The lanai has a wet bar to the left, as if I ever entertain guests, and two sets of furniture, one surrounding a gas fire pit. The stone floor travels out and encircles the pool, shaped like a lima bean. The waterfall slide on the right-hand side of the pool ties the whole backyard together.
“It’s alright, I guess.”
“It’s beautiful. You must sit out here all the time.”
“Not really.”
No one to share it with.
The thought makes me swallow thickly, my throat sliding as I turn away to clear it.
“Well, let’s sit out here tonight. We could cook out...”
I turn, eyeing her sternly enough, and she stops speaking and stiffens.
What does she think this is? A fucking vacation?!
“I had other plans for tonight.”
“Oh, of course,” she says sweetly as red flags wave through my head.
She’s done quite the turnaround since I kidnapped her, and I don’t fucking like it.
I don’t know what she’s up to, but I’m going to get to the bottom of it, and her ass will be raw when I find out whatever she’s plotting.
She walks back inside, a bit deflated, and I try not to feel like I’m to blame.
Even if she’s up to something, there’s this nagging need to keep her happy. The way her shoulders slump in defeat has me wanting to kick my own ass.
If I’m not careful, this girl is going to twist me up like a pretzel and devour me alive.
“When will you be back tonight?” she asks.
“Excuse me?” Closing the door behind me, I flick my eyes toward her as she grips the back of a chair, putting the table between us.
“I didn’t mean to pry. You don’t have to tell me.”
“Poison,” I grumble. “I didn’t understand the question. Get back from where?”
“Well, you said you had plans for tonight. I assume you’re leaving me here, so I wondered when you’d return.”
“You’re going with me.”
I loathe how my stomach flutters as she lights up like a summer firefly. “I am? Where are we going? Not to kill someone, right? I can’t be a part of that…”
It almost seemed like she was about to insert my name into the end of her rant, but she doesn’t know it.
I don’t know why I haven’t told her. Anonymity is a big thing in my line of work; that’s one reason. But also, I like having that boundary between us.
She doesn’t need to get too familiar with me; she’s disposable.
“No. We’re not going to kill anyone. And if you behave tonight, you may get to go more places. Nowhere you’ll be noticed, of course. There’s a manhunt searching for you, my pretty, poisonous girl.” Rounding the table, I run my thumb over her bottom lip.
“There is?”
“Would you expect anything less? I wouldn’t. Look at you.”
Blush fills her cheeks.
