Page 83 of A Little Naughty

“I don’t know.” I exhale a breath. “I expect he’ll miss me after a while, but I don’t know how much he’s drinking these days.”

Her telling me what she did about her own childhood formed an unexpected bond between us. I never would’ve thought Cass’s little sister would’ve grown up almost the same way I did. The primary difference between us is having somebody somewhere waiting at the end to throw you a lifeline.

I guess I have something like that now, too.

“I’m sorry.” She looks up, and knowing the empathy in her eyes is real makes me hold her closer.

It makes me want to track down that Bill character and kick his ass.

“We don’t have to worry about it tonight. I’ll check on him, and my brother’s there.”

“I’ve never met your brother.” She tilts her head to the side. “Is he like you?”

“No.”

That makes her laugh, but she has no idea.

And I have no intention of her finding out how different we are.

“If he comes snooping around here, you text me. He’s not a nice person.”

Her eyes widen. “Do you think he’d try to hurt me?”

A low fire ignites in my chest at the suggestion. I don’t think he’d be that stupid, but I can’t guarantee it.

Even if he behaves, I don’t want him insulting her, and I really don’t want him telling her things she doesn’t need to know about me. I’m stuck doing this last job, but when it’s done, so is my affiliation with him and his outlaw friends.

“Just text me.”

“Okay.” She kisses my cheek. “I’ve got to finish up a layout, then I’ll head home. Want me to give Piper her keys back?”

“Yeah, thanks.” I catch her cheeks in my hands wanting a better kiss. I slip my tongue in for a sweet taste of sugar, and she blinks a few times like she’s in a daze. It makes me chuckle. “Don’t worry about dinner. I’ll take care of it.”

Exhaling a hum, she does a little twirl towards the alley. “Good, because I told you I’m a lousy cook.”

* * *

By the timeshe shows up for dinner, I’ve got meatloaf with mashed potatoes and gravy ready and waiting. It’s not super complicated. The potatoes are from a box, and the meatloaf is about the only thing that took any effort, although it’s a pretty simple recipe—one egg, breadcrumbs, and Worcester sauce.

All through dinner, Nikki wears her headphones and watchesSpongeBob SquarePantson her phone.Jemima has her phone beside her plate as well, and her foot is in her chair with her knee bent.

“Oh! Look at this one.” She swipes through pictures of Mardi Gras decorations. “What do you think?”

My brow is furrowed, and I’m not sure if I should say what I think so soon. I watch as she taps and sends the pictures to her group of friends.

She and Nikki do the dishes, and then Nikki runs outside to tell Porkchop goodnight and make sure he likes his new home. When we’re finally alone together in bed, I pin Jemima beneath me, holding her shoulders and kissing her soft neck.

“I know you and Nikki have a system going here, and I’m just along for the ride?—”

“What?” Her brow furrows, and she puts her palms against my chest, holding me back. “You’re not just along for the ride. You’re part of the family. We’re a team.”

“In that case, I think we ought to talk to each other at dinner.”

Her eyes widen, and she appears genuinely confused. “What do you mean? I was talking to you! I showed you all the costumes and garlands and…”

“Nikki had her headphones in and she was watching cartoons the whole time.”

“She loves doing that.” Jemima smiles like it’s nothing. “All the kids are intoSpongeBobnow. Isn’t that funny?”

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