I spin on my one boot and carefully, slowly, walk up the driveway and climb the steps. At the door, I kick, breaking my own lock, and enter like a Viking might enter the house he’s about to raid. Paper bags on the kitchen counter, I kick off the boot and make it up the stairs in record time.
I walk into the bathroom and barely see Isla’s form through the steam-saturated space. In the tub, she’s playing footsy with the water gushing out of the faucet. Bubbles fly into my face.
I bat them away.
There’s millions of them. She must’ve found more bath bubbles and poured a gallon of it inside the spa. Or Jacuzzi. Like I give a fuck which is which.
She glances at me before shutting the water off with her foot. If she were a guy, I’d know exactly what to do, but she’s not, so I grip the edge of the sink and lean in. First, I fix my hair andschool my face from murderous raiding Viking to a…well, me when I’m on the job and need to be cool, taking care of business. “Did you call your dad?” I ask.
“No.”
“Why not?”
She shrugs, gaze out the window. “Did you call your wife?”
I smirk, wondering if I should mess with her just to see how angry she’d get. I decide I will. “Yes.”
“You bastard. Get out of here.”
“It’s my house.”
“I rented it, and you accepted, so it’s mine.”
I fling the towel away and lock the bathroom door. That gets her attention. Isla snaps her head toward me, her gaze lowering to my erection, then back to my face. “What are you doing?”
“Gonna have a bath. Calm my nerves.” I step inside the tub, bend to sit, and freeze. Isla dug through all my things, namely the jacket, and grabbed my piece. The barrel points at my head, and while her hand shakes, I slowly sit down across from her. “Put that thing away.”
“Get out of the tub, the house, my entire life. I never want anything to do with you or any other married man. You disgust me.”
I purse my lips. “If I weren’t married, would you have things to do with me?”
“That’s not the point. Out.” She glances at the door, probably trying to calculate how quickly she can make it there. I twist her wrist and snatch the weapon, then put it on my side of the spa. Isla rises, splashing water everywhere, and makes to bolt. I get up too, grabbing her arms, folding them at the small of her back, and press her against me.
Her soft curves melt against my body, her red cheeks take on more color, her plush mouth opens, and I put a finger over herlips. She took off her glasses, and I get to stare at her stunning green eyes. Clear green. No flecks of yellow.
“Let me go.” She struggles against me, her still-dry hair sticking to her wet face.
I hold her wrists with one hand and move the hair away from her face with the other. “I’m not married.”
“That’s not whatshesaid on the phone.”
“Let’s call her again, hm?”
Isla’s eyebrows draw down, “No, thank you. Once was enough.”
“We’re gonna do it anyway. Calm down and relax.”
Unsure, she bites her lip.
“It’s fair that I get to defend myself, no?” When I’m certain she won’t bolt, slip on the tile, and break something, I release her and reach for my phone on the sink. I settle into the bath again, though Isla doesn’t. She stands, still biting her lip, thinking or planning my death. And while she does that, I lean back and enjoy the view of her body. Full breasts, ass, a bump on the belly, Isla’s got curves I’m gonna squeeze as soon as I hang up with my sister.
I dial my sister, who doesn’t answer.
Isla sits, a smirk on her face. “I wouldn’t answer either if I were her. I’d be packing my stuff and selling all yours.”
I chuckle. “Good to know.”
“Pendejo,” she adds.
