Goody Two Shoes (Invertary 2)

“Sort it out,” was all Donaldson said before the line went dead.

Caroline glared at Josh.

“Thanks for dinner.” He stretched lazily. “It was great.”

Caroline made a little strangled noise. “You can’t stay here.”

“I am staying here.”

“I don’t want you here.”

“I’m picking up on that.”

“You can’t stay here if I don’t want it.”

He gave her a look that said differently.

They were at a standoff. Caroline honestly didn’t know what to do. She had been sure that the police would have intervened and taken care of things. Maybe she should call Kirsty and get her to use her influence with Lake, then he could kick Josh out. Unfortunately, Lake was working with Josh. Traitor. There was nothing she could do. She was stuck with him.

“I’m still not talking to you. As far as I’m concerned, you’re invisible.”

His mouth twitched. “Want to tell me what I did to deserve the silent treatment?”

“Seriously? You don’t know?”

He shook his head, amused. Caroline felt fury course through her. She counted off his transgressions on her fingers. “You ignored my wishes and organised a bodyguard for me. Which turns out to be Betty, so all that’s doing is winding me up. You bossed me around. You didn’t listen to me. You need a serious attitude adjustment.”

Josh burst out laughing. He laughed so hard he had to wipe tears from his eyes. Caroline waited impatiently for him to calm down. “Great, now I know what I’m being punished for. Have at it. Let me know when you’re done. And Betty isn’t your bodyguard. It’s a guy called Gary. Betty is just hanging out with you because Lake wants her gone.”

Caroline put her hands on her hips. First thing in the morning, she was going to pay a little visit to Lake Benson. In the meantime, she needed to sort out Josh’s delusions.

“Telling me to have at it is not how this works. You’re supposed to learn from your behaviour and change.”

“Oh, I’m learning, all right.” He grinned at her. “I’m learning that your control issues have control issues all of their own. We’re going to be dealing with this for years. So have at it, baby. I’m sure it will make you feel better.”

Caroline clenched her fists at her sides and stamped her foot like a toddler. She honestly couldn’t remember the last time she was so angry. She couldn’t even speak. After a minute or two trying to evaporate him with a glare, she turned on her bare feet and stomped up the stairs to her bedroom, slamming the door behind her.

Josh grinned slowly. It was like dealing with a teenager. He traipsed up the narrow staircase with its faded orange and cream striped wallpaper. At the top of the stairs were three doors. The middle one held a tiny bathroom. The one on the right was open, so he figured the closed door on the left was Caroline’s room. He turned the handle. The door didn’t budge. He shook it. Nothing.

“Caroline. Open up. Seriously, this has gone on long enough. Open the door.”

There was no reply. Josh folded his arms and frowned at the door. “I want to talk.”

He wanted to do a helluva lot more than talk, but he kept that to himself. Still no answer. “This is not the way to start a relationship.” He gritted his teeth. “I’m going to knock down the door.”

“Go ahead and try.” Caroline’s voice was muffled. “But I’m not taking you to the hospital when you break your shoulder.”

“Open the damn door.”

“No. I didn’t ask you here. I don’t want you here. This is exactly the problem I was talking about—you don’t listen to me.”

“You mean I don’t follow orders?”

More silence.

Josh contemplated his options. Kick down the door, or sleep in the guest room. He looked around the postage-stamp-sized landing. There wasn’t enough space to manoeuvre. She was probably right. He’d most likely bounce off the door. He thought about the noise he’d heard earlier. Had she barricaded herself in? He clenched his jaw.

“We’ll deal with this in the morning,” he told the door.