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“That was amazing, thanks so much for cooking. It was so nice to be able to just take off from the office and not stop for fast food or toss something in the microwave when I got here. Can I give you money for groceries? Clean up?”
Lilith had gotten to her feet and was already reaching for his plate to clear it.
“Uh, no,” she said, shaking her head which made her blunt cut black bangs rustle over her forehead. “I feel like making you dinner and taking care of a few pans is literally the least I can do for you letting me stay here.”
“You know that’s not something I expect, right? This isn’t repayment in kind or anything.”
He was about to tell her that it made him feel good to be able to easily hand someone something they needed because he had more than enough, and he knew what it was like for lack to slice into your belly and feel like your guts were hanging out for everyone to see and stomp on. But that was way past TMI, and he didn’t want to sound like a condescending bag of dicks.
He also didn’t want to be a pervy asshat, but Lilith was wearing this black dress that hugged her curves and ended not all that far below her butt cheeks in a poof of black tulle and lace. Motherfucking gothic tutu over fishnets was apparently his kryptonite because he couldn’t stop staring whenever she was standing up. Of course the high neck of her dress with a heart-shaped cutout over her creamy cleavage didn’t help matters any. Even the puff of the cap sleeves over her shoulders made him feel some kind of way.
“Okay, but I still feel like it’s good manners,” she said, slipping the plates and utensils into the dishwasher and then flicking on the faucet, holding her fingers under the water to tell when it got warm. “And besides, it was a good excuse to get out of here, get some fresh air, stretch my legs instead of sulking on the couch and marathoningMurder Files. Again.”
Vance rose, ready to grab their empty water glasses, but then his brain connected the dots of what Lilith had just said. He set his hands on the table and tried to keep his voice measured but it still came out sharper than he’d meant it to.
“You walked? To the grocery store?”
He could only think of one grocery store she could’ve walked to and she would’ve had to walk on a state highway to do it. Walking on Ninety-Two was basically an invitation to get hit by a car. There were no sidewalks, the shoulder was narrow, the road had more curves than Lilith, and people drove like maniacs.
“Yeah,” she said, giving him a look like he’d just asked if water was wet. “You might think I’m a witch but I don’t actually have a flying broomstick you know.”
“You could’ve gotten groceries delivered—”
“Do you know how expensive that is? I’m not going to spend ten bucks on delivery not to mention a decent tip when that could buy me another couple days worth of food.”
Vance resisted the urge to scrub a hand over his face. He knew what that was like but…
“I get that, but you’re also not going to need groceries if you end up as roadkill.”
His heart was getting all skittery just thinking about Lilith—probably wearing all black, because that’s how she rolled—walking down the busy road in the dark and getting hit by a speed demon tourist or one of the reckless townies. Yeah, now he felt like he was going to throw up the entire bowl of delicious pasta she’d made him because all he could see was her broken, bloody body forgotten in a ditch.
Lilith glared at him over the countertop as she scrubbed angrily at the pot that probably didn’t need such an aggressive wash.
“You do realize that I’ve survived for a whole decade on my own without your holier-than-thou help, right? Some of us don’t have the luxury of getting groceries delivered or calling a car whenever we want something. Most of us just have to use our own two feet.”
The connections in Vance’s brain went haywire. Yes, he fucking well knew that. He also knew he’d never forgive himself if something happened to her even if she wasn’t his responsibility. Except she kind of was, wasn’t she? Living here and all? She might not see it that way, but he did.
Not to mention if she was a little like he was pretty certain she was, she wasn’t just marching to the store and back. She was probably stopping to smell flowers or collect shiny rocks or whatever the goth girl equivalent was. Picking up rodent skulls? It didn’t matter. Her daydreaming and meandering explorations were going to get her killed.
“I do realize that,” he grumbled through his teeth. “But that doesn’t make it safe. No more walking on the goddamn state highway.”
“But—”
“No, no buts. I’m not arguing about this.”
He knew he was being high-handed but the protective, daddy side of him was overtaking any ounce of sense he’d ever had and he couldn’t shut his trap. He’d even added pacing to his manic daddy routine.
“If you want to take a walk, go for a hike. There’s thousands of acres of state park right here,” he said, gesturing out the sliding glass doors like the crazy person he’d turned into. “Make sure you bring a water bottle and your cell. It’s not safe out there and I won’t have you taking chances with your life or your health. Did you think about what would happen if you got hit by a car? I can’t imagine you have good health insurance if any at all.”
Oh, she was full on glaring at him now, not even pretending to wash the dishes. That was fine. He was probably lucky she wasn’t stalking toward him with the skillet in her hand to bash him over the head with it. That might be the only way to get him to shut the fuck up. But since she hadn’t yet, he just kept talking.
“Under no circumstances are you to walk to the grocery store again. Are we clear?”
“Yes,” she muttered, rolling her eyes, and that was it.
“I don’t think we are. Come here.”
Lilith blinked, her eyes going wide and wary. He was starting to get used to the black although he really had liked the warm chestnut irises of her unaltered eyes he’d caught a glimpse of last Saturday morning when she’d suggested he hit the road. The black must be contacts and she’d taken them out to sleep. They were back now, glinting at him suspiciously.
“For what?”
“Clearly, my lecture about the importance of your safety didn’t make an impression. Perhaps a spanking will.”
