Ride And Obey MC

Fifteen

Danielle POV

Sam didn’t get home until I was already walking out the door for work. He barely looked at me before making some offhand comment about how I looked refreshed and clearly needed a night to myself. He actually believed I stayed home. He thought I spent the night alone in bed, probably curled up with a blanket and sleeping off whatever tension he caused.

I don’t know what part of me looks refreshed, because I feel like hell. I didn’t sleep. My body is sore in all the right and wrong ways, my eyes sting from crying and walking too long in the dark, and my nerves still haven’t settled. I’ve been jumpy all morning, and now this?

Now Knox is here.

He’s standing in front of me, all leather and rough edges, watching me with that unreadable look of his. I know what he’s waiting for. He wants me to sit down. To join him. To pretend last night was simple.

But it wasn’t. None of this is.

I shake my head and force myself to keep it professional. “I can’t,” I say quietly. “I’m not due for a break yet, and Greg won’t let me take it early.”

The truth is, I would sit with him if I could. I would let myself have just one more moment of breathing in his presence. But I’m in the middle of a shift, and I can’t afford to make Greg look at me like I’m slacking.

I motion for Knox to follow and lead him to an open table. He sits back in the chair like he owns it, like this whole damn place should be grateful he walked in.

“When do you get your break?” he asks, voice low and steady.

“In about two hours,” I reply.

He nods slowly, stretching out like he’s got nowhere else to be. “Then I won’t be ready to order for two hours.”

My mouth falls open a little, and I blink at him. “Knox, you can’t just sit here for two hours.”

His grin is infuriating. “Sure I can. I want company while I eat, and I’ve got nothing but time. While I wait though, I’ll take a cola.”

I walk off, biting back a sigh, and pour the drink without saying anything else. When I place it in front of him, I try one more time.

“You really should order something.”

He takes a long sip before answering. “No can do. Eating alone’s boring. You do your thing, Red. I’ll be right here watching you until you’re free.”

I know he means it. Every damn word. I walk away, pretending not to feel his eyes following me as I move from table to table.

About ten minutes later, I see Greg marching across the floor toward Knox. My stomach knots as I move closer, just in time to hear the start of the conversation.

“She’s a great hostess,” Knox says, not missing a beat. “I’m just not ready to order yet.”

“You’ve been here ten minutes,” Greg snaps. “You should be ready to order by now.”

Knox leans back in his chair, smirking like he’s settling in for a game. “I could speed things up, but I need something in return.”

Greg sighs, already tired of his bullshit. “And what’s that?”

Knox points directly at me. “Her. I want her on break. She joins me for lunch, I’ll place an order and be out of your way when I’m done.”

Greg’s eyes flick to me, narrowing slightly. “Do you know this man?”

I hesitate, then whisper, “Not exactly.”

He looks between the two of us, weighing his options before finally giving in. “Fine. If I give Danielle her break now, will you eat and leave when you’re finished? We don’t have room for squatters.”

Knox glances around the half-empty room. “Yeah, real tight crowd today. Line out the door and everything.”

Greg glares at him, then looks back at me. “Sit down, Danielle. I’ll get someone else to handle your section.”

With a sigh, I walk over and lower myself into the chair across from Knox. I don’t even bother to hide my glare as I meet his gaze.

“You’re impossible,” I mutter.

Deep down, I know I’m not mad.

I’m terrified that part of me wants to stay.

Knox leans back in the chair, his arms crossed over his chest like he’s completely at ease here, as if dragging me into this moment didn’t just throw my whole day off balance.

“You left after I fell asleep,” he says, his voice low but not accusing. Just steady.

I look down at the silverware on the table, adjusting it even though it’s already perfectly placed. “I had work,” I murmur, barely loud enough for him to hear.

He doesn’t let it slide. “Yeah, but you left at what—four in the morning?”

My head lifts slowly, heart suddenly in my throat. “How do you know that?”

“Grudge told me,” he says easily.

My breath catches, panic already crawling up my spine. My fingers tighten around the edge of the table. “What did he say?”

Knox watches me closely, and for a second, I wonder if he’s already figured it out, how I freaked out, how I screamed and fell and ran like the devil himself was chasing me.

But then he shrugs. “Said you asked him to open the gate. That’s it. Nothing more.”