Vance didn’t respond.
I didn’t want to play the games Shard, Clarence and Jermaine had planned for me. I knew I’d be disappointing Tex but if something happened to me, who’d take care of Roam and Sniff? Who’d have dinner with Nick and drive him crazy occasionally? Who’d give it to Vance regularly?
I didn’t want to think of anyone (or multiple anyones) giving it to Vance regularly.
This meant I had to get off the street.
God dammit.
I looked up at Vance. “Shit,” I said.
His arms got tighter and he kissed my forehead but he still didn’t say anything.
There was something nice about that. He didn’t rub it in or make a big deal about it. He just let my decision… be.
Even though I was freaking out, I felt another pleasant whoosh in my belly.
“This sucks,” I told him. “Tex and I had fun tonight. He’s a great sidekick. We used up all our smoke bombs. He’s gonna be pissed we aren’t going out tomorrow night.”
“He’ll get over it,” Vance replied.
“I have seventeen rolls of plastic wrap. What am I going to do with seventeen rolls of plastic wrap? I never have leftovers. I don’t cook.”
Vance grinned at me. “Maybe Nick can use them,” he suggested.
“What am I going to do at night?” I went on. “I’m used to night-time action. I’m going to get bored. I can’t go from making an art of havoc to lying around reading a book. I’ll go nuts.”
His eyes got soft and sexy. “We’ll find some way to keep you busy.”
My belly fluttered.
Hmm.
“What if you’re working or out of town?”
“For the time being, I’ll work something out with Lee.”
“I don’t want you getting into trouble at work.”
His grin turned into a smile. “Maybe you don’t get it, Princess. Lee wants you f**ked up by Shard, Clarence and Jermaine only slightly less than I do. You got nothin’ to worry about.”
That caused a belly whoosh too, not as big as the other one but it was still nice.
“Crowe.”
“You got nothin’ to worry about,” he repeated.
“I don’t think –”
“Shut up, Jules.”
It was my turn for my brows to knit over narrowed eyes. “Seriously, for the last time, don’t tell me to shut up.”
Crowe ignored my attitude, stepped away from me and looked around the room.
“Why are we standin’ in the kitchen?” he asked.
I blinked at him, not keeping up. I thought we had begun to bicker. I kind of liked bickering with him. His question threw me.