Page 47 of Little Sunshine

Ouch.

“Actually no. Why?”

“Trying to mentally prepare.”

“Where’d it happen?” Again, I didn’t expect her to tell me, but when she rattled off an intersection, I texted it to Cole.

She tucked her hands under her face and fell silent again.

My cell vibrated with a response.

Cole: Only SafeCams in that area are broken or the lens has been sprayed out. What the fuck was she doing over there?

I had no idea, and it was unlikely she’d tell me.

Not the truth, at least.

Cole: I’m gonna drive over there, see if there’s anything.

I pocketed my phone and returned my focus to the curled-up bundle in the bed.

Neither of us spoke as I tried to pick my words, and Mila did her best to pretend I didn’t exist.

I needed to get her to accept a room at one of Maximo’s hotels without pissing her off. I just wouldn’t share that it would be in my penthouse.

Or that I’d be sleeping on the couch.

When I opened my mouth, my carefully chosen offer wasn’t what came out. “Stay at my house.”

It wasn’t my original plan, but I liked the idea a helluva lot better.

Maximo paid a shit-ton to keep his hotels heavily guarded by security. He’d upped that to a whole fucking shit-ton after a—now dead—bastard from Juliet’s past had managed to get his hands on her.

Mila would’ve been safe in any of the hotels. She would have access to the spa, room service, and all the other bells and whistles that went unused by me.

But they weren’t my house.

And that was where I wanted her.

When all she did was blink at me, I went on. “I got a decent-sized place. Food. TV. And a spare bedroom with a lock on it.”

Though I wish that lock was on the outside to keep you in. ’Cause I’m betting you’ll try to leave the first chance you get.

“I can take care of myself,” Mila said.

“Don’t doubt it.”

“And you’re a stranger.”

I held a hand out. “Ash Cooper. Nice to meet you.”

She didn’t take it. “Fine, you’re a stranger whose name I might know because you could’ve just made that up.” When I reached into my pocket to show her my license, she kept going. “And even if it is your name, I still don’t know anything about you.”

“This is true.”

Her brows rose like she was surprised I agreed. “So why the fuck would I stay with you?”

I let the language and the attitude slide.

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