even take a little ribbin’ anymore. When’d you go get all delicate? That ain’t the girl I knew.”
“I’vechanged.”
He grabs the angle grinder and fires it up again. “Guess we’ll see how much.” He flips down his safety glasses.
I’m two steps from the door when he says something that stops me cold.
“The girl I knew wasn’t a quitter either.”
Chapter 18
Temperance
Iturn and face Elijah, anger boiling my blood.
“I’m not a quitter.”
“Sure looks like it. You quit on everyone else in your life except that fancy job of yours. I’m surprised you troubled yourself to come all the way out here, and now you’re just gonna walk away because you can’t stand to get your hands dirty anymore.”
I fist those very hands he refers to on my hips. “I’m not afraid of anything, especially not of getting my hands dirty. And certainly not of you.”
