“So,” I continue, “I suggest you examine your contract terms and consider how much you like having functioning arms, then use that information to make a good choice.”
The man stares at me, then looks behind me to the girls. “I’ll be in touch,” he grits out, then turns and leaves.
As soon as he heads out the back door, I turn to look at my girl.
“Sweetheart. Mila?—”
“Don’t youSweetheartme, Kash. Why would you do that?”
“Because he was trying to take advantage of you as well as talking down to you. I can’t stand by while someone tries that shit.”
“You don’t even know what our contract is.”
“Doesn’t matter.”
“Is it even possible to rip someone’s arms off?” Mara asks, tilting her head to the side in thought.
“Probably. If you can rip a nail off, why not an arm?” I shrug. Yeah, it’d probably take some effort, but the thought of someone taking advantage of Mila or treating her like that makes me feel like it’d be easy to do.
“Anyway, I wanted to tell you I’m all done and I’m heading out.”
Mara looks between the two of us, but Mila won’t meet her gaze. I don’t care who knows that I’m with Mila. I wanteveryoneto know it.
“Oh, thanks. I appreciate it, Kash.”
“Anytime,FW. Anytime.” Not caring if I’m pushing my luck, I lean in close and give my girl a quick kiss on the cheek. Pulling back, I flash her a genuine smile. “Anything,anytime. Just for you.”
Enjoying the way the blush spreads across her cheeks, I shove my hand in my pocket and finger the panties I stole. I’ll buy her more. All kinds of colors and styles. Maybe she’ll want to play fashion show. She can be an angel, and I’ll be the devil waiting to swoop in and rip them from her body. It’s going to be a good life.
“Mara, always a pleasure. Let me know if he gives you guys any more problems.”
Snorting, Mara shakes her head. “Sure, Kash. I’ll be sure to call you first.”
“You see that you do that. I may tattoo for a living, but I also know people.”
Heading back out front, I order a croissant and scone to go. I want to support my girl, and if the maple scones I saw on my way in taste half as good as they look, I’m going to have to spend more time at the gym later. It’ll be worth it.
I can feel Mila’s eyes on me from the kitchen door and meet her gaze. She looks confused, but that’s okay. I’ve told her my intentions; she just needs to get on board and realize how serious I am. I’m not going anywhere, and the only place she’s going is my place.
Once I get you there, Future Wife, all bets are off.
Chapter Sixteen
Mila
“What the fuck was that?” Mara blurts out the moment Kash leaves. I’m not prepared to answer her because no one really knows we’ve been talking, or that we watched a meteor shower together until I fell asleep in the hammock next to him. No one knows that I haven’t changed his name on my phone, and that I don’t know if I want to. I don’t think Kash is my future husband, but he seems to have a good heart, and I promised Cora I’d try to be friends with him. She and Atlas are definitely serious now, so I have to get used to seeing him around.
Opting for continued denial, I give her my best confused look. “What do you mean?”
“Oh, don’t try that with me. Why is Kash here all the time, and what’s going on with you guys?”
“There’s nothing going on,” I admit truthfully. I mean, we’ve hung out, but I don’t think it’s newsworthy.
“Right.” She snorts. “That’s why he just threatened to pull the arms off Andrew because he was yelling. What is it with those guys and butting in and threatening people? That’s my job.”
Shrugging, I grab my clipboard to take it to the office. “I can’t control what he does any more than I can control where lightning strikes.”
“You could always put a metal pole on a beach like that one guy in a movie.”
