Page 39 of Stone Cold Savage

“He loves me.” Devyn shrugged.

“Something like that.” Rip snorted. “Normally, he waits for instruction, but he found you to be the one who needed him most.”

Her grin quickly became a frown, “He thinks I’m needy?”

“Not necessarily. You were his first impression here. He saw you in need and jumped into his role. When left up to him, he usually chooses the children, so…”

Devyn swatted Rip’s shoulder, “Children? I am not a child.”

“At my age, anyone as young as you is a child.”

“At your age? Okay, Grandpa.” She laughed. “You can’t be more than somewhere around Coy and Dill’s age if you all work together.”

“I might be around there, give or take a few years.” Rip shrugged.

“So, you’re really not going to tell me your age?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“It isn’t important. Do you ask everyone you meet these questions? Is it part of your apology?” he teased.

“No, and no. I’m just curious now. That’s all. Especially now that you’re being so… weird about it.”

“I’m not being weird. It’s called privacy.”

She rolled her eyes, “Right, you operative types and your privacy. Heaven forbid I know something as telling as your age –– I might sell it to the bad guys of the world so you meet your demise.”

“Wow, you are dramatic.”

“Says the old guy, embarrassed by his age.” She fired back.

“I’m not embarrassed. It just doesn’t matter. I’m just very private.”

“Well, you need to do a better job at keeping your own secrets, then.” She surmised. “You already told me how old you are.”

“No, I didn’t.”

She giggled, “Yes, you did.”

Rip turned to face her, genuinely curious, “How do you figure?”

“Given the information regarding your age in relation to my older siblings, I’d say you’re roughly ten years older than me, give or take a few.” She said, using his words against him.

“And how old is that?” He asked, amused.

“Oh, I don’t discuss my age. After all, it’s just a number, and I keep a pretty private life.” She snickered while mocking him.

“You know I have a file on you –– I can just look it up. I have access to just about everything there is to know about you, actually.”

“Ooh. I love a good stalker.”

“Clever, aren’t you?”

“Yes, Rip. Quite clever.” She teased. “You, on the other hand, were just taken by a child.”

“I’d like to retract that statement. You’re definitely not a child. Not even a little bit.” He chuckled.

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