“I’m still attending my weekly lessons,” I responded, choosing to misunderstand.
Frustration flickered on his face.“I know. Nathan’s kept me informed of your progress. That’s not what I meant.”
Ah, so someone in vamp headquarters had been able to keep in touch with him. Good to know.
He stared at me for a long minute. I kept my head down, intent on fiddling with the bike as I fought to keep my face bland, every emotion that might give away my turmoil carefully hidden. The fluttering in my belly and slightly unsteady feeling didn’t make it easy.
I didn’t know what he expected of me, but I was determined not to give it to him.
His sigh was long and angry. He rubbed one hand through his hair before he nodded and straightened.
His mouth tightened and he drew himself upright, his face settling into authoritative lines.“Why are you back here?”
I stood up.“This is my home. It’s normal to live in the place you call home.”
He arched one eyebrow, turning his attention to the still open door, his message clear.
I shrugged in answer. The lack of stairs was a nuisance, but I hadn’t let that stop me.
“I know Thomas offered you a place in the mansion until the renovations of this building were complete,” he said.
That was true, andI’d even taken him up on it for the first month. Very mature of me I know. However, once I learned the extent of the renovations and calculated just how long I would be away from my apartment, I decided to rethink that plan. You see, Thomas had so many things he planned to do to this place, and my apartment in particular, I would have been out of my home for a year or more.
Liam would know that. Or he should. He was more versed in Thomas’ shenanigans than I was.
“It was taking too long.” There, that was diplomatic enough.
He was quiet, his gaze thoughtful as he looked over my apartment. I struggled not to feel defensive over what he might see. My home wasn’t filled with name brand stuff. It was mostly thingsI’d gotten at yard sales or hand-me-downs my family had grown tired of. As a result, it was a mishmash of a dozen different styles. Despite that, it suited me. The rooms felt lived in, like they’d seen endless amounts of joy, pain and sorrow.
I was very aware after staying in the mansion, that it looked a little threadbare and worn, in no way comparing to the magazine quality rooms there. Still, it was mine. My first home post-military, and somethingI’d created through my own hard work.
He seemed to come to a decision, his gaze piercing as it shifted to me.“Be at this address tomorrow night,” he said, pressing on the screen of his phone.
From my backpack, my phone chimed with a text. I made no move to pick it up or look at it.
I stiffened, some of my natural antagonism at being ordered around rearing its head. With effort, I forced it back down.
This man had a habit of getting under my skin. He could do more with a simple shift of expression than most could with carefully crafted barbs. The only other people capable of inspiring such reactions in me were my family.
In my head, I knew I should be an adult. Mature. Act my age. Not let him see how he got to me.
What came out was.“Nope. I have work.”
“Call off.”
“Can’t.” I didn’t bother explaining my money issues or the fact rent was due in five days. I needed every hour of work I could get. Even if that hadn’t been the case, I probably still would have refused. Half of it was due to my genuine hurt over his disappearance. The rest was just the primal need to battle it out until I came out the victor.
“I’ll pay you triple what you would make there,” he said with forced patience.
That wasn’t the incentive it should be. I made an idiotically low wage for a night’s worth of work.
“It’s not about the money,” I told him.
I needed this job. Yes, I could call off. Josie did it all the time. I would probably keep my job, but the risk wasn’t worth it. A higher paycheck tomorrow night might be nice, but what about in a week or a month? I needed steady paying work, not to dance at some vampire’s whim.
“You’ll be there,” he said, his expression smug.
“That’s an arrogant assumption.”
