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Chapter 12
Opportunities don’t always knock. Sometimes they shove their way into your room. ~ Phoebe’s rules for becoming a better person
Igroan at the knock on my door in the boarding house. The last time I opened the door when someone knocked, the guy standing there did not smell flowery fresh. He wanted to know if I had any ice. I told him to go look in the freezer. He came back two minutes later pissed he couldn’t find what he was looking for. I Googled ice and haven’t opened my door since.
“Open up, Princess. I know you’re in there.”
What the heck? Why is Ryker here? Well, I’m not going to find out. I do not want to talk to him after he went all caveman on me yesterday. I don’t care how much my body wants to take his for a test drive. It’s not happening.
“You’ve got thirty seconds before I open the door.”
Open my door? Who does he think he is? I stomp to the door and yank it open.
“How did you know where I lived?” He opens his mouth and I cut him off. “And if you grunt babe, I’ll kick you in your nuts.” I won’t. I’ve never kicked anyone in my life. Let alone in the nuts. Hell, I’ve never threatened to kick someone in his nuts before. I gotta admit I’m liking the new Phoebe. She’s kind of feisty.
Instead of scowling at me, Ryker smirks. “I’m a bounty hunter. Finding people is what I do.”
“How did you get inside the building?”
There’s supposed to be a locked door to ensure the riffraff from the street doesn’t gain entrance into the building. Never mind most of the residents are riffraff. But, unfortunately, most of the residents leave the door open because they’re constantly losing their keys. Apparently, it’s hard to keep track of your keys when you’re off your face.
Ryker looks left and right in the hallway before placing his hand on my stomach and pushing me into the room. He shuts the door behind him and then crosses his arms over his chest before staring me down. His biceps pop and I have to restrain my hands from reaching out to touch them. How do rock hard muscles feel to touch?
“Why are you living here?”
“I asked my question first.” Apparently, new Phoebe is also stubborn. Good for her.
He grunts. “Outside door was unlocked.”
This is getting ridiculous. I need to talk to the landlord about that door.
Ryker places his hand under my chin and lifts my head. “Why are you living here, Princess?”
“What does it matter to you?”
His hand on my chin flexes. “It matters.”
“Ugh. It’s all I can afford. There. Are you happy now?”
He growls. “No, I most certainly am not happy.”
Whatever. It’s not his problem. “What are you doing here?”
He clears his throat and steps back to remove a package from the pocket of his leather jacket. “I came to apologize for my behavior yesterday.”
My jaw drops to the floor. To. The. Floor. No one – and I do mean absolutely no one – has apologized to me before. Not in my entire life. Let alone given me a present as an apology.
“Here.” He shoves the package at me.
I grab it and forget all the ladylike rules my mother tried to embed in my brain and rip the wrapping off. “A pair of gloves? You bought me a pair of gloves?”
“These are smartphone gloves, but I figure they’ll work with cameras, too.”
“Smartphone gloves?”
“Yeah. You can operate your screen while wearing them. These also have gripper dots on the palms for a better grip.” I’m speechless as I study the gift. “I’m sorry. I know you’re used to better, but I thought—”
“Shut up!” I shout and then launch myself at him. “Thank you. Thank you.” I peck kisses over his face and then step back to try on the gloves. They’re soft and, despite not being bulky, feel warm.
