“You were stuck in a rant. I had to shut you up.”

“So you kissed me?” She looked appalled, but she sure hadn’t kissed that way.

“That sexy mouth of yours was going off on me.”

“Of course I was going off on you! You’ve been treating me like I did something wrong, and you’re the one who left with some drunk chick the other night.”

He leaned over her, so he had her full attention, seething, “I didn’t fuck her this time. And I don’t answer to anyone, Tracey.”

Her nostrils flared, eyes so full of hurt and anger, he could swim in them. “And I don’t kiss guys who don’t respect me enough to answer to me. I’m so glad I accepted a date with Damon for tonight. I’m done with you.”

“You’re going out with Rhys?” he fumed as she threw open the door and stormed out, leaving him seeing red, a string of curses raging out as his fist flew through the wall, and that ice pick in his chest sank deeper.

Chapter Eight

TRACEY MUST BE losing her mind. Nova Lounge was built on a bluff overlooking Pleasant Hill. It was the most glamorous restaurant around, and she couldn’t stop thinking about kissing Diesel. How did that man overshadow marble floors, a mix of brick and elaborately carved wooden walls and columns, high ceilings with metallic, patterned panels, and sparkling gold lights raining down over each table? That wasn’t even the worst of it. The fancy surroundings were nothing compared to the gorgeous, thoughtful gentleman sitting across from her in his crisp white dress shirt, looking at her like she was some sort of princess.

Damon was not only good-looking, but he was also thoughtful. He’d called to say he’d be late because one of his patients had gone into early labor. He’d brought Tracey a bouquet of flowers, and he must have told her a hundred times how beautiful she looked. Thank goodness she and Josie had gone shopping yesterday and found the cutest black minidress. It was classy but not clingy and had a built-in bra, which made it extra comfortable. The spaghetti straps weren’t too thin, the neckline dipped rather than plunged, and the skirt flowed nicely to the middle of her thighs. She’d even found a pair of inexpensive strappy sandals to go with it.