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“Scream.I need something to help me relax.”
He frowned. “Slasher movies help you relax?”
“We all have our quirks. You can stay and watch the rest of it with me if you want,” I offered. “I get that all we have is an arrangement, but it doesn’t have to be cold and impersonal, right?” And I wanted a chance to get my fingers in this man’s mind. I’d been curious about him for more than half my life. Satisfying at leastsomeof my curiosity would be awesome.
But he looked uneasy about agreeing, as if he thought that to stay would be to send the wrong message; like I’d interpret it as him being interested in something more than casual. There was no danger of that, but I did understand. Still, that didn’t mean I couldn’t dick with him.
I gave him an understanding smile that wasallmockery. “Hey, it’s okay if you’re scared to spend time with me outside the club.”
His frown deepened. “Scared?”
“Yeah, it’s all right to worry that you’ll get attached.”
His head jerked. “I don’t worry I’ll get attached.”
“Okay,” I said, my eyes wide with innocence.
His mouth tightened. “I don’t.”
I raised my hands in a placatory gesture, pointing out, “I just agreed with you.”
“But you didn’t mean—You know what, forget it.” He crossed to me, whipped out his phone, and then tossed it to me. “Need your number.”
Shoving aside my girly excitement that I was about to exchange numbers with none other than Kaiser, I punched mine into his cell. “There.”
He took back his phone and called my cell, letting it ring for a few seconds. “Now you have my number.” He pocketed his phone. “You good to meet me at seven at the Vault?”
I stood, ready to walk him to the front door. “Seven works.”
“We’ll eat at the lounge before we play. I’ll book a table.”
I hid a smile at how heproclaimedwe’d have a meal first with the authority of a damn royal. It wouldn’t do good to let him sense that I found it amusing when he got all high-handed like that. “I have to admit, I didn’t think you were serious about being fine with us eating at the lounge.”
“Why not?”
“Because you’re, you know, you.”
“Which means what?”
“Well, you’re a person who prefers their own company and doesn’t seem to have patience for others.”
He gave a slight shrug. “You don’t irritate me as much as other people do.”
My lips canted up. The matter-of-fact statement wasn’t really anything close to a compliment, but it hit me right in the feels all the same. “That’s unfortunate. I like annoying you.”
He fired me a look of exasperation. “I’ve noticed.”
After using my phone app to unlock the electronic security gate, I walked with him to my front door and then opened it wide.
He gave me a pointed look. “Don’t forget to wear something red. I’m fucking sick of finding guys drooling over you every time I track you down.”
I stifled an amused smile, knowing he wouldn’t appreciate it. “I won’t forget.” There was no chance that I could. “Make sure you don’t either.”
His gaze lowered to my mouth, staring at it withsuch focusthat it promptly began to dry up. I thought he’d kiss me.Hopedhe’d kiss me. But he took a step away from me, his eyes snapping back to mine.
“Later,” was all he said, and then he stalked out of the house.
Letting out a quiet, disappointed sigh, I watched him get into his car. I wasn’t surprised that he’d left without giving meso much as a peck on the forehead. Keeping all the physical stuff confined to the Vault would stop any lines from blurring. It was better that we kept our hands and mouths to ourselves at other times.
