Page 3 of Midnight Mate
“They understand.”
Silence fell.
“You’re more than welcome to stay with us,” she said for the hundredth time.
“I’ve already got a room booked in town.”
Disappointment flickered across her tired features. I took another swig of beer.
“Right. Well, I can pick you up and drive you in the morning. So you don’t have to figure it all out right away.”
“I’ve got my truck, thanks.”
“Suit yourself.” She turned away to stir the chili.
My stomach growled loud enough for her human ears to hear it.
“I was going to wait for your father, but it’s ready,” she offered reluctantly.
My words held no such hesitation. “Let’s eat.”
2
Cat
Iflung the shower curtain aside, shivering, and yanked the towel off the rack. My chattering teeth made it hard to mutter the curses running through my mind, but I was a pro. “. . . Bullshit water tank. I pay enough to damn well deserve a God damn hot shower—”
“Tell me how you really feel.”
I shrieked and almost lost the towel.
“Rudy, what the hell did I tell you about sneaking up on me?” I demanded.
“I didn’t sneak. The door’s wide open, and I’m standing in the mother-loving hallway in plain sight.”
Where Rudy was hesitant to spew profanity, I made up for it in spades.
“I’m too damn cold to see that far.”
He gaped at me. “Is that the explanation you want to go with here? That your body temperature has negatively impacted your eyesight?”
“Do you really want to argue with a woman with frigid nipples?” I shot back.
I watched as Rudy’s gaze dipped to my towel-covered chest. As expected, there wasn’t a single flicker of interest beyond mild curiosity—and maybe an attempt to rile me further.
He wiggled his eyebrows. “Prove it.”
“Perv.” I shoved past him to my bedroom.
He followed, as expected, because Rudy wasn’t a quitter. Not even when it came to pointless conversations. Especially then.
“Look, I told you I called the landlord about the water heater. What else do you want from me?”
I whirled to face him, one hand on my doorknob. “For starters, privacy.”
Then, I shut the door in his face.
“Real classy, Cat.”
