Nothing to Lose
Maisie
Griff's simple statement echoed in the quiet shop. No. She doesn't. It wasn't loud. It wasn't showy. But something in his tone sent a chill down my spine.
As for Devon, he looked ready to piss himself.
Even so, he didn't turn to look. He was staring in the opposite direction, like a kid, thinking that if he ignored the monster under his bed, it would surely go away.
My gaze bounced from Griff to Devon and back again. Trying for a smile, I lifted my hand and gave Griff a tentative wave. He didn't wave back, but he did move forward, prowling steadily closer like a man who knew exactly how this would end.
As for myself, I had no idea. But I trusted Griff a lot more than I trusted Devon. The realization left me feeling slightly unsettled as I watched Griff close the distance.
Devon, with obvious reluctance, finally turned to look. His face was pale, but his voice came out weirdly hearty as he said with a wobbly smile, "Oh, hey."
Griff didn't answer. He just walked to the counter and set down the box – carefully, deliberately – like it might explode. Water dripped from his fingers as he straightened and eyed Devon in total silence.
With an awkward laugh, Devon said, "Sorry, I didn't see you come in."
Griff's expression could've cut ice. "Obviously." He wasn't glaring, exactly. But it was the kind of look that carried the weight of a well earned threat.
Devon stumbled backward before regaining his composure enough to blurt out, "Some weather, huh?"
My gaze shifted to Griff. His hair was wet, clinging to his forehead in tousled strands, like he'd walked straight out of a Calvin Klein ad.
His black T-shirt was soaked through, clinging to the hard lines of his chest and shoulders.
And his expression? Pure thundercloud. Wet, angry, and stupidly hot.
I swallowed hard as a ridiculous flutter danced in my chest.
A few feet away, Devon swallowed, too – except in his case, it sounded more like a gulp. He gave Griff a nervous glance. "Anyway…we were just catching up."
Griff's reply was low and flat. "Is that so?"
"Yeah," Devon said. "I stopped by to, um…" He tugged at his shirt collar like it had suddenly shrunk. "…invite you for coffee."
Griff's eyebrows lifted. "Me, huh?" He flicked his head toward the door. "Sure, let's go."
Devon coughed out a weak chuckle. "Sorry, I meant both of you. Of course." With extra gusto, he added, "With Sierra. You know, like a double date."
The silence that followed was somehow louder than the rain.
Griff's gaze shifted to me, and his voice held a hint of amusement as he said, "So, Babe. What do you think of that?" The word "babe" sounded obscenely good on his lips, sending a bolt of heat to my lower stomach and other parts I didn't dare name.
As for the rest, I didn't know what to think – except that Devon was a total weasel and Griff wasn't buying the double-date story for a single minute.
I looked to Devon. "I think we'll pass."
Devon shrugged like it was no big deal. "No pressure. But hey, if money's the problem, we're willing to treat."
What a jerk. It's not like we'd been invited to a fancy dinner. Even I could afford coffee, and surely Griff could, too. I glared across the counter. "Is that so?"
Utterly oblivious, Devon replied, "Sure. No problem." He looked to Griff, and his voice became smug. "I mean, it's the least we can do. The way I hear it, you're not even getting paid."
I opened my mouth to say something sharp, but Griff just smiled, cold and slow. When he spoke, his voice was pure ice. "The thing is, I don't mind working for free." He leaned closer to Devon. "And you know what's great about that?"
Devon took a small step backward. "Uh…no?"
Griff's smile widened. "It means, I've got nothing to lose."
Devon frowned. "What?"
"Yeah," Griff said. "And these clothes…I don't give two shits if they get dirty."
Devon's voice came out a squeak. "Dirty?"
"Yeah. Sweat, grease…" His look turned lethal. "Or whatever."
Devon's gaze dipped to his chinos, like he'd just remembered they were snowy white. He opened his mouth, but the only thing that came out was a strangled laugh that would've fooled nobody with half a brain.
Griff crossed his arms. "You think I'm joking?"
By now, Devon looked like a racehorse about to bolt. "Me?"
The word had barely left his lips when the bell over the door jingled again.
In unison, we all turned to look.
At who I saw in the open doorway, I didn't know whether to laugh or groan. It was Sierra, looking wet and frazzled, like a Barbie doll yanked from the wash cycle. She wore pink yoga pants, a matching pink raincoat, and an expression so sour, it could've curdled milk.
When she spotted Devon, her eyes narrowed to slits. She marched forward, letting the door swing shut behind her. "You're here ?" She said "here" like the bike shop was a low-budget brothel.
"Uh, yeah…" Devon gave her a twitchy grin. "And so are you."
"Yes," she gritted out. "Because my massage sucked. It was total amateur hour." Her tone became accusing. "And what happened to your walk?"
With a weak chuckle, Devon replied, "I did walk."
"And this is where you ended up?" Her voice rose. "Seriously?"
"Uh…yeah," Devon said. "I was just inviting them for a double date."
"Oh, really?" She put her hands on her hips. "We never talked about that."
Devon gave her the same crooked smile he'd pulled out on me. "Yeah, well…I thought you'd like a surprise."
From the look on her face, she was liking this surprise nearly as much as I'd liked the surprise dumping I'd gotten in college.
But here and now in my shop, I was the one surprised when she said with a thin smile, "Fabulous."
I snorted. "I wouldn't go that far."
Sierra turned her flinty eyes on me. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Before I could answer, the door jingled again, and Chadwick Kensington the Third burst into the shop, calling out, "Fin time!"
I blinked, sure I'd misheard. Did he mean… fun time?
He was wearing a Hawaiian shirt, long safari shorts, and dark sunglasses in spite of the rain. He looked around, extended his arm, and pointed straight at me. "You! I need Shark Bike."
Ohhhhh. Finally, it made sense. Shark fin. In spite of everything, I couldn't help but smile. "So, you're back?"
He grinned. "Hell, yeah!" He hitched a thumb toward the window. "And it's perfect shark weather. Am I right?"
I gave a slow nod. "Totally."
Sierra eyed Chad like he'd just tracked mud across a museum floor. "What the hell is that?"
"What's what?" Chad asked.
She made a face. "Shark Bike. Seriously? What are you? Twelve?"
Chad snorted. "That's what I said before I got to know it." He lowered his voice. "You do realize it's only for VIPs."
She gave him a dubious look. "You mean you ?"
"You bet your ass," he said. "I'm a certified influencer."
She perked up. "Really?"
"Yup." He reached into the front pocket of his Hawaiian shirt and pulled a soggy business card. He handed it over and said with a little swagger, "A million views a month."
She smiled like this was the best news she'd had all day. "Do you cover weddings?"
He looked thoughtful. "I haven't yet…"
She leaned closer. "But you could."
"I dunno," he said. "I guess it depends on the couple." He looked back to me and said, "About Shark Bike, just put it on my tab, alright?"
Technically, we didn't run tabs. But I still had all of his information from earlier, so I said, "Sure thing. I'll wheel it around."
Chad grinned. "Excellent." He turned back to Sierra and said, "Sorry, I've gotta roll."
Her face fell. "But I haven't told you about our wedding."
"Tell me in email," he said. "The info's on the card."
She brightened. "Oh. Yeah. I'll do that, totally." She looked back to Devon, and her expression soured. "Are we leaving or what?"
Wordlessly, Devon scurried to her side. A moment later, they were heading out the door.
It was so ridiculous, I had to laugh. But when I looked to Griff, he wasn't even smiling. He was eyeing the front window, as if waiting for Devon to reverse direction and come back.
Happily, he didn't. Instead, my annoying ex faded into the rain, dragged along by his bride-to-be.
Still, I had a sinking feeling this wasn't over.
Judging from Griff's expression, he was thinking the same. And he did not look happy. I moved around the counter to stand by his side.
For a guy who didn't say much, Griff was giving me the distinct impression that he wasn't just watching for Devon. He was watching out for me.
Call me crazy, but I sort of liked it.
I liked it even more when he reached for my hand and gave it a lingering squeeze. Whether he was playing a role or reaching out for real, I liked the feel of his touch far too much to pull away.
Instead, I squeezed back, loving the feel of his hand and the quiet thrill it sent through me. With him so close, I felt reckless and safe all at once, like free-falling with a parachute I trusted.
He was strong and steady, and his fingers were still damp from the rain. But they were warm and welcoming, and I gave a happy little shiver.
At that moment, I could've stood there forever, watching the falling rain and feeling Griff's fingers wrapped around mine like that's where they belonged.
And who knows? Maybe Griff felt it, too, because he turned and gave me a look so sweetly intense, it went straight into my soul, making my lips part with the promise of a kiss.
When his gaze dipped to my lips, I lifted my face even as he lowered his.
But I never got that kiss – not because I didn't want it, but because Chad took that moment to call out, "Hey, if you're gonna make out, can I get my ride first?"
Oh, crap.
Chad. I'd forgotten all about him.
Mortified, I pulled back my hand and stammered, "Uh, yeah. Definitely." With my face in flames, I hustled toward him. "And just so you know, we weren't gonna kiss or anything. I mean…Griff just works here, that's all."
Did I believe it?
At this point, I didn't know what to believe. But the next time I looked Griff's way, that look was gone, making me wonder if I'd imagined it all along.
Or maybe I was simply going crazy.
For him.
Heaven help me.