Diesel didn’t respond, and he didn’t look away from Tracey. She was getting off in a few hours, and if he didn’t fix things between them, he was going to explode. He turned his back to the floor and crossed his arms, futilely trying to shove his feelings for Tracey away.

“You know, I always thought you were like Bullet,” Finlay said sweetly. “But you’re not. He may be crass, but at least I always know what he’s thinking. The very first time he spoke to me, before we were even properly introduced, he asked if I wanted to take a ride on the Bullet train.” She giggled. “Can you imagine?”

Diesel gritted his teeth, because yeah, he could fucking imagine. “You got a point?”

“Yes. Communicate with her, Diesel. If you want sex, tell her. She’s a big girl. She can handle it. You might be surprised by her answer.”

“I don’t want to fuck her, Finlay,” he said harshly. If that was all he wanted, it would be easy to move past. But if he got inside Tracey, the emotions that were eating him up would pour out like lava, and there’d be no turning back.

“Oh,” she said with surprise. “Well, this tension between you two is like quicksand, and if you’re not careful, she’ll slip right between your fingers.”

He chewed on that for the next few hours. When the lunch rush was over and the bar had nearly cleared out, Tracey stalked up to the bar with daggers shooting from her eyes. “The couple by the pool table wants a round of Cokes, but I’m going to clock out. You can bring them over.” She turned on her heel and headed for the office.

Adrenaline surged through his veins. Fuck this. He rounded the bar and followed her into the office, closing the door behind him. “What’s up your ass?”

She spun around, fury flying from her lips. “What’s up my ass? You take care of me, sleep in my bed, cook for me, and take me out for pizza, earning my trust and treating me like there’s something between us. Then you stop speaking to me without any explanation, and you have the gall to ask what’s up my ass?” Her words cut like knives. “It’s okay for you to pretend I don’t exist, but the minute I give it back to you, you get mad? Fuck you, Diesel. I was stupid for even thinking there could be something between—”

He crushed his lips to hers, hauling her against him, taking the kiss deeper, wanting to climb inside her. He only meant to shut her up, but holy hell, the way she kissed him back was fucking nirvana. He couldn’t stop devouring her, and she was right there with him.

Until she pushed at his chest, cheeks flushed, and snapped, “What was that?”