He winced. “Asshole.”
Her eyes widened. Why was he calling her an asshole?
“Me. Not you,” he said gruffly. “I’d never let you fall.”
For some reason he felt obligated to take care of her. She had no idea why. But she hadn’t protested as much as she probably should have.
Yeah? Why is that, Millie? Because you actually want to be around this gruff, grumpy ass?
Maybe.
Sometimes she thought she was a glutton for punishment.
“Should have asked me to get the suitcase for you,” he scolded. “Don’t do that again.”
With soft fingers, he pushed back her hair off her face, gently prodding at the sore spot on her head from where she’d banged it into his earlier. “Needs ice.”
“I doubt it will even bruise. I’ve had far worse, don’t worry.”
He frowned but didn’t say anything.
“I’ll just, uhh, pack up my stuff.”
“This motel is crap. And it’s in a fucking bad area of town.”
“It is? The people all seem so nice around here, though. I admit it’s not the nicest place, but I got a good deal on it. I paid for it a week in advance without seeing it first.”
He just gave her an incredulous look. “When you said your neighbor was starting a taxi service . . .”
“Oh yes, Manuel. He lives a few rooms down. Such a nice man.”
Spike closed his eyes, his lips moving. He appeared to be counting. She had no idea why.
This time when she slid around him, he let her go.
And that was not disappointment she felt. It was not.
She moved around, shoving things into her suitcase while Spike picked up all the dog’s toys. He glanced into the small kitchen area. “You really like jerky, huh?”
“What?” Glancing over to where he was looking, she ran a hand tiredly down her face. “No, one of my neighbors gave it to me. I’m a vegetarian.”
“You didn’t tell him?”
She shrugged. “I have. He didn’t remember. And I didn’t want to hurt his feelings by refusing. Do you want some?”
He shook his head and picked up another bag, glancing in. “Uh, doll, what the hell is this?”
“Hmm?” She glanced over and froze. “That is not what it looks like.”
“No?”
“No. Honestly.”
“So it’s not counterfeit money.”
“Okay, it is what it looks like. But I’m not going to use it.”
Spike drew one note out, studying it. “What the fuck?”