He cracked his knuckles, and then he met my stare head-on. “Why not?”
Because she wasn’t there for his entertainment, for one. A lot of the staff ate together though. I didn’t really have an excuse as to why he couldn’t. Except for the fact that he knew as well as I did that she was off-limits.
He smiled at me then. “You got something to say, boss, say it.” Now I knew he was goading me.
“Shut the fuck up,” I told him, and then opened Mia’s door. “You’re dismissed.”
Yet, Mia was frowning now as she woke up, groggy and rubbing her eyes. “Archer, Jameson?” She looked between us in question.
“Sorry, Mia. He heard them this time.” Archer shrugged and looked sheepish.
She got a damn “sorry,” but I didn’t? He hadn’t apologized for dancing with her, or anything from the night before. He was supposed to be dedicated to me, one of my guys.
It wasn’t my first concern though. I rushed to her side to hold her face in my hands. “You okay?”
She frowned, “You heard?”
“I did. You were screaming like—”
“I was always a sleep talker. Any bad experience, I’d have nightmares. It’s just my subconscious acting out about the shooting.” She shook her head like it wasn’t a big deal and patted my forearm before she stepped back and eyed me expectantly.“Anyway, I’m happy you’re both here, because Jameson has something to say.”
“What?” I frowned in confusion. I didn’t have anything to say while I considered what could make her bad dreams stop. I’d cuddle her. Tuck her in. Sit at her bedside all night. I was starting to sound obsessed even to myself, but I didn’t care. “Mia, we need to talk about your nightmares—”
“No. I’m fine. They’re getting better.” She yawned as if this were just another day in the neighborhood for her and everything was completely ordinary. “I think it’s a good time for you to tell Archer you’re sorry.”
“Me? Sorry? For what?” I was so genuinely confused, I took a step back.
“For his face.” She motioned toward Archer’s nose. “For how you acted last night.”
“Mia, don’t start,” I growled.
She pursed her lips before getting up to check the soil of each of her plants, pushing one finger into the dirt like she was completely comfortable and at home as she repeated, “Tell him you’re sorry, Jameson, or you won’t be sleeping in my bed ever again.”
“Are you fucking kidding me?” I didn’t want to fight with her first thing in the morning.
“Do I look like I’m kidding?” She set down the pitcher and crossed her arms over those cartoon pajamas to stare me down.
Archer even shook his head “no” like she should stop. At least he realized what she was asking. “This is my damn house, darling devil. I’ll sleep wherever the hell I want.”
“Oh? Then I guess I’ll be sleeping at Rosy’s or even with Malek, right, buddy?” She sat and cooed at my dog, who had trotted in to lay his ferocious head on her bed. Then, she just gave me the look she’d give a toddler ready to have another tantrum.
Who did she think she was talking to?
Probably the man scared enough of upsetting her to listen.
Mia
IT MIGHT HAVE BEENmy day off, but I’d just survived a near-death experience and my friend had been punched in the face for dancing with me. So I did not care how the guy I was falling for was looking at me.
He could have been the leader of all the crime syndicates in the world and I still would have stared him down like he was a child.
He owed my friend an apology, or so help me God.
“I can go to a hotel, also. If you would like.” I tilted my head at him. “I’ll need a new phone, though, to call for accommodations.”
Jameson’s jaw did its normal dance of irritation before he pulled a brand-new phone from his pocket and set it on the dresser. “I already got one for you this morning.”
“Great.” I reached my hand out, palm up, and pointed. “I’d like it now to make that call.”
