“Meaning you are.”
“How did you figure that out?”
“You’re loyal and you obey orders.”
“You were a soldier.”
“Yeah, and when I stopped obeying, they tossed me in Club Pervert because I’m a cat.”
“What kind of cat?”
She smirked. “Siamese.”
“Does that mean you yowl if I tug on your tail?”
Her eyes flared. “Um, no.”
I almost started snickering, but I saw I’d shocked her.
Damn, she was edgy. And I loved it. There was no relaxing around her when she was in a mood, which was clearly our current issue.
“What dog am I?”
“Maybe an Australian Shepherd.”
Shoving a hand through my hair, I chuckled. “Random.”
“Nah. I grew up with one. They’re the best. Smartest breed around, hear anything, keep a watch on everything, playful, pretty… What about that isn’t you?”
I pondered the description. “I think I’ll take that. Also, you thought about it,” I teased. “I’m touched.”
She glowered at her coffee. “Katina asked me once.”
“Katina did. Right.”
“She did! She’s at that age where she asks stupid shit. We’re almost past that point.” She crossed her fingers. “I preferred it when she wanted to know why Link and Lily ‘slept’ so much—”
“Because they were in bed all the time?” I shot her a mocking wink. “That’s whatOldMen andOldLadies do?”
She scrunched up her nose at my play on words. “I’m honest but I’m not that honest. I wasn’t going to tell her that they were fucking like rabbits. It was easier to say they’re very sleepy.” Her gaze drifted to my temple. “The bruise is better.”
“Almost gone. Spent the night in the hospital for that one. As for the other, I was out for the count for almost a whole day.”
“Wow, Maverick really decked you, huh?”
Deciding not to incite more ire for Temper Black after hearing a soliloquy about that already this evening, I merely grumbled, “He did.”
“I’m kind of glad. I know she’s in safe hands.”
“Yeah, so safe that she managed to run away from them!”
Star shrugged. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m furious and I’ll make him regret the day his mother gave birth to him, but she’s a smart kid. You can’t keep her somewhere she doesn’t want to stay. She needed to talk to you, so she made it happen, and look, you didn’t let her down, did you?”
Well, there was no arguing with that. “I guess I didn’t.”
Returning the mug to the table, she started dosing a croissant with jam. I watched her move the pastry to her mouth, trying not to be enchanted by the sight of her licking her lips when some of the preserve collected at the corner, definitely trying not to groan when she sighed with appreciation.
“You still haven’t told me about BDSec,” I complained because it was either that or kiss her, and I didn’t think she was ready for that.