Page 78 of Diamond In The Rough

That cold came with an ear infection. Doctor says I just have to wait for things to clear up. Now mind your business and leave me alone. Have a nice life, Micah Malone. I’m probably committing a crime simply by communicating with you.

I laugh, but when that pair of stares continues to warm the side of my face, I cough to cover the sound.

Without replying, I lock my screen and drop my phone into my pocket. Then I pick up the monstera and give it one last gentle shake to dislodge water from the roots.

“Mind your business,” I tell the duo. “Leave me alone.”

“It’s love,” Christabelle sighs. “Which means we really should meet her. If she’s moving in here eventually?—”

“Moving in?” I shoot her a glare. “What the hell is wrong with you?”

“If she’s moving in, then our hormones will eventually sync! It’s important we meet sooner rather than later to make sure it’s all…” she flicks her wrist again, “copacetic. You don’t want us on our period at the same time if we don’t even get along.”

“No one’s hormones are syncing except yours and Lix’s. Because he’s a bitch, and you’re never leaving.” I reach across and steal his three-quarters-full coffee, then abandoning the too-big pot and worthless dirt, I nab the plant and start toward the back door. “No one is moving in, Cannon. And no one is meeting anyone. I’m allowed to spend time with a woman and not turn it into this whole Malone-gets-whipped shit that Lix and Archer have going on.”

“Bring her to dinner,” Felix calls at my back. “I wanna know who I’m protecting now.”

“Mind your business.” I stomp out the back door and onto the covered patio.

On my left, the pool glistens, blue water sparkling under sunshine that’s quickly heading toward blistering. But I cut right and move onto grass.

Guards stand at their posts, their entire job to protect Lix and secure the grounds so no one steps foot on our property without our permission. I ignore them and make a beeline for my greenhouse, since the monstera needs a new pot. New soil. Nutrients, and way less water than the daily jugful it’s been getting while living with Tiia.

I got a taste of what that’s like.

I showered at her apartment. Watched her eat breakfast. Waited as she got dressed, sipped her coffee, and brushed her long, dark locks.

I simply observed her morning routine. And already, I want more.

So as I push through the greenhouse door and set my things on the steel counter in the middle of the humid hotbox, I take out my phone and reread her last message:

That cold came with an ear infection. Doctor says I just have to wait for things to clear up. Now mind your business and leave me alone. Have a nice life, Micah Malone. I’m probably committing a crime simply by communicating with you.

I stare at it for a full minute. Dissecting her words, and skipping the bit where she asked me to leave her alone. I don’t consider her request serious. Or reasonable.

I smile at where she thinks speaking to me is a crime. And when I can think of nothing witty to type in reply, I hit dial instead, place the call on speaker, and set the phone on the counter.

“Go away, Micah,” she answers in exasperation. But fuck, my breath comes a little easier when her voice registers in my mind. “Last night was a lapse in judgment. We’re done now.”

“We have joint custody of a monstera adansonii, Ms. Hale. You have to speak to me.”

“You stole my plant. Which is just another crime added to your already lengthy rap sheet. I’d rather not lose my career or my freedom over a man who steals trees in the middle of the night.”

“You’re getting pretty fucking mouthy about that ‘crime’ shit, now that we’re not in the same room, Grá. Feeling confident over there?”

“Feeling tired and grumpy. I didn’t get a lot of sleep last night.”

I set an empty pot on the counter and simply stop. Smile. Fuckkkkk me, because my stomach flips with happy nerves. “It was worth it. I got the same amount of sleep as you did, but you don’t hear me complaining about it.”

“My apartment smells of sex.”

“Your apartment smelled of fried eggs and coffee when I left. If it smells like sex now, you and I are gonna have words.”

“Yeah?” In the background, the bell above the shop door rings, and I see the scene clearly in my mind. I picture it exactly, including the chair beside the door that once acted as a plant stand. “What are you gonna do about it?” she challenges. “Get mad at me? Shout at me?”

No, but I’ll brand your ass and make you understand I don’t share.

“My brother wants me to bring you to the house for dinner.”

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