Page 61 of Firecracker

Her lips twitched, the corners lifting. “Well. I guess you sort of made up for it with that compliment.”

“Are you pissed at us?”

“Yes. And no.” She pursed her lips. “I know Jamie’s worried about me. Because he’s my brother. So I get that he’s just looking out for me, and it’s nice that he cares. But you…” She met his eyes, hers wary. “I don’t get why you thinkyouhave to look out for me.”

“You don’t think I should care about you.”

Her eyelashes fluttered as she broke the connection and dropped her gaze. The air thickened around them. “It’s not true, you know.”

“What?”

“Not every guy in the place hits on me.”

One side of his mouth lifted. “Hard to believe.”

“And when they do, I can handle it.”

“I know you can. Don’t be mad. Because you know what?”

“What?”

“Liam would be watching out for you whether we asked him to or not. Because he’s your boss. And because he’s a good guy.”

She tipped her head to one side, meeting his eyes again. “You’re probably right.”

“I usually am.”

She huffed out a laugh. “But it still feels like you both think I’m some helpless little female. I know I was stupid about Michael, but I’ve handled it. I’m doing okay.”

Again, what did that mean? He didn’t really want to ask, so he said, “Jamie said your husband was an asshole.”

“Did he?” She wrinkled her nose. But she didn’t offer anything more.

Rain drizzled down outside and the wind had picked up, pelting water at Arden’s windows.

“Looks like we’re in for a storm.” Tyler nodded toward the windows.

“Yes. It was so muggy today.”

“Well.” Tyler stood, feeling like he was trying to drag himself away from a powerful magnet. “Just wanted to make sure you were okay. And apologize.”

“Thank you. I guess I’m just not used to having people around who look out for me.”

“Well, that fucking sucks.” If that was true then hell yeah, her husband had been an asshole, because wasn’t that what a husband was supposed to do?

She chuckled.

“Now you do,” he added. “Get used to it.”

She looked up at him, a little smile playing on her mouth. “Yes, sir.”

He rolled his eyes. “Okay, good night, Arden.”

“Night, Tyler.”

He crossed to his own apartment.

How hard was it going to be to sleep tonight, remembering Arden spinning around that pole? And not just thinking about those legs wrapped around him, or his hands on her breasts…but also wondering what had happened with her husband.

---