Making Her Mine

“She can’t. She’s got a little one and can’t come in until nine.”

“What about hiring new help?”

“I’m barely making ends meet as it is.”

“Were.”

“Huh?” She looks up from the dresser where she’s busy packing her purse.

“You were barely making ends meet, but with the new distributor agreements in place”—and your old man not cheating you—“you’re going to have enough cash flow to hire at least one more person.”

She tugs on her lower lip. “I’ll have to think about it. I don’t want to overextend myself.”

I decide not to press her. “That’s cool. I’ll see you around nine then. Come over and give me a kiss.”

“No.”

“What?”

She shakes her head. “If I come close to you, I know my clothes are going to be on the floor in five seconds, so you’ll have to wait for a kiss until the shop is closed.”

“I don’t like this. I should have a kiss every morning.” I climb out of bed and stalk toward her. She darts to the door.

“Sorry! See you later.” And then she’s gone.

I follow after her, but she’s through the doorway and down the hall before I can catch up. Since her brother is living with us, I reluctantly retreat inside my room so he doesn’t catch me standing outside my bedroom with no clothes on. Besides, I have things to do as well today. When I emerge from my room, I find Ryan speeding down the road in the Tesla. Violet gives me a bleary wave over her coffee. She isn’t human until she has her second cup. I grab a muffin and a bottle of water.

“I’ll be home in the afternoon.”

“What’re you doing?”

“Errands,” I reply vaguely.

“Sounds suspicious.”

“It’s not.”

“But you won’t be more specific.”

“I’m just going to untangle some knots. Love you, Violet.”

“Don’t do anything that would piss Eden off.”

I pause at the door. “How do you know it has to do with Eden?”

Violet taps her forehead. “Twin intuition.”

See? I need my space.

On the other side of town, I pull up to Eden’s dad’s house. I’m not stalking him. His address was on the documents in Eden’s folder. The door’s unlocked, which surprises me but when I find the old man passed out on the sofa, the easy access makes sense.

I go into the kitchen, fill a pot with cold water, and then return to the living room. One splash later and the old man is sputtering awake.

“What the hell?” He slaps at his face and then bobbles upright like an overstuffed, drunk mammal with no sense. “Who the fuck are you? Do I owe you money?”

He squints at me through sleep-filled eyes.

“No, but you are paying up.” I drag a chair over and take a seat. “I want the name and address of every person who you owe money to, who you’ve sat down at a table with, who you’ve gone to the racetrack with.” He doesn’t move. I clap my hands. “Get to it. I don’t have all day.”

“Why the hell would I do anything you ask of me? I don’t even know your name. If this is about the Patrick loan, I’m going to pay that back. I just need a few more days.”

I drop my elbows to my knees and clasp my hands together so I don’t punch Eden’s father. “You don’t get more days. Today you are paying up, but it’s not in coin but information. Now, you have five minutes to get me everything I need or I’m going to put you in the hospital. Do I make myself clear?”

My tone is friendly, my expression open, but there’s not a shred of doubt between either of us that I will ruin him if he doesn’t get his ass in gear.

“I’ll be right back,” he says and hauls himself into the kitchen to gather the information. I should have things done soon.

Chapter Sixteen

Eden

“So…” Ryan trails off, smirking. I don’t play into his bait. I decide to try to wait him out to see where he’s going with this. It doesn't take long. “You weren't in your room this morning.” I shrug, looking out the window to hide my blush. Ryan only chuckles before turning on the music as he drives us back to The Daily Drip.

Today more than ever I wish I could take a day off. Last night was incredible. The way Miles touches me, holds me, whispers sweet words into my ear makes me never want to leave his side. He’s all too tempting.

It doesn't help that with a snap of a finger the man could fix every one of my problems if I let him. To be honest, I have no idea how to let someone help me. I wasn't programmed that way. I’m so used to having to do things on my own that it’s hard to break out of that.

There is this fear that in time he will let me down. That’s what everyone always does. If I let myself depend on him now, him leaving could be something I never recover from. At this point it’s only my heart that’s in it.