Page 57 of Spike

“Kim owns thatplace outright and discounts it heavily for club people,” Spike said. “She’llmake sure you can afford it.”

“I’m not a beansand rice kind of girl,” I pointed out. “I like nice food and wine, and if I’mhouse poor, then I can’t afford good food.”

“I’ll take care ofthe food,” he insisted.

“I just—”

“How about we lookat it on Friday, after you meet with Devlin. Kim can give you all of theinformation,thenwe’ll go from there.”

“I just don’t wantto waste anyone’s time.”

“You’re not.” Hesmiled. “Trust me.”

“Fine,” I breathedout. “We’ll go look at what will probably be a dream place that I won’t be ableto afford.”

“That’s thespirit.” He dragged me back onto his lap and kissed me.

“I’m gonna need toget home soon.”

“Yeah. You wannago now?”

“If it means wecan make out a bit before you leave me, then, yes.”

“Well, that’sreally up to you.” He slid his hand to my neck. “I can stay all night if youwant me to.”

I closed my eyesbriefly. “You’re seriously going to make me lose my religion.”

“One can hope.”

I met his eyes.“Let’s go now, but promise me you won’t stay, even if I beg.”

He raised aneyebrow. “Not gonna do that, baby. Because there’s no way in hell I’ll be ableto resist you.”

I wrinkled mynose. “It was worth a shot.”

He kissed meagain. “Let’s grab our stuff.”

I nodded and we headedout.

CHAPTERTWELVE

Trixie

Sunday morning, Iwas dragging. I’d obviously pushed myluck getting home so late, and then making out with Spike for close to an hourbefore he reluctantly left me.

I managed to makeit down to the garage before my parents came looking for me (because, godforbid I drove myself), having managed to remember my Bible this time. I didnot, however, have time for coffee, so I had to force myself not to yawn. Theeffort meant my eyes were watery and my nose was slightly runny.

My parents did notgreet me, my mother gave me the once-over with her ‘discerning’ look, then slidinto the front passenger seat just before I slid into the back.

I felt like I wascrawling out of my skin as we pulled into the church parking lot, and I had aquick daydream of running away. I wondered how far I’d get in a skirt andwedges, but knew I was being overly dramatic… plus, I probably wouldn’t evenmake it around the block before I dropped dead from the effort.

I followed behindmy parents as we headed inside and I heard my mother hiss slightly under herbreath, “What ishedoing here?”

I followed herline of sight to see Spike leaning against the brick wall, his hand holding hiscell phone, two cups of coffee in the other.

I let out aninternal squeak and rushed past my parents to meet him. “What are you doinghere?”

He grinned,sliding his phone into his pocket before handing me one of the coffees. “Well,I figured you came to my place last night, met my friends and family, it’s onlyfair I come to you.”

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