“You get in my personal space whenever you feel like it. But when I do the same, you want to give me a lecture onno means no.”
Her irritated expression shifts, with a small smirk curving the corner of her mouth. “You never said I couldn’t touch you.”
And I never fucking will, I think.
“Is that all it would take to end the double standard?” I say, hoping her honest answer is no. I want the impulse to touch me to get the better of her. We’re not a good match in any way other than physically. But there, we are agreatmatch.
“Maybe.” Her tone is teasing now, and she taps her fingers against my thigh to emphasize it. “Do you feel threatened when I invade your personal space?”
“Yeah, that’s exactly the issue. I’m scared of you.”
She laughs, slapping her fingers against me again. I release her wrist, turn left to head to the main road, and flick off the blinker.
“So?” Arya folds her arms across her chest, pressing her coat against her.
“What?”
“Do you want to set some boundaries?”
“Yeah. Don’t touch my turn signal.”
Chuckling softly, she looks out the passenger window.
When we get to Heyworth’s, she hangs back and lets me buzz. My arm reaches back to beckon her to move next to me so she’s not in a blind spot. I’m not expecting trouble, but keeping her in arm’s reach is what I prefer while I’m body-guarding her. Failure is not an option when I’m doing a favor for my uncle.
The large iron gate opens, and I usher her into the yard ahead of me. I wait to ensure the gate locks and then escort her to the door. Again, she hangs back, which is surprising. I’ve never known her to be shy.
Reynolds opens the front door, calling out, “I’ve got it.” She’s wearing fuzzy socks and black yoga pants under a GU Knights football jersey with Heyworth’s number on it. “Arya, hey,” she says, leaning past me to give Arya a hug. “And partner Riksen, how are you? Nice haircut.” She thrusts out her small hand.
I glance down but don’t shake it. Instead, I remove my coat and hand it to her. She wrinkles her nose but goes to the closet.
“Here, Arya, let me have yours, too.”
Arya removes her coat. “Glad to be in a house that has the heat on, so my nipples don’t freeze off. Erik lives in an icebox. By the way, Eden and Octavia are coming, too. Hope that’s okay?”
“Yes, of course,” Reynolds says, as though she owns the place. “Avery’s in the library. Arya, you come with me. Erik, Declan and Shane are in the kitchen. But hey, don’t go upstairs without me. I want to listen in.”
“Listen in on what?” Arya asks, glancing between us.
“The Casanova meeting.”
“Oh, God. Hard pass.” Arya closes her eyes, pressing her lips into a thin line. “I almost got the image of that body out of my head.” She shivers. “Is there a bar in the library?”
“Briggs will bring you a drink,” Reynolds says. “He’s making dark cocoas for Avery and me with a toasted marshmallow topper. He can always add some liquor to that for you guys? Or make you whatever you want.”
“Spiked cocoa sounds great,” Arya says. “I’m starving. I couldn’t bring myself to eat after what we saw.”
I frown. Arya didn’t say she was hungry and upset. She’s willing to confide more to her new friend Reynolds than me. Unacceptable. While living with me, Arya needs to communicate.
I watch Reynolds lead her down the hall. Shane’s voice carries out into the main hall from the kitchen, but I don’t head that way yet. I wait to be certain Arya makes it to the library. I don’t expect her to circle back and go out the front door, but I wouldn’t put it past her.
Reynolds reappears, hurrying back to me. “Hey.”
“Why was Arya with you at a dump site? Should’ve been me.”
“Arya is how I found him, and she didn’t want you at our meeting. Which is why I’m pretty surprised she’s with you now. How did that happen?”
Scowling, I give her a hard look. “Not your business.”
