Page 72 of Boss

“Listen, sweetheart, the climate goes through change, and it always will change. There was no fucking Global Warming when the dinosaurs went extinct, was there? The idea that the earth was more stable before man began offshore drilling, and flying planes in the sky, is fucking ridiculous. We didn’t separate the continents. We didn’t create acidification in the oceans that melt the polar ice caps millions of years before we emerged from our caves. The best thing to do about storms like that one outside, is to be prepared to adapt and live with it.”

“You really believe that, don’t you?”

“You’re sexier when you’re quiet,” he mumbled.

“And you’re a jackass when you speak!” she tossed back.

He chuckled. She rolled her eyes and smiled.

“Yes, I am. And yes I believe it. I do,” he said and walked out.

Kassidy picked up the lantern and followed him. He lit the three rooms on the first level with her watching in silence. He grabbed another bottle of tequila and two glasses. She didn’t object, as they started upstairs.

“He isn’t coming. Not in that storm. Not tonight,” she said.

“He’ll be here when he can get here. Trust me. My guy knows what he’s doing,” Tarek bragged.

“Yeah, right,” she mumbled and then chuckled.

He glanced back at her and frowned. “What’s funny?”

“You’re the King of Lies. You know he’s not coming. But you got to talk tough to try to intimidate me. Haven’t you figured it out? I’m not scared of you.”

He paused. The man was so tall. And to Kassidy, it felt as if he grew several inches when she challenged him. He stepped in front of her. “So you’re brave now?”

“Yeah, I am,” she said.

“We’ll see.”

Tarek went inside the bedroom and Kassidy joined him. She closed the door. “What are you going to do about the feds investigating you?”

“I’m handling it.”

“You don't have much time.”

“I never have much time,” he countered.

She set the lantern down next to the bottle of tequila and two glasses. He was at the fireplace lighting up the room. This one was larger than the one downstairs, and it cast the darkness away in the glow of candlelight. Kassidy turned off the lanterns.

“What are you going to do to stop it?”

“That’s none of your business, pretty lady,” he said.

Kassidy sat on the Persian rug next to the fireplace. She watched Tarek with more curiosity than before. “So you were adopted?”

“Me too?”

He stood and stretched. He went to the dresser where he left his bottle and glasses. For the first time, she noticed he brought in a small bottle of hot sauce and a saltshaker.

“Is this another of your lies?”

“No. It’s the truth. I was adopted too.”

He paused for a brief moment. He let the comment go and studied her face. “How does your head feel, you still hurting from the accident?”

“My head doesn’t hurt because of the accident. That’s from you,” she reminded him.

“Okay, are you still in pain?” he asked.

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