Lib Novel Page 18
Before I have a chance to tell him I always lock the doors, he leans down, his face close to mine. For some reason my body thinks he’s going in for a friendly kiss on the cheek and I turn my head slightly.
But he pivots and captures my lips instead. A soft warm brush of his lips with a slight scratch of stubble.
It’s over before I have a chance to react.
Or kiss him back.
“Night, Margot.”
Stunned, I stare up at him. He kissed me.
He’s not smirking or laughing. No, he’s staring at me like he wants to eat me alive.
“See you soon.” His low, warm voice sounds like a promise or a threat.
I lock the door behind him, hurry upstairs, and don’t look back.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Jigsaw
Am I smiling? My mouth’s pulled into a weird, non-sarcastic, upward sensation I’m not used to as I cross the parking lot back to Rooster’s truck.
I didn’t want to leave Margot. Her cute, flustered expression when I gave in to the impulse to kiss her almost stopped me from walking out the door. I usually relish the corpse-disposal portion of our nocturnal mayhem activities, but I haven’t been all that helpful to my brothers tonight.
Talking to Margot was more fun than murder clean-up. Watching her round little ass as she bent over to grab the case of water almost made me lose my mind.
“Are you okay?” Rooster huffs a laugh.
I yank the goofy smile off my face and scowl at him. “I’m fine, why?”
“You look like a puppy who just had his tummy rubbed.”
“I wish she’d rubbed my tummy.” I glance back at the funeral home. A few low lights flicker beyond the windows, but not enough to see anything in the house. Is Margot watching us from inside? Or did she go upstairs and back to bed like she said she would? How can she rest knowing bodies are being burned so close to where she sleeps?
I can’t fake indifference a minute longer, and it’s not like I’m fooling my oldest and closest friend one bit.
“Isn’t she adorable?” I gush like an eleven-year-old girl who just got an invitation to a school dance.
Rooster rumbles with laughter, then winces and touches his side. “Yeah, she’s cute. Not freaked out about us all showing up in the middle of the night, either.” His gaze strays to the house. “Real nice of her to be worried about me, since we’ve never met.”
“Don’t let it go to your head.” I throw the wad of gauze at him. “She wanted to patch Teller up too.”
He rolls his eyes. “You better tread carefully, brother. You fuck around with her and screw this business relationship up, whole club will want your head on a stick.”
He’s got a point, not that I’d ever admit it. It’s my duty to keep Rooster’s ego in check. Can’t do that if he thinks he’s right all the time. “How insulting.” I pull an indignant, hurt face as I set the case of bottled water on the back seat.
I slide my hunting knife out of its sheath, slice through the plastic cover, wriggle a bottle out of the tight package, and hand it to Rooster. “What if I really like her? Maybe she’s the one.”
A pleasurable shiver, like a premonition of good fortune, runs up my spine.
I shouldn’t say shit like that out loud just to fuck with Rooster. It’s probably bad karma or something since I don’t believe in soulmates. Or at least not that there’s a soulmate out there for me. Rooster, on the other hand, found his soulmate. That’s great for him, and I love Shelby, but their cutesy, lovey-dovey life isn’t for me.
“The fuck you doing, Jigsaw?” Z calls in a hushed whisper. “We could use your help.”
“Making sure the big, bearded pin cushion doesn’t keel over.” I jerk my thumb at Rooster, who snorts.
“You all right, Rooster?” Z asks, genuine concern in his voice.