“Dylan said ninety days would be a good test for us to see if we were compatible. If at the end of the ninety days I wanted him to get out of my life, he’d go.”
“How long did it take you?”
“Eighty-eight.”
I laugh. “Stubborn until the end.”
Ev stands and looks at me with that pity in her eyes. “I’m not the only one.”
“I’m not stubborn. I’m cautious.”
“Mmm-hmm,” Ev leans into my face. “Do me a favor and try not to be so cautious that you end up alone, living in my guest house, mmm-kay?”
I pull her into a tight hug and kiss the side of her head. “You got it, Ev.”
She squeezes me back.
Something falls on the floor next to the staircase.
“Shit!”
I step away from Ev to see Cat bending over to pick up a picture frame. “Take it easy, Kitten.”
Cat stands. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to intrude.”
Ev looks between the two of us with another grin. “I’ll be on my way.”
“Don’t leave on my account,” Cat blushes. “I came down for some water. Then I’ll be out of your hair.”
“Night, Ryker,” Ev pecks me on the cheek before she leaves the guest house.
Leaving me alone with Cat.
Chapter 32
“Oh. THAT p-word!”
-Cat
I’m hungry.
Or need more painkillers.
That’s the only excuse for the pit in my stomach right now, right?
I open the fridge, only for Ryker to slam it closed in front of me.
“Hey!” I whirl around with my back to the door.
“It’s not what it looked like,” Ryker presses his hands to either side of me, caging me.
I move to duck under his arm. He pins me to the fridge.
“I-I, it doesn’t matter,” I whisper. “You’re an adult. Do what you want.”
His pupils are so dilated. His eyes turn black. “Is that so?”
I watch his full lips make the words, but I’m not making sense of anything that’s happening right now. His body heat covers me like a blanket. A pulse ratchets up in the Coochie Mama neighborhood. I press my thighs together to get it to stop.
