Theo snorted. “So the mating is going well, is it?” He scratched his head. “I have some things in the car and will be right back.” His gaze went from Ginny to Ronni. “Ah, don’t kill each other.” Whistling, he let himself out and into the darkness just as his cell phone rang.
Ginny fluttered her hands together. “I’m so sorry to intrude at such an inappropriate late hour.”
Ronni rolled her eyes, her entire body exhausted. It was way past her bedtime. “The big strong men are gone. Give it a rest, would you?” She turned and loped into the kitchen. “Would you like some tea?”
Ginny stared at her, calculation in those blue eyes. “I really would. You know you can’t hold on to Jared, right? He’s been in love with me for centuries.”
Ronni winced. Well, she’d wanted Ginny to drop the act. “It seems to me that a guy like that wouldn’t forgive a betrayal, you know?” She poured two cups of steaming tea. “His love for you probably ended a long time ago.”
“Neither one of us believes that,” Ginny said smugly, looking around the small apartment.
Ronni added sugar cubes to the tea. “I have to ask. When we were attacked, did you even think of throwing fireballs?” How cool would that talent be? She’d love to see it actually happen.
“No.” Ginny drew off her red cape. “I allowed Theo to shield me, of course.”
What a waste of a good ability. “You really think that’s what a guy wants?” She crossed around the counter and carried the tea toward Ginny, who sat on the sofa.
“Yes.” Ginny accepted the tea, smoothing down her long skirt.
“Not a guy I’d want,” Ronni said thoughtfully, taking a sip.
“Which is why you and Jared simply don’t mix,” Ginny said. “Sorry.”
Ronni perched on the adjoining chair. “Eh. I’m not sure about that. Lady, you really need to enter the current century. It’s okay to be strong.”
Ginny fluttered her eyelashes. “We all have our places. Mine is with Jared. Finally.” She took a sip of her tea, somehow doing it daintily. “You’re not going to win, so how about you just get out of my way?”
Ronni rubbed her nose. “You know, I like Jared.” Even though sometimes he acted like an asshat from the last century, he seemed like a decent guy. He had saved her life, after all. Plus, he was a god in bed, and they’d only really had one good marathon. “I think I’ll do him a favor and keep him away from you.” It was the least she could do.
Ginny sniffed. “I like your confidence, but it isn’t going to happen.”
Ronni forced a smile. How in the world had Jared fallen for this woman? Was he really that simple? The hot sense of possessiveness sweeping through her nearly stole her breath. “Wanna bet?” she murmured.
Ginny’s eyes flared. “You’re messing with a witch. Perhaps you should remember that fact.”
Ronni’s back straightened. “Why? What are you going to do? Whine me to death?”
Ginny set her tea down with a sharp snap. “I’m warning you.”
Anticipation lit Ronni from within, and she slid her teacup onto the nearest table. “Are you? How so? Gonna start crying?” Something in her just couldn’t stop goading the blonde.
“No.” Ginny reached out, almost casually, and slapped Ronni across the face.
The sound echoed throughout the living room. Pain dug through Ronni’s skull. Fury lanced through her on the heels of astonishment. “Oh, yeah?” Bunching her knees, she leaped over the coffee table and tackled Ginny into the sofa.
Ginny shrieked and shot her fingers into Ronni’s hair, pulling hard.
Pain careened along her scalp, and tears pricked Ronni’s eyes. “Don’t pull hair,” she muttered, jerking free and straddling the blonde. “Hit like a woman.” She punched Ginny in the face, her swing slightly off.
Ginny screamed and dug her nails into Ronni’s neck, shoving her onto the coffee table and following to land on top of her. Cups and a couple of books scattered. Ronni struggled, and Ginny reared back and punched her in the mouth.
Pain exploded along Ronni’s mouth. “Thatagirl!” She levered back and punched Ginny in the neck, throwing the woman off her and onto the floor.
Ronni rolled off the table, already swinging, the taste of blood in her mouth.
Ginny kicked up, nailing her in the chin. Her head snapped back, and she fell against the chair, making it skid several feet toward the kitchen. Holy hell. The woman had a good kick. “Now we’re talkin’,” Ronni said, standing and wiping blood off her lip.
“You are such a bitch.” Ginny shoved to her feet.
