Page 21 of Tempting All The Way

She struggles to get out of my hold—yeah, that’s not happening until I know she’s not about to do something stupid. Like enter a building that clearly statesdo not enter.

“I live here, Xavier,” she says.

“I know you can read, babe. You can’t go in there,” I say, pointing at the tape. She huffs, but her body slackens. Loosening my hold, but not letting go, I gesture to the printed notice on the door. “Did you know they were exterminating in your building today?”

“What? How would I know that?”

“You should have received a notice, Shardonnay. Did you get an email, a letter from your landlord?” I release her, now that I’m fifty percent sure she’s not going to just run into a building full of chemicals.

“No, I did… shit,” she curses.

“What?”

“Nothing, it’s fine. I’ll just go and stay with Lucy.” She pulls her phone out of her bag.

“Lucy’s staying at Mum and Dad’s tonight. Come on.” Taking her hand in mine, I lead her back to the car before opening the passenger door.

“Wait… I’ll figure something out. It’s fine. You can go home, Xavier.”

I laugh. “That’s cute. Now get in the fucking car, Shardonnay,” I say.

“Why?”

“Because I’m not leaving you in the middle of the Bronx with nowhere to fucking sleep. Get in.”

“I’m not your responsibility, Xavier. Like I said, I will figure something out. It’s fine.”

“I’m too tired for this shit. Just get in. I’ll wait as long as it takes, but keep in mind: the more tired I get, the more of an ass I’m likely to be tomorrow when you do have to actually follow my rules. When I’m your boss.”

“So, right now, you’re not my boss?”

“No, we’re not at work,” I tell her.

“Good, because you’re an asshole, Xavier Christianson. And bossy. And those rules of yours are absolutely bloody ridiculous and I’m not following any of them,” she says before getting in the car with a glare that would rival an ice queen’s.

Closing the door, I jog around to the driver’s side. Once I pull out into traffic, I turn and smirk at her. “You’ve been wanting to say that all week, huh?”

“Yep.”

The twenty-minute drive to my house is spent in more silence. Pulling up to the gate, I enter the code and wait for the doors to swing open.

“Where are we?” Shardonnay asks, sitting straighter in her seat.

“My place.”

“Why? I thought you were taking me to Lucy’s?”

“I’m tired. I have plenty of guest rooms. You can take your pick.” I drive up to the garage, and the door opens automatically as I approach. Cutting the engine, I pivot in my seat. “Don’toverthink it, Shardonnay. It’s just a guest room. I’m sure, by tomorrow, you’ll be able to return to your apartment. You should find that notice the landlord would have sent.”

“I can’t. It would have been sent to my mum’s email address.” Her eyes well up.

“The apartment’s in your mum’s name?” I ask her.

“I didn’t think to tell them that she… died. And, as time passed and no one questioned it, I just kept paying rent.” She shrugs.

“You realise what you’re doing is illegal, right?”

“I’m paying the rent. It’s not like I’m putting anyone out.”

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