Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 92519 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 463(@200wpm)___ 370(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92519 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 463(@200wpm)___ 370(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
“That kind of language is not acceptable at this time of day. As you can see, there are young children around, and I would greatly appreciate it, if you didn’t say anything like that. However, I have heard the rumor mill, that if you want what you ordered, it’s free at your club,” she said. Turning toward the rest of the table, she held her pen ready. “Now, if you don’t want to order, please leave. If you do, then tell me what you’d like. We have an amazing menu and a great cook.”
Inside she wanted to slap them. No, she wanted to toss them out of the damn diner, but this was all she had. Al would fire her. She was pretty sure her father would kill her and hurt her mother. Then there was Petal she had to take care of.
“Cut the crap, Lance,” Colt said. “We’ll take a full round of burgers and fries. Forget the salad. None of us want it. Coffees as well.”
Rosalie counted the number of men, wrote it down, and finished writing it up. Nodding her head, she didn’t dare look at Colt, and took the order over to Al.
“Why is your shirt buttoned?” Al asked.
She was tempted to slap him silly as well.
“Are you okay?” Petal asked, coming toward her.
“I’m fine. I’m totally fine.”
“If you need a break…”
“It’s fine. I can handle this.” She rubbed at her temple, feeling the start of a headache.
She grabbed the coffeepot and made her way around the room, avoiding the MC men. Did they know she worked here? Did he do this on purpose? She didn’t know what to believe anymore. Annoyance ran down her spine but she kept her smile in place.
Al rang up the order, and she made her way over and with Petal’s help, they served the table. At one point, one of the men grabbed Petal around the waist but Rosalie was there to cut him off, leaning over to place his food in front of him. She made sure to ease her friend away from them.
Once they were all served, she made her way outside to take some deep breaths. Petal stayed inside. Rosalie had to just think. Her work was meant to be her crazy, safe haven, not a nightmare.
At the sound of the door opening and closing, she opened her eyes and saw Colt standing right in front of her.
“Why are you here?” she asked.
“The guys needed somewhere to eat and your dad happened to mention you work at Al’s.”
She hated that her father knew that tiny detail. If he knew that, what else did he know?
“And yet, you’ve never thought to stop by before now.”
Colt shrugged. “I had to see what kind of woman I’m getting. A hard worker. A slut. Is that why you’re willing to marry a man you don’t know, you’re sick of working hard? Getting those hands all rough around the edges?”
He was way too close.
“I’ve got no problem working here. In fact, I just told your mother I’ll be keeping this job, thank you, and nothing—and I mean nothing—about this is willing. The only reason I’m marrying you is because I’m Daemon’s only daughter, at least the only one he knows about.”
Her peace and quiet had been invaded. She went toward the door.
“And tell those assholes to keep their smart mouths shut. There are civilized people here with kids. Be pigs on your own turf.”
Slamming the door closed, she made sure the lock flicked into place. There was no satisfaction for her, just utter exhaustion.
Chapter Three
“You look stunning,” Kim said.
Rosalie didn’t feel stunning. The dress was a trap. The wedding, which was now less than a week away, felt like it was choking her. Forced to marry.
Her father had stopped by the diner. She had a nice bruise on her stomach for her trouble. He’d been too busy to make her pay for her disobedience, but once he’d settled some business, he’d made sure she knew how upset he was.
The punch in the stomach had been the first hit, the next had been the slap around the face. He had also happily wrapped his fingers around her neck, but his right-hand man had told him to be careful. That her fiancé might not take too kindly to another man’s hands being imprinted on her skin.
“What do you think, honey?” Gabrielle asked.
She didn’t know what Kim had done to her mother, but whatever it was, she was grateful. For the first time in her life, Gabrielle looked happy, so happy. Like all their worries no longer mattered.
“I think it’s pretty, what do you think, Petal?”
Her friend had wanted to run away. To take Rosalie and just escape. In the past two weeks, Rosalie knew she’d lost a little bit of weight, not a lot, but it would seem enough to worry her best friend.