Page 115 of Lovestrung

I wrinkled my nose. “Not too well, actually.”

He stepped away and put his hands on his hips. “Luke owns this building. Did you know?”

I shook my head, surprised at the revelation. “No. Ella never said that, but then again, it’s never come up.” I shrugged. “But what’s that got to do with my living situation?”

“I can talk to him, see if he’ll let you rent one of the other lofts for cheap.”

My mouth popped open in shock. “Seriously, baby, that’s sweet of you, but I doubt I can afford it.”

I hopped down, unable to sit still any longer, and wandered to the dogs that were snoring away in their crates. Freya woke up and thumped her tail once before she resumed her afternoon nap.

“Let me worry about that.”

I steeled myself, not liking the sound of that.

“No thanks.”

“Will you stop being so damn proud and look at me?”

I swirled around, incensed by the annoyance in his voice. “Fine. I’m looking at you.”

He sighed, an unhappy crease between his eyebrows. “Talk to me, Pen. Why won’t you even consider it?”

I hunched my shoulders and avoided his intense stare.

“I don’t want to be dependent on you.”

“Who says you will?”

I kept my eyes on the strip of the winter sun across the hardwood floor. “It’s just a feeling I have.”

I heard the soft pads of his feet as he came toward me, but like the stubborn mule I was, I kept my eyes fixed on the light. I felt his thumb on my chin before he pressed in, urging me to raise my head.

“Please look at me.”

I inhaled deeply before I did as he asked. “I’m afraid I’ll say yes to anything you suggest when you look at me like that.”

His lips tilted up at the corners. “In what way am I looking at you?”

“With love.” My answer came swiftly. “And with stubbornness shining in your eyes. There’s some heat, too, and if you turn that up a notch, I know I’ll lose, and I don’t want that to happen.”

He sighed. “You can be so odd.”

“Gee, thanks.”

“Still got plenty of sass, I see.”

I wanted to stick my tongue out at him, but if I did, he’d probably only see it as a challenge which was going to lead to one thing.

Sex.

Magnificent, out-of-this-world sex where I’d end up agreeing to anything and everything he wanted.

“So,” he sighed, wrapping his arms loosely around my waist. “Where does that leave us?”

“I believed it’s called a tie.”

“Hmm. All right, then let’s make a deal instead.”