Page 80 of Rectify

“Umm, okay.” Did this woman not like her, or was she just rude? Natalya couldn’t work it out. She couldn’t think of anything she’d done to offend her.

With a small sound of frustration, Miller turned to face her. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to sound abrupt or rude. It’s just . . . ”

“What?”

Miller flicked her gaze to Caden, then back to her, a light flush on her cheeks and a hint of shame in her gaze. “I don’t have any money,” she whispered.

“Oh.” Shit. Why hadn’t Rogan thought of this?

“Rogan gave me a credit card, but I can’t use it,” Miller explained.

“Yes, you can.”

Miller shook her head. “You wouldn’t understand.”

“I wouldn’t? Why?”

“Well, because you and Aedan are together. Rogan and I aren’t.”

“Ahh, so because we’re together, I should feel fine about spending Aedan’s money?” Natalya asked. She could see why the other woman would see it like that. “I suppose it’s easier because I know Aedan loves me and wants me to be happy. But it still feels uncomfortable. It still feels awkward. But I do it. Because I’m not ready to leave my son and go out to work. I’m not foolish enough to shoot myself in the foot for my pride. My son comes first.”

“I don’t have a child to take care of.”

“But you have your health.”

Miller studied her for a long moment. “You know.”

Natalya nodded.

“I won’t make a good friend.”

“Never said I was looking for one.”

They gazed at each other and smiled.

“Caden, change of plan.” She gave him the name of an outlet mall.

Her bodyguard growled. “I don’t like last-minute changes.”

Natalya rolled her eyes. “Suck it up. It will be fine.”

Two hours later,her feet aching, Natalya stepped out of the mall and looked around.

“I need caffeine,” she said, pointing over at a nearby café.

“No way,” Caden said, scowling. He was a huge man with short, dark hair and piercing green eyes.

“Me too,” Miller added. “Shopping is thirsty work.”

“So we’ll go home, and you can have a drink there,” Caden replied, trying to steer them toward the car while still keeping watch over their surroundings.

Natalya sent Miller a wink and grabbed her arm. “Come on, Caden. If you’re good, we’ll buy you a drink too.”

“I don’t need coffee,” he said with a scowl. But he followed them over to the café. “I don’t like this.”

“You don’t like doing anything,” Natalya pointed out to him as they entered the café. It was pretty empty, and they effortlessly grabbed a booth.

A young, bouncy waitress took their order for two blended coffees before nearly skipping away.

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