Chapter 6 #2
“Do you have cameras in here?” she asked, twisting around to peer into the corners of the truck.
“No, Honey. I don’t need them. What are you thinking? Breakfast or lunch?”
“Definitely, breakfast. It’s my favorite meal to eat out,” she shared.
“Mine too. Now, what’s your number one breakfast food? Pancakes, omelets, oatmeal?”
“Yuck. Oatmeal is the worst. It’s all goopy and sticky. I like scrambled eggs with hash browns and bacon.”
“That sounds yummy as a special day breakfast treat. I always put cheese in my scrambled eggs at home,” he shared. “I do like oatmeal. That’s my usual thing to eat during the week.”
“Cheesy eggs sound delicious,” Honey said, and her stomach underlined her interest by growling loudly. She slapped her hand over her tummy, trying to muffle the sound.
“Good thing we’re here.” Razor pulled into a parking lot of a ramshackle-looking building and parked in the last parking spot available.
“Is this restaurant safe to eat at?” Honey asked as she scanned the building.
“It’s the best spot in town. Stay right where you are. I’ll come to open your door.”
She’d never noticed this place. It wasn’t in the worst part of the city—just not the best. Honey wasn’t a snob, but she was aware of her possible weaknesses.
Fending off a bad guy wouldn’t be easy for her on a challenging day.
When Razor opened the door, his broad shoulders and solid frame blocked her view.
She guessed he could handle anything or anyone.
“Let’s go, sweetheart,” he said and lifted her out. His arm stayed wrapped around her waist to steady her as he closed and locked the door. “Come on. Let’s see what you want to try.”
As they walked inside, a delicious aroma of bread, bacon, and cinnamon wafted over them. Honey inhaled deeply. “Oh, yum!”
“Razor. I’m glad to see you. And you’ve brought a pretty friend with you.
I have a special booth for you,” an older waitress said as she picked up two tattered menus and waved at them to follow.
People greeted Razor by name and smiled at Honey.
The server stopped at a table with only one bench seat and set down the menus.
“Coffee?” she asked as Honey sat and scooted over for Razor to join her.
“The largest cup you have,” Honey requested with a smile. Caffeine got the green light from her doctor to help fight her fatigue, thank goodness.
“For me as well,” Razor said, claiming the seat next to Honey. He took up a lot of space. Honey tried to shift over a bit more, but Razor stopped her nervous movements with a hand over her thigh, pinning her close to him.
It took her a second to gather her thoughts as she enjoyed his touch. “This is the weirdest seat,” Honey murmured to him as she glanced around at the packed restaurant. Five servers bustled around waiting on customers. The rumble of voices provided privacy for her and Razor to talk freely.
“I love this booth. People-watching is my specialty. I make up stories about everyone,” Razor whispered to her. “Well, at least I did until I met most of them. Check out the menu and see what sounds good. They serve breakfast all day. It’s their specialty.”
“Really? I love breakfast for dinner. My mom did that sometimes when she got home late from work.”
“I’ll remember that,” Razor told her.
Honey smiled as she concentrated on the menu. She loved that Razor seemed to think they’d be together for a long time. “How are their biscuits and gravy?”
“The best on this side of the Mississippi,” a grizzled voice promised.
Glancing up, Honey found a long, gray-bearded gentleman standing in front of them. His battered appearance completely matched his gruff voice. She could picture him as a mountain man.
“Woodson! Glad to see you,” Razor said. He reached out to shake the older man’s hand. “Honey, this is Woodson. I think he lives here.”
“Hi, Honey. It’s a pleasure to meet you. Order the biscuits and gravy. You’ll enjoy them,” Woodson shared before heading to the counter at the front to claim one of the last empty seats.
“Have you decided yet?” The server who sat them placed two brimming cups of coffee in front of them.
Razor checked with Honey to check if she was ready. “Want to try them?”
“Yes, please,” Honey answered politely.
“The young lady would like a small order of biscuits and gravy with a scrambled egg on the side. That sounds good to me as well. Better make mine a medium-sized order.”
“You’re living dangerously there, Razor,” the server commented with a laugh and headed off to put in their order.
Honey hoped the small order would be enough food.
Was Razor concerned about her size and thought she should diet?
Growing up with her super athletic parents, they’d always controlled her portion sizes.
Having what she wanted, whenever she decided to eat, had felt like freedom when she moved out of their house.
Honey always kept a stash of gummy bears in her pantry as a special treat.
If her breakfast was sparse, she had a granola bar in her purse. She could eat it in the bathroom or something. With a small sigh, Honey concentrated on her brimming coffee cup. The server hadn’t skimped on that. Now, could she squeeze some cream and sugar in there and avoid overflowing it?
“How did she carry these without spilling coffee everywhere?” Honey murmured as she reached for a creamer.
“Beth is an expert. She’s been here for years. Want me to take a sip out of yours so you can doll it up?”
“Would you?”
“Of course.” He lifted the cup to his full lips and drank a healthy swallow before placing it back in front of her.
“Thank goodness you like black coffee,” she told him.
“One more service I offer, Little girl,” he whispered for her ears only.
Instantly, her mind bolted away to more intimate activities he might perform for her. “Are you real?” Honey blurted.
“I am,” he said without a minute of hesitation. “Oh, look. Here comes our breakfast.”
“That fast?” She turned in disbelief to see Beth approaching.
“Alright, a small order for you with a scrambled egg and a medium order for the growing boy,” the server announced.
Honey stared at the brimming plate in front of her.
A biscuit larger than a saucer lay on a huge plate.
The cook had split it in half before drowning it in gravy packed full of chunks of sausage.
She could only tell it was a divided biscuit from the crispy, jagged edges poking through the delicious-smelling gravy. “I’ll never finish all this.”
“Eat whatever you wish. Taste it and see what you think.”
She picked up her fork and dipped it into the thick sauce. Lifting it to her lips, she licked the prongs. His groan blended with hers.
Concerned, Honey glanced up at him. The heat reflected in his gaze sizzled her. She’d just licked…. Oh!
Razor held her attention locked with his as he adjusted himself. “You may be the death of me, Little girl. Eat.”
Honey didn’t argue or ask questions. She helped herself to a big bite and chewed happily.
Inside, she celebrated. She’d done that to him.
He was aroused because of her. Honey couldn’t think of another time a male had reacted to her as if she were an incredible temptation.
She adored feeling desirable and vampish.
“This is fantastic,” she mumbled.
“My favorite breakfast spot,” he agreed, raising a large portion to his mouth.
“Thank you for sharing this place with me.”
“I’m looking forward to you discovering all the things I enjoy, Honey. And exploring those that you love.”
She’d already put another forkful in her mouth when the secondary meaning of his words registered on her.
Honey’s cheeks heated. She had to be turning beet-red.
Placing the utensil on the rim of her plate, she lifted her napkin to her mouth to hide behind it as she wiped her lips.
His low chuckle told her she wasn’t fooling anyone.
“I’ll stop teasing you so you can eat your breakfast,” he promised.
“Thank you,” she whispered before diverting his attention away from her. “What do you do, exactly?”
“I take care of the Devil Daddies MC and their families and conduct private research. Lucien dedicated lab space for me on the property along with treatment rooms.”
“What are you researching?” Honey leaned toward him, intrigued.
“I’m investigating whether a link exists between cancer and stress.”
“Is there?” In awe of his intelligence and training, Honey waited to hear his answer.
“Definitely, scientists have known stress can worsen illnesses and diseases. The human mind is powerful. It can work for our health or against it. I’m in the preliminary stages of a study that appears now as groundbreaking.”
“That’s incredible. Definitely, I’m in worse shape if I’m stressed out. I’m better on the weekends when I’m away from the factory.”
“I’m sorry your job is so tense, Honey. Could you search for another?” Razor’s brows drew together, and she knew he was concerned.
Honey shrugged. “I tried that a few months ago and went on two interviews that seemed promising. They were interested in me during the phone conversations. The in-person meeting didn’t go as well.
I think they suspected something was wrong with me.
Insurance costs are so high for companies these days… .”
“It’s illegal to discriminate for health conditions. Tell me what the companies were.” Razor’s face was hard with anger.
“I won’t do that, Razor. Relax. Eat. I don’t want to work somewhere that doesn’t find me a good fit. That’s even more stressful.”
He shook his head and didn’t follow up on that topic. “What are our choices for pottery?”
Honey smiled at him, thanking him without words for letting it go. “I think we have everything from vases to plates to curio boxes. What do you need in your life?”
“A vase sounds like a useful idea.”
“Do you like flowers?” she asked, eyeing him to see if he looked like a flower person.
“Of course. What about you? What’s your favorite blossom?”
“I love things that smell heavenly. My childhood home had a huge jasmine plant outside my room. I adored springtime when I could sleep with the windows open and the scent would waft inside all night.”
“Nice. Maybe you should plant jasmine outside now?”
“I rent my duplex. Maybe someday.”
Razor entertained her with his far-ranging interests and fun conversation. There wasn’t an awkward moment after his angry reaction when she explained why she was stuck at her job. Honey liked that he wanted to stand up for her. No one had ever reacted that strongly in her defense.
Finally, she admitted, “I can’t eat any more. That’s way too good, but way too much. You were right to order me a small serving.”
“Were you concerned?” he asked, searching her face.
Honey opened her mouth to answer no but couldn’t lie. “The thought crossed my mind that you might be one of those guys who doesn’t think a woman should indulge very much.”
“Thank you for telling me the truth. I should have explained the portions here. For future reference, I don’t give a flying fuck how much you have unless it’s several pounds of candy in one setting. Then we’ll have a conversation about your sweet tooth.”
“Sounds good.” She liked that he didn’t promise to remain quiet if he saw her making extremely poor decisions. That fit his role as a doctor. “Are you always so honest?”
“To those I care about? Yes. I hope you’ll return the favor. Now, let me go pay the bill and we can head over to the studio.”
Razor stood and tucked a few bills under his plate.
She waited until he was busy at the register before checking to see if she needed to add more.
Honey had waitressed in high school and knew what a tough job it was.
To her delight, he’d tipped generously. Since he hadn’t made a show of sharing how much he’d left, she guessed he routinely took care of his servers.
She scooted out of the booth and headed for the front to go to visit the restroom.
Hesitating at the edge of the seating area, she glanced back at the strange one-sided table.
It wouldn’t be her favorite—that would be the spot Razor had emptied for her at Inferno—but it was definitely in second place.