Page 11 of Kane's Kingdom

"I'm not staying indefinitely," she says.

"Of course not."

"I'm working tomorrow."

"I know that too."

"And I'm not having two bikers sit in the cafe frightening my customers."

"Ah, Judge told you the plan then. Two to take you, one will stay.”

Her eyes narrow. "That's still two."

"Then we agree on the number."

She exhales through her nose, and I almost smile. Somehow, Bella is just as attractive to me when she's mad. I swear, I used to make her mad on purpose when we were teenagers.

"The structure isn't negotiable," I say. "You work days. You're back inside the gates before dark."

"I close at three."

"Then that shouldn't be too hard, should it?"

"I don't need a prison schedule."

"You're not a prisoner."

I stand, and Bella doesn't step back, though I see the awareness move through her when I'm close. It mirrors my own, hot and immediate.

"Those men tested the Landing because they think nobody claims you," I say.

Her chin lifts. "And nobody does."

The answer lands deeper than it should, but I keep my face still. "Protection isn't ownership."

"Tell your club that."

"I just did."

Something flickers in her expression; she hadn't expected that.

"Griz objected," I add. "He lost."

"Did you enjoy that?"

"No."

"Liar."

"I enjoyed part of it."

There she is. The corner of her mouth threatens to move into a smile before she catches it. She looks past me at the couch. "You're really sleeping there."

"Looks that way."

"Your feet will hang off."

"I'll survive, I'm sure, but I’m touched by your concern.