I’ve been underestimating her. And while I’m impressed, I don’t like her demanding answers.
Especially since she’s snooping where it matters. Not even my siblings know the actual nature of my regular time-off.
“That’s none of your business, Thunder.” I turn to her. “And it’s not a reason to avoid me.” I turn the conversation back to her. Safer that way.
She scoffs. “You’re full of shit. I haven’t been avoiding you. I’m just lucky you stay out of my way.”
God, I want to strangle her. And kiss her. And just have her over my knee to teach her a lesson. The woman is infuriating.
The elevator jerks to a halt, and the door opens. The hum of the Merged morning commotion stops me from acting on my desire mixed with frustration.
Roxy pushes past me, stepping out. She turns, her finger jabbing my chest. “If you think you can fool everyone here, you’d better pack your shit now and leave with dignity, Stone,” she whispers with venom. “I will find out why you are here, and I will exploit the shit out of that information.”
I close my palm around her finger and squeeze gently. “Whatever makes you horny, Thunder.”
She whips around, the ends of her dreadlocks grazing my chest. And yet again, I watch her march away.
“I can’t believe you flew this piece of metal across the country.” Xander knocks on the hood of my Bentley.
Worth the cost. She’s the only thing that still makes sense. The only thing I can fix without ruining it.
“When I’m done here, you’ll regretyour words.” My fingers move on muscle memory as the last spark plug clicks into place. I wipe my hands on a grease-stained rag.
Xander stops under the single light bulb hanging from the ceiling, looking completely out of place in his tailored suit. “Does it mean you’re serious about staying here?”
So that’s why he called and came over to the garage. And while this is a temporary space, it’s still my haven. I don’t need him to invade it.
“Are you here as a brother who is excited to have me closer? Or as a friend of Merged?”
I stretch and lean against the wooden workbench, gripping the edge. My hands absorb my emotions so my face can remain stoic.
Xander walks around the car that arguably still looks more ready for the junkyard than the road.
“Dude, I don’t know. I care about that company and the people there. They welcomed me when I felt like the world was shifting under me. Cal is my friend. He feels you’re there with an ulterior motive, and his instincts are usually true. And Roxy?—”
“You spoke to Roxy?”
My chest tightens. Not with anger… worse.
Fuck, I should have let him finish.
Xander raises his eyebrows, and then draws them together, assessing me with a mind-reader’s dedication. “What the fuck is going on between you and Roxy?”
I came here to relax. I shouldn’t have met him here.
“Besides the fucked-up competing for the partnership your friends set up?”
“That is fucked-up. She doesn’t deserve it.”
For some reason, his concern spreads through me like venom. Why does he care? Do they have a history?
“And I do?” I ask that, even though I agree with him. She doesn’t deserve it. I don’t give a shit about the fairness to me. The whole setup is unfair to her, mostly.
“You can handle yourself, asshole.”
That’s a fair assessment. A part of me is grateful he’s on her side. She deserves everyone in her court. A part of me wants to punch Xander for thinking about her.
“From what I’ve seen, she can handle herself just fine.” Unless I’m in her vicinity.
