Page 35 of Ruthless Creatures
“So I thought about what you said. Last night.” I clear my throat. “You know.”
His voice goes husky. “I do. And?”
“And…” I take a breath, gather my courage, and meet his eyes.
“I’m flattered. You’re probably the most attractive man I’ve ever met. But I haven’t been with anyone since my fiancé, and I’m in a weird headspace right now, and I don’t think a fling with a hot stranger would be good for me. Fun and amazing, but ultimately not good for me.”
We stare at each other. He looks serious and intense, his dark eyes locked onto mine.
Just when I’m afraid I’ll burst into hysterical laughter from sheer stress, he murmurs, “Okay. I respect that. Thank you for being honest with me.”
Why am I sweating? What’s happening with my heart? Am I having some kind of medical emergency?
Wiping my sweaty palms on the front of my jeans, I say, “So we’ll just be neighbors, then.”
He draws a breath, rakes a hand through his hair, and glances toward his house. “Not for long. The house will go on the market in the next few weeks.”
Why that should make me feel so deflated, I’m not sure. After all, you can’t get your money laundered if you don’t sell the real estate you’re trying to launder it through.
I’ll think about why that knowledge doesn’t bother me later.
“I’m out of here tonight, anyway.”
“Tonight? What about your job?”
He meets my eyes. In his own I see heat, darkness, and too many secrets to count.
“Job’s done.”
“Oh.” If I get any more deflated, I’ll be a flat tire. “I guess this is goodbye, then.”
“Guess so.”
I stick out my hand. “It was very interesting to meet you, Kage.”
He gazes at my hand for a moment, his lips curving into a smile. Then he takes my hand, chuckling to himself. “You keep saying that word.”
“It fits.”
“Fair enough. It was interesting to meet you, too, Nat. You take care of yourself.”
“I will, thanks.”
He pauses for a beat, then says, “Hold on.”
He pulls a pen from an inside pocket of his leather jacket, abusiness card from another pocket. Flipping over the card, he writes something on the back, then hands it to me.
“My number. Just in case.”
“In case of what?”
“In case of anything. In case your roof leaks. In case your car breaks down. In case Deputy Dipshit tries to kiss you again and needs his ass beat.”
Trying not to smile, I say, “You can handle a leaky roof, huh?”
“I can handle anything.”
He’s very serious when he says that, serious and a little melancholy, as if his strength is a burden he bears.
