Page 15 of Sugar & Ink
“From the diner?”
“Yeah.”
She nodded like that information mattered. “Their pie is decent.”
“High praise.”
“I don’t hand out compliments easily.”
“I noticed.”
Her eyes lifted to mine, then she looked down at her burger.
“Thank you,” she said quietly.
I shrugged. “No need to make it weird.”
“I’m not making it weird.”
“Good.”
“You brought me dinner.”
“You were hungry.”
“That is dangerously close to thoughtful.”
I took a bite of my burger and chewed before answering. “Don’t spread that around.”
Her lips twitched. “Wouldn’t want to ruin your reputation?”
“Exactly.”
She glanced toward the front windows.
Across the street, Bad Habit’s sign glowed in the dark.
“Pretty sure your reputation is safe.”
“Why’s that?”
She looked back at me. “Because you still look like you could scare someone just by standing there.”
I smirked. “Only if they deserve it.”
She didn’t answer right away.
Instead, she studied me in a way that felt too direct and not careful enough.
Most people looked at me and made decisions fast.
Tattooed. Biker. Trouble.
I didn’t mind. It made life easier most days.
Josie looked like she was trying to decide what box I belonged in and coming up empty.
She dipped a fry into ketchup and took a bite. “So, do you always rescue women from ladders?”
