Page 6 of Aspen's Defense

"Not much, but I've spent some time at the shop," he says, spearing me with an amused look. "You sure you want to pursue her?"

"Why do you ask?" I growl, feeling defensive.

"Because she does not take shit from anyone." He flicks his gaze up and down me, his smile growing. "Especially guys like you."

"What the fuck does that mean?" I demand, narrowing my eyes on him.

"He means pretty boys," Reid says through laughter.

I flip them both off. They've been calling me that shit for the last six weeks, thanks to some elderly lady in town who took one look at me and cooed, "Oh, he's a pretty one. I might just have to start watching this hockey business if they make them like him.".

The biker with her just shook his head and looked at me as if to say he wasn't responsible for the shit that comes out of her mouth.

"I mean charming motherfuckers," Jenson says. "Every once in a while, some suave motherfucker will try to flirt with her at the counter, but she shuts it down quickly and mercilessly. They end up with hurt feelings, even though everyone should know by now not to even try it." He gives me a pointed look.

"I haven't tried anything."

He snorts his disbelief.

"Nash asked me to look after her."

"My sister read that book before," Devlin Ramsey says from the far end of the bench. "It ends with fucking and the brother pissed."

"For fuck's sake," I growl, throwing up my hands. "I'm never asking you guys anything ever again. You're useless."

"I'm not useless," Reid protests. "I know Aspen."

I narrow my gaze on him, not sure if he's bullshitting me or not.

"I'm serious. She and my wife are friends."

"What do you know about her?" Jenson asks.

Reid flicks his gray eyes in my direction before smirking at Jenson. "I know this motherfucker doesn't stand a chance. She's going to eat him alive."

The rest of my teammates crack up laughing.

I shoot him a disgusted look and flip them off. They may be betting against me, but I'm not. If I have to fight fire with fire to claim her, so be it. But one way or another, Aspen will be mine. I won't give up until she surrenders every little piece of herself to me. Starting with her secrets.

Because Nash was right about one thing. She is up to something. It's the only reason I can figure that she's so adamant about not wanting me around. I just need to convince her that she can trust me not to go running to Nash. That should be easy enough…right?

"You're kidding me," Aspen growls ten minutes before the shop closes, her hands propped on her luscious hips as she spears me with a dark look. "I thought we agreed you weren't coming back today."

"Did we? Huh. I must have forgotten," I lie cheerfully, sliding onto a stool in front of her. "But since I'm here now…" I place the to-go bag on the counter in front of me. "We might as well have dinner together."

She flicks her gaze to the bag and then back to me, spluttering.

Fuck, she's cute when she's pissed. Her eyes practically shoot fire at me, and her cheeks flush a deep pink. Why anyone is intimidated by her, I don't know. She may have claws, but she's a harmless little kitten.

"You didn't forget at all, did you?" she accuses, her hands still planted on her wide hips.

"Nope. Told you I'd be here when you got off."

She hits me with a withering glare that makes my dick hard. "You're taking this entirely too far, Noah. I don't need a babysitter!"

"I'm not here to babysit you, Dimples. I'm here to have dinner with you." I tap the to-go bag for emphasis. "I wasn't sure what you liked so I called Nash. He suggested Broadway Steakhouse."

"You called Nash?" She gapes at me like I've grown a third head.