“I told him you quit.” I glare up at him. “I mean, did you want to go back there after that showdown?”
“No.” I close my eyes, pinching the bridge of my nose. My life has become a circus.
“I’m sorry.” I open my eyes at his words, dropping my hands. From the expression on his face, I actually believe him. “I could have handled this all better myself, but there is something about you. I suppose I snapped in my own way.”
“You think I turn men crazy? Is that a thing?” A smile pulls at Blake's lips, and it makes my stomach dip.
“Only man you’re driving crazy anymore is me.” I snort a laugh.
“I had no clue Novak was even interested in me. I thought we were friends.”
“I know in this day and age you ladies don’t want to hear this, but a woman can’t look like you and have a man only be your friend unless he’s already got a wife he adores.”
“That’s an oddly sweet compliment, but you’re crazy.”
“Have you looked in the mirror?”
“Every day. Unless I’m running late cause Henry wants to cuddle.” Blake grumbles Henry’s name, making another laugh spill from me. I try to fight them because the last thing Blake needs is any encouragement from me.
“You’re so damn pretty it hurts. I think about your ass way more than I should.”
“My ass? Really.” I’ve never given my ass much thought. Angel did bitch that Mom gave me her ass and she didn’t get it. Kind of surprising since my sister is obsessed with being tiny. Men normally looked right past me if she was around. She always had them eating out of her hand even before she should have. She’s been boy crazy her whole life.
“With the heels. In fact, you should stop wearing those unless I’m with you.”
“Will you stop?” I laugh, smacking his chest. I’m not sure if he’s being serious now or only trying to make me laugh to get my mind off everything that just happened. Whichever one, it’s working.
“Never.” He smirks as he leans down closer to kiss me. I start to close my eyes until I hear the sound of another car. I jerk back to see Novak driving off glaring our way as he passes, reminding me that I’m now jobless.
“I’m guessing there aren't a whole lot of architects in this town.”
“Nope,” Blake drawls before he kisses me, making me forget everything while his mouth is on mine. Too bad kisses don’t last forever. Reality is always waiting to come crashing right back in.
Especially when a Justice is around.
CHAPTER 13
BLAKE
I know she’s not ready, which is why I don’t lay her horizontal, strip off her clothes, and delve deep into her body. She just lost her job in a new town with not a lot of prospects. I went from not shaking her hand to demanding she text me back when I text her. It’s a lot of change to deal with, and while she’s handling it great, it doesn’t mean that I can keep up the bum rush.
Now that I don’t have my paws on her, she’s back to being prickly as she sits in my passenger seat not speaking. I lay my hand on her thigh and steer out onto the street.
“I think it’s time to size up my competition.”
“I think Novak got the message.”
“Henry.”
“Ohhhh,” she lets out a giggle. I swear the sound is angelic. “He’s good-sized. I think you’ll be surprised. Plus, he’s wily.”
“I do like a straightforward opponent,” I admit. “Any insider tips you can give me to beat him out?”
“He likes his catnip.”
“Great. I’ll dose him up so he falls asleep and is out of the picture.”
“That doesn’t sound like good sportsmanship.”
“All’s fair in love and war, according to the Bard.”
“He’s dead, though.”
“But his words live on.” I pull up to her cute shoebox of a house. She can’t have much more space than a bedroom, the kitchen, and a living room, but it’s cozy, and it fits her. No room here for a man. “Hold on,” I instruct. She waits until I reach her passenger door. “For future reference, I always get your door. Always carry your bags. Always lift, unscrew, fix everything. Got it?”
She laughs. “And if there’s a door for me to open and you’re not there, do I wait?”
I lift her down. “First mistake is thinking I’m not going to be there.” I hold out my hand. “Keys.”
“It’s unlocked.”
“It’s…what?” .
She shrugs nonchalantly. “It’s Edison. Besides this duplex, I don’t have much else except Henry, and as I told you before, he’s wily.”
“You’ve got these.” I tap her pearl necklace. “And that beauty over there.” I point to her vintage convertible.
“That’s about all I have. I mean, there’s a nest egg from my grams, but I haven’t spent any of it yet.”