Page 42 of Vicious Little Darling

“Really?” she spits at me, her tone harsh and she immediately starts dabbing the droplets away. “What the hell is wrong with you? Are you blind?”

“Shut the fuck up,” Xander growls before I can even respond with an apology. “She’s having a shitty day.” His voice is stone cold and it sends a shiver downmyspine. “I’m sure you can afford to replace that with another Nordstrom Rack find.”

The woman’s jaw drops, and before anything else can be said or done, Xander ushers me out of the coffeeshop, grunting as he swings the door open for me.

“You didn’t have to do that,” I say, peering up at him.

He gives me a terse smile. “She was about to be a total bitch to you. I know her type way to well.”

I nod, deciding not to press it. “Thanks for letting me stay with you,” I repeat again, like a shy idiot, while allowing myself to be fully immersed in the comforting feeling of someone protecting me instead of having to do it myself.

Xander gives me a smile, but stays quiet for the rest of the walk to his apartment. I trail behind in silence, trying not to focus on how good he looks in his black Levi’s. We walk another five blocks, until we reach a high-rise apartment complex…

I’mshockedwhen he heads for the front doors.

“Thisis where you live?” I choke out as we pass through the front doors.

He glances over his shoulder at me as the doorman calls out to him—something that I miss. “Yeah, this is it. I have the top floor.”

The penthouse is what you mean,I think, trying to hold back my utter embarrassment. God knows what he thought when he showed up at my shitty apartment. My shoulders fall as I step into the elevator beside Xander, and as I gaze up at him. I wonder just how much Idon’tknow about him.

“When my father was killed, I inherited the penthouse,” he says, as if he’s already reading my mind. “I was his only son.”

I nod. “Oh… I’m sorry for your—”

“Don’t be. My mom kept him out of my life for most of it. I didn’t know him all that well. I wound up moving in with my uncle, and that’s how I got to know who he was.”

I don’t know what to say, so I stupidly mutter, “Oh, I see.”

“I swear, I’m not some snobby rich prick.” Xander steps out of the elevator on the penthouse level and turns back to me. “Are you coming?”

“Yeah, sorry.” I scramble out of the elevator and follow him to the door. He punches in a code, and goes in. I follow him, soaking in the luxurious penthouse apartment. Given the sight of a spiral staircase, in the middle of the industrially decorated pad, I assume he’s actually gottwofloors. I sigh, trying not to let it bother me.

No wonder he invited me to stay. He hasallthe room he could ever need.

“You can take the spare room on this floor. I stay upstairs,” Xander continues, leading me through the deco living room, and down a hallway. He pushes open a bedroom door, to reveal an elegant, wrought-iron-canopied bedframe with a red velvet comforter.

“Wow,” I breathe out. “Okay. Thanks.”

He tosses my duffle bag onto the bed.

“Does this work for you? Do we need to go get more of your things from your apartment? I can have some guys—”

“No,” I cut him off, shaking my head. “You’re doing enough as it is. I can figure that out. What do I owe you for rent?”

He looks offended. “Uh… No?” He folds his arms across his chest and his face darkens slightly, sending a wave of arousal through my core. “You’re a guest. You stay for free. Don’t mention rent again. It’s an insult. You deserve a place here.”

My face flushes. “I’m sorry.”

“No, don’t apologize either.” He takes a step toward me, and I catch my breath as I smell his cologne. “I don’t mean to be harsh. I just want you to feel welcome here—that’s all.”

“Well, thank you,” I say, lost in his deep-green eyes for a few moments. I finally rip my gaze away from his, and step around him to the duffle bag.

He catches my arm, his grip making me shiver with excitement.

“I’m glad you’re here, Ember. Really.”

***

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