Jared was aware of the futility of his question before he asked it. “Anything I can do to help?”
“No. But I’d like to do something for you. To thank you for this.” Starla shouldered the strap of her purse.
He waved a hand. “That’s not necessary. Was everything still there?”
“Seemed to be. He probably never even noticed it on the floor. And are you sure? I could maybe make you dinner sometime.”
Surprise lifted his brows, and he couldn’t help but grin. “You cook?”
Starla propped her hands on her hips in mock indignation. “I’ll have you know I’m an excellent cook. I’m a regular Rachael fucking Ray. I just rarely have an opportunity to demonstrate my mad culinary skills.”
“After hearing that, how can I say no? Name a time and place.”
“It’ll have to be your place, unless you’d like hanging out with my roommate and her deadbeat brother all night. Which you wouldn’t, I assure you, and I damn sure won’t cook for them. My next night off is Sunday.”
“That’s fine. I’ll have my girls this weekend, though. Can you handle it?”
“I have no idea what I’m doing when it comes to kids, but I can wing it.”
Jared chuckled, wondering what Ashley’s and Mia’s reactions would be to Starla in all her pierced, tattooed, multicolored hair glory. He honestly had no clue. They were almost eight now, totally unpredictable in their likes and dislikes and almost completely opposite. Amazing to think the two had shared a womb. Whichever one warmed to Starla first, the other would probably recoil. Such would surely be the case with any woman he brought home to meet them.
It hadn’t been the case with Macy, though, when she’d given the girls horse riding lessons before Ghost came along. Both of them had adored her. He’d taken it as a sign from above that he and Macy were still meant to be. But that bubble had burst right before his very eyes, hadn’t it?
The side door flew open, and the reason for that bursting bubble stuck his shaved head out. “What are you doing, smoking the whole pack? Get the fu—” The amusement in Ghost’s voice died out as he saw exactly who his coworker was talking to. Jared had to give it to the guy, though. He held Jared’s gaze steadily, then tipped his chin up in a wordless, nonchalant greeting.
Starla glanced nervously between them, then turned to Jared. “I really should get back inside. Thank you so much for this.” She indicated her recovered purse. “And Sunday night, what, seven-ish?”
“At the earliest. We have church, but it should be over by then.”
“Church. Right. Where exactly do you live?”
She already mostly knew. “One driveway down from your party pad. On the left.”
“Ah. Got it. I’ll be there bearing groceries. You won’t regret it.” She tossed him a grin over her shoulder as she turned away, a sexy sashay in her walk as she moved toward the door where Ghost had just disappeared back inside.
Jared wasn’t too sure about her final words, but he was curious enough to find out.
Chapter Four
“What in the god-awful fuck was that all about?” Ghost demanded as soon as the door shut behind Starla. She immediately wiped the little smile off her face and replaced it with her usual Ghost-induced scowl. He didn’t give her a chance to reply. “Actually, I don’t even know what question to ask to get an explanation for what my eyes just saw.”
“Then don’t ask. It’s really not any of your business.”
“Star, I think my girlfriend’s ex-boyfriend is kind of my business.”
She cocked an eyebrow at him. “Are you threatened? Think Macy will finally come to her senses?”
“Hey, fuck you. I’m not threatened.”
“Then drop it.”
“Last night, it was Max, and now that?”
“That is who picked my walking ass up on the side of the road and took me home after Max shoved me out of the car. He also rescued my purse for me. So quit pissing on trees to mark your territory and maybe be grateful to the guy. That is, if you give a shit at all about my well-being.”
“You don’t give a shit about your well-being, Ms. Self-Destruct. But whatever. He’s an insanely jealous asshole, just so you know.”
Starla shoved past him on her way to the front. “Just because his dick’s been in your girlfriend doesn’t make him an asshole, just so you know.”
“That’s harsh even for you.”
“You’re harsh. He did something nice for me, and I’m doing something nice for him. End of.”
“Throwing him a bone of thanks?”
“Oh my God. Fuck. Off.” They drew stares from Janelle and Tay as they emerged from the hallway into the front of the shop. Janelle met Starla’s gaze and quickly directed her attention elsewhere. She’d been doing a lot of that today. Starla leveled a glare at her until she looked up again and finally huffed, “What?”
“You’re creating a very hostile work environment,” Ghost pointed out, seeing the heated stare down between the two girls. “I’m going to complain to my supervisor.”
“You haven’t seen hostile, baby.”