Raw Desire by Kate Pearce

get off the couch. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
    â€œDon’t blow it this time, buddy. Ally is way too special to lose.”
    Rob shoved a hand through his hair. “I know that.” He hesitated. “It was the only way I could think of to get close to her again. The only way she’d let me.”
    Jackson eyed his best friend and silently agreed with him. “I’m going to bed. I start at six.”
    â€œAlly’s starting a new job tomorrow as well.”
    â€œDoing what?”
    â€œWorking at the diner.”
    â€œFor Lauren? ”
    â€œIt was the best I could do. It was your idea!”
    â€œThat’s like throwing a Christian to the lions.”
    â€œAlly will cope.”
    â€œI sure hope so.”
    Rob stretched his arms over his head. “I had to find a way to keep Ally in town.”
    â€œBecause of the case or because of the sex?”
    Rob’s hard gaze met his. “Quit hounding me, okay?”
    â€œSure. Night, Rob.” Jackson pulled off his T-shirt and went into his bedroom. He could do with a shower, but he was reluctant to lose Ally’s scent from his skin. With a groan, he pulled off his jeans and stroked his growing shaft. The scent of sex curled around him, and he decided on the shower.
    It wasn’t until he was standing under the hot water that it occurred to him that he hadn’t worn a condom. . . .

8
    D amn, she was tired. Ally wiped her forehead and concentrated on stacking the pile of dirty glasses on the tray. It was quieter in the diner now, the breakfast rush over and the lunch crowd not yet in sight. With a sigh, Ally hefted the tray and headed back to the kitchen, using her shoulder to push through the swinging door.
    She took the glasses and plates off the tray and started to load them into the middle of the three sinks. Mal, the dishwasher, wasn’t at his post, so she contemplated washing the dishes herself.
    â€œAlly? There are five tables to clean out here!” Lauren yelled.
    Fig, the fry cook, gave her a sympathetic grin as she gathered up a clean wet cloth and her cleaning stuff and went back out. “You’re doing good, Ally. Boss is just in one of her snits.”
    Ally nodded and kept going. Lauren waited on the other side of the door, her expression impatient, her foot tapping. “Can’t you go any faster? We need them all cleaned and reset before lunch.”
    Ally didn’t bother to try and defend herself. She probably was slow compared to Leon, the other busboy. She headed for the first of the tables and started loading things onto her tray.
    Lauren followed her and Ally tensed. “Make sure you clean properly, and don’t leave that there!”
    Ally bit her lip and kept moving as fast as she could. Her feet hurt and her back was already killing her. She didn’t dare glance up at the clock in case Lauren saw her.
    â€œBoss?”
    Lauren turned back to the kitchen door where Fig was waving at her. “What?”
    â€œSomeone on the phone for you.”
    Ally watched Lauren’s retreat with a grateful sigh. Was Lauren going to be like this every day, literally on her back critiquing everything she did? It seemed likely. With a soft groan, Ally kept clearing up, wiping tables and stacking dirty plates. One thing she’d learned was that hard work never killed anyone. She had to think about all the money she was saving for college. And at least it stopped her thinking about other stuff she didn’t want to deal with right now.
    She took the full tray back to the kitchen and sorted out the stuff. Mal was back at his post cleaning dishes and putting the glassware in the small machine by the side of the end sink. Ally’s phone beeped, and she surreptitiously drew it out of her pocket to check it.
    â€œI hope you’re not using your phone at work, Ally.”
    She looked up to see Lauren frowning at her. “Actually, my shift finished five