Page 8 of Tiger Bitten

“Nope. Oh hell yeah, there’s a parking spot right up front,” he murmured, lining his truck up to parallel park in a space that was clearly too small.

“Um, are you sure you can fit in—” Before she could finish that thought, he’d swung perfectly into the space, his tires a mere six inches from the curb. He pulled forward a foot to straighten out and then said, “Ready?”

“You’ve done that a time or two,” Ren guessed.

“It’s only street parking where I live. I hated it at first and thought about getting rid of my truck, but you give in or you get used to it. I got used to it.”

Impressive. There was something attractive to her about a man who could handle big machinery.

Her phone vibrated with a text, and when she checked it, her sigh turned to a growl. Strange, because the growl wasn’t really her thing. It tickled her throat whenever it happened because she just wasn’t used to it. Her mom had texted her, I really don’t like this. My instincts tell me you shouldn’t be anywhere near a Cat. You know how they are.

Ren pursed her lips as she speed-typed, If you don’t ease up, I’m going to invite him to Uncle Ronnie’s wedding this weekend as my plus-one. Send.

I forbid it! came the instant reply.

“Let me guess,” Mars murmured. “Your mom?”

“She thinks you’re dangerous.”

“She would be right,” he uttered. She could hear the truth in his tone, and she studied his handsome profile.

“Why aren’t you paired up yet?” she asked.

He looked surprised by the question, and shook his head, denying her an answer. He got out and she pushed open the door and nearly plummeted to the earth trying to escape the cab of his jacked-up truck. “It’s just I feel like your tires are the height of me,” she teased.

He snorted. “Here, hand me your phone.”

“I’m not giving you my phone.”

“To take a picture of you by the tire,” he said patiently.

“Oh. Right.”

She hid a smile as she handed the phone over and posed by his bigass back tire. It really was humongous. She did a few poses as he took pictures of her, and then said, “You know what they say about a man who drives a big truck.”

“I have a small dick,” he deadpanned.

The smile fell from her face. “Oh. Um. Is it a medical condition or something?”

He belted out a laugh and handed her phone back on the picture he’d just taken of her mortified face she was making next to his truck. She snorted. “That is atrocious. I’m posting it.”

“Really?” he asked.

“Yeah. I make it a point to only post stupid pictures of myself. I only have like four friends on my page, and it’ll surprise them zero percent.”

“Huh. That’s cool. So, who is Uncle Ronnie and what time is the wedding?”

“Ew, Mars. Did you go through my phone?”

“Your mom texted something like she’s calling the police and the text thread accidentally opened.”

“Accidentally, huh? Well, she probably won’t call the police. She’s just dramatic sometimes.”

Mars held open the door to the restaurant and waited for her to pass through. “So, Ronnie is your mom’s brother?”

“Mmm, you told me yesterday to not tell you any personal information, remember? Besides, it’s not fair that I have to answer all of your questions, but you don’t answer mine.”

He blew out a breath and told the host they needed a table for two. Then as she was gathering the menus, he turned and said, “What question?”