Night Falls on the Wicked - By Sharie Kohler Page 0,56
the recriminations she would see there. She’d made a promise on his behalf. He didn’t need to say anything for her to know that he didn’t approve or appreciate the fact.
The suite Niklas procured for them was far more elegant than anywhere she’d ever stayed. On her wages it wasn’t even a consideration.
“Why don’t I order room service?” he asked after Darby tucked Aimee into bed in the second room. She closed the door quietly behind her and joined him in the lounging area, marveling how sitting in a car for hours could make her feel so weary.
She nodded. “Sounds good.”
He scanned the menu. “Burgers okay?”
She nodded, flipping on the television, eager to do something—anything to occupy her hands. Anywhere to stare but at him. Hours in the car and he’d barely spoken two words to her.
She’d flipped through countless channels when he finally asked, “Are you going to settle on anything? You’ve passed every channel at least three times.”
She lowered the remote to the sofa and shot him a glance. It was all he needed to begin.
“Don’t speak for me again.”
She knew instantly what he was referring to—knew why his jaw was set with tension. She’d pissed him off with that promise to Aimee.
“Would you rather I had not reassured her? Would you prefer I’d let her panic in the backseat of the car? I’m sure it would be an easy thing to travel with a hysterical child on our hands.”
“Make all the promises you want, just leave me out of it.”
She clenched her hands at her sides. “You can’t just pretend … you can’t just—just …” She waved her hands, fighting for words to express her frustration with him.
He arched a dark eyebrow.
She blew out a heavy breath. “You can’t just disengage from us. You can’t act like we’re not here.”
He looked her up and down, his gaze blistering. “Oh, I’m very aware that you are around. And the child—”
“Aimee!” She shoved to her feet and stamped her foot down. “You can’t keep pretending that—”
He rose and moved on her in a blur of movement, his arm seizing hold of her arm and reminding her immediately of who she was dealing with. “Stop telling me what I can’t do. You’re here because I agreed to bring you along. I haven’t had to answer to anyone since I was sixteen. I’m not about to start now.”
“Fine,” she bit out, twisting her arm free of his searing fingers but holding her ground—not backing down from his looming nearness. “Keep being an asshole,” she blurted. The moment the words were out, she gasped at her boldness.
His lips quirked, which only made her angrier.
She pulled back her shoulders. “I don’t like you very much.”
He shrugged. “Why should you?”
“Don’t mock me,” she snapped.
“Who’s mocking? We’re not friends here. We’re united in purpose. We have one mission here and once that’s finished, we’ll go our separate ways.”
She shook her head. Her anger was still there, but buried beneath it was hurt, too. “Can’t wait,” she replied, giving each word a smack of decided relish.
He pressed his lips into a thin line. She felt a surge of satisfaction that he didn’t look quite so ready to smile anymore.
An uneasy silence fell between them. She glanced around the room, sliding her palms along the thighs of her jeans. Finally, when she couldn’t handle the tension anymore, she said, “I’m going to see if I can find an ice machine and soda. You want anything?”
She held her breath, forcing herself not to flinch beneath his regard, all the while fighting the memory of them together. Now, alone, Aimee no longer a comforting shield, she couldn’t fight it. That kiss was there, a boulder in the room she couldn’t ignore. And not just the kiss, but also that dream of them together. Yes, a dream. She had decided it had to be a dream. No way could it have been a vision. No way would his icy reserve thaw so that he took her to bed.
He stared at her coolly before shaking his head. “Thanks. I’m fine.”
With a single nod, she grabbed one of the extra key cards and left the room.
She instantly breathed easier free of his proximity. Her steps fell silently down the carpeted corridor. As she passed one room, a man and woman’s laughter floated on the air. For some reason, the sound made her feel only worse.
She didn’t want to fight with Niklas. She wanted him the way he was before he knew what