No, we shouldn’t.
“Nothing to talk about. Just doing my job.” The words taste bitter in my mouth.
“Worley Bird, I’ve known you for so long I can’t remember a time in my life you weren’t there. We both know that’s a lie.”
“Mack…”
“Hold on. Yeah, come in,” Mack calls out.
“Hey, Papa.” His granddaughter Everly’s voice comes through the phone. “Nanny’s awake.”
“Thank you, sweet girl. I’ll be right there.” He waits until she closes the door behind her. “I gotta go, but we’ll pick this up later.”
“Night, Mack.” I end the call. And no, we won’t pick this up later.
I stomp up the back steps and catch myself. The kitchen light is on. I probably just startled whoever is in there. Hopefully, it wasn’t our angel. She’s already skittish enough. I wait for my phone to ring or for a text to come through. Neither happen. Good. If someone is in the kitchen, they know a guard is here.
I quickly unlock the door and step inside. The heat stays on sixty-eight in here through the winter, whether a guard is here or not. I bump it up to seventy-two to knock the chill out of the room. Maybe I should leave it or drop it to sixty. The cold might help freeze out some of my frustration.
After hanging up my coat, I check the cabinets and fridge. I forgot to send one of the prospects up here with food. Lookslike I’ll be at the clubhouse early in the morning for breakfast. Thankfully, I find a couple of coffee pods or whatever these little cups are called. I’ll have to settle for powdered creamer, but it’s fine. I pop one in and wait.
I take the cup of coffee and settle into the oversized chair. Too bad it doesn’t recline, or I could sleep right here. The room is like a small studio apartment, a very small one. It has a few cabinets, a mini fridge, a microwave, a small table, one chair, one bed, and a half bath. It’s comfortable enough. I lean my head back and close my eyes. It’s been a long day. Just when I think the day is over, someone knocks on the door.
Great. I groan and stand. The guys know to call or text if they need me. No one is supposed to come to The Haven House unless they’re called. This is the last straw today. I don’t care who he is. This is uncalled for. I jerk the door open, ready to grab him and pull him inside.
“Darin!” Nina’s eyes widen to the point they may pop out of her head.
I quickly drop my hand and step back. “Nina. I’m sorry. I thought you were one of the guys.”
She tilts her head and looks at me like I’m an idiot. “They know not to come here unless I send for them.”
“Exactly.” I nod firmly.
She relaxes and lightly laughs. “Were you about to beat somebody up?”
“Maybe.” I totally was.
The moment turns awkward for some reason. I wasn’t expecting her.
“I thought Patches was out here.”
“Patches? Why?”
“I asked for a prospect,” she snaps.
“Well, you got me,” I snap back.
“No kidding, big guy.”
This is ridiculous. What are we doing? Why are we biting each other’s heads off? Why is she looking for Patches? He’s a little young for her. I look her over. She’s dressed in jeans and a long-sleeve t-shirt. Nothing sexy or alluring. Well, she does look good in jeans. Wait.
I point at her. “Where’s your coat?”
“Really, Darin? You’re worried about my coat?”
“It’s freezing.” Guess we’re still snappy here, but she can feel the cold as well as I can.
“Yeah, I know.” She holds up two grocery bags. “But I was bringing our guard food and drinks for the night.”
