“You’re mad at me, aren’t you?”
“Rix, I don’t know why you’ve come around here.”
“I don’t know what it is that I’ve done but I can’t fix anything if you keep shutting me out.”
She drained her noodles, rinsed them with cold water, and drizzled some sesame oil on them before bringing them back to her wok, where she mixed in the last of the vegetables, peppers, sugar snaps, broccoli, sauce, and finally the noodles.
“I’m not angry with you, Rix,” she said. No, just hurt.
He slammed his hand down on the counter. “Well, let me fix what is going on. You were on fire in my arms a week ago and now you can’t even talk to me.”
She pushed some hair out of her eyes and finally looked at him. “There, is that what you want?”
“Ugh, you’re being a bitch on purpose.”
Now she was a bitch. “Well, I guess you can add that to my very short list of attractions. I’m boring and bitchy now.”
She put the stir fry into two separate bowls, not that he deserved to eat her food, but she wasn’t going to push it aside. She sat down at the table, aware of him staring at her.
He grabbed his bowl and joined her.
“Boring and bitchy? I never said you were boring.”
“I don’t want to talk about this.”
“Night has. My enforcer.”
“Again, I don’t want to talk about this,” she said. When was he going to understand that she was embarrassed?
“You’re pissed off.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“Clearly, it does.”
She put her fork into her bowl and looked at him.
“Is this why you’ve been avoiding me for a week? You heard what Night said about you and you think I believe it?”
“You didn’t exactly defend me.”
“You think I want my men to know how fucking hot you are? How amazing you are in bed? I don’t know you all that well, but I don’t want to share you. I don’t find you boring and I’m not going to let my guys know that I hit the jackpot when it came to a woman. Not happening. Yes, I’m selfish like that, and guess what, I don’t care.” He laughed. “I don’t think you’re boring, Anna-Beth. Far from it.”
“Oh,” she said.
“This was what that was all about?”
“I was … hurt.” Now she felt like a fool. A complete and total fool.
He laughed. “You didn’t need to. I could have told you what was going on.” He shook his head. “At least I know what’s going on now.” He put his hand over hers. “You’ve got nothing to worry about.”
She watched as he ate his food. “You really don’t think I’m boring?”
“No. I don’t. I’m happy Night thinks you’re boring. Let all of my boys believe it. I don’t have to fight them off you.” He winked at her.
“Oh.” Her cheeks heated in embarrassment.
“Did I surprise you?”
“A little.”
“Anna-Beth, I don’t find you boring. Why do you think I came here?”
“You want sex?”
“Yes, that’s on my mind but I also wanted to talk to you. I enjoy being with you. Can’t you see that?”
She nibbled on her lip. “It’s not something I’ve thought about.” She’d been more interested in being hurt.
“Next time, don’t hide from me. I’m not a mind reader. I don’t know what you want. I need words.”
“Got it.”
“Good.” He winked at her. “Now, I met a rather interesting woman today. Elizabeth. Got about a dozen dogs. Did you hear that these two houses are cursed?”
She choked on her food.
As she rubbed at her chest, Rix slapped her on the back. “You okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine. What were you saying?” she asked.
She listened as Rix told her exactly what Martin had said to her.
“What do you think? Have you heard this before?”
“My, one of my colleagues, Martin, he was going to set me up with a friend but the moment he thought about where I lived and I kind of went a little … crazy on him, he stepped back. Told me about the supposed cursed houses thing. I didn’t really believe it. Do you believe it?”
She twirled her fork into her noodles, waiting.
“I don’t know. I mean, it’s kind of out there, right? I don’t believe in karma or shit like that.” He took another mouthful of food. “If it is, it means you’re supposed to be my woman.”
“I don’t believe some kind of curse will bring people together. I intend to live here for the rest of my life and you’ve already said you’ve got plans to be anywhere but. I don’t think it’s right.” It was a nice thought.
“I bet it’s how the locals have dealt with these houses.”
“The guy who lived here before, he, er, he fell in love with the neighbor,” she said. “That’s all I know.”
“Do you want me to do some digging?” Rix asked. “You know, out of general curiosity.”