Page 34 of Reclaimed

Blonde, brunette, or whatever, she can pull it off with ease. The new color only draws the golden desert hue of her eyes out against her light complexion.

“Ready?” she calls out to me with a straight face.

Relieving her of her duffel, I wince internally. To say this week has been a bit awkward is an understatement. It isn’t only the weather causing the chilly air. The house we’re staying in together has been nearly arctic and it isn’t the old windows and doors to blame.

“Ready,” I drawl with a slight sarcastic bite. The look she sends my way could freeze water.

I follow her out the rear exit, keeping my gaze firmly averted from the sensual swing of her round hips.

The headlights on my sedan flicker as I unlock it with the fob. She climbs into the passenger side without waiting for me to secure her bag in the trunk. I slip into the driver’s seat beside her and can practically feel the wall she’s erected between us.

The hum of the engine starting cuts through the quiet.

“You know, for this to work, we have to actually pretend to like each other in public.” I say as I point the car on the highway in the direction of home. “Otherwise the creep might think he’s doing me a favor.”

A stinging slap lands horizontal across my chest.

“Ow!”

“That’s not funny,” she nearly growls.

My fingers twist around the leather. “You’re right. It was insensitive.”

I feel her eyes on me but keep mine on the dark road.

“I didn’t expect you to actually admit it.” The shock in her tone is undiluted.

“I’m not a total asshole, Isla. I can apologize without getting defensive.”

She harumphs and leans back in her seat.

To fight the smile teasing my lips, I keep the conversation going. “You didn’t fill your dance card tonight.”

Her head rolls on the seat to face me. The sound of her swallow is poorly concealed. “I told Manny I’m not taking private dances anymore.”

“If it’s because of this arrangement, you don’t have to do that.” My heart ticks faster in my chest. I can’t say that I’m not pleased I don’t have to drive her home smelling of other men, knowing she just got done grinding in their laps, but that has to be solid money she’s walking away from.

“I don’t feel safe being alone with strange men. He understood. Said it’s my cash I’m leaving on the table, as if I didn’t already consider that.”

“Is it going to be a hardship?” I ask softly.

“Maybe at first, but I’ll adjust. As long as I can keep working Friday and Saturday nights. I make more those nights than most people make in a week. Worst case scenario, I pick up an extra shift.”

“That’s good. Hey, and your new roommate is taking care of half, so you can save what you’d normally pay until you figure out your finances.”

“I don’t need you paying my bills, Powell.”

“Same,” I bite, putting enough intention behind the one word to clearly convey my meaning. I’ve been single so long that I have a hefty savings account. A single guy in his thirties doesn’t have a lot to spend money on. Besides Chevy. And my sister is the vet, so even that work was done at a steep discount.

“Okay, I won’t argue,” she capitulates around a yawn.

I give up any further disagreements, no matter how playful, in order to let her rest. When a glance over at the stop sign before her house, her eyes are closed.

She doesn’t startle when I throw the car in park on the street across from her four-plex. I quietly kill the engine, and keep the jingling of the keys to a minimum as I remove it from the ignition. They fall to my lap in my hand as I take her in.

The steady rise of her shoulders are a sure sign she’s fallen asleep. Those petal pink lips are slightly parted, allowing even breaths a quiet escape. My chest squeezes as I look at her.

A wrinkle forms between her brows, and her shoulders twitch before she startles herself awake.

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