Page 10 of Sparks Will Fly

Her face scrunched up as she covered her arms over her chest.

“Ugh, no. I have asthma, asshole.”

I grunted but opted to put the joint out as to not disturb her respiratory system. Leaning forward, I placed my arms on my knees and watched her intently. Her eyes could hardly stay still as she took in my home.

“Are you hungry? I brought you some food.”

Her attention snapped back to my face.

“What kind of kidnapper are you?”

I chuckled. “I’m not a kidnapper. I needed to talk to you, and you were passed out in your car from all the ruckus you were causing at my place of business. Believe it or not, I don’t have it out for you, Trouble.”

Before she could respond, her stomach growled loudly. A wide grin spread across my face.

“You are hungry.”

I didn’t wait for her to confirm or deny as I moved to the kitchen to warm up her food. I don’t know how long she stood in place before following me. She stood near the entryway looking as uncomfortable as before. Despite her nasty attitude, there was something about Lovie I trusted. I had no worries about her grabbing a knife and stabbing me in the back for some reason, even though every encounter we’d had told me she was very capable of doing so. Once the food was warm, I placed the plate in front of a bar chair.

Pointing to it I said, “Sit and eat.”

“You’re crazy.” She laughed while looking around again as if at any moment cameras and a crew were going to appear. “Like, are you some kind of weird axe murderer? Do you have girls tied up in your basement?”

I shrugged. “Not unless they want to be.” All the color drained from her face sending me into a fit of laughter. “I’m just joking. Relax.”

Even from where I stood, I heard her stomach growling again.

“Your food is getting cold, Trouble,” I teased while inching the plate a little closer to where she still stood rigid as a statute.

Her nostrils flared before her arms crossed over her chest.

“What did I tell you about calling me that?”

I shrugged. “I don’t remember, and I don’t care, Trouble.” Her body tensed so I chilled on my teasing. “Just come eat your food and relax. Everything is all good. I promise.”

Eventually, she tossed her arms in the air. “Oh well, if it’s poisoned, it smells amazing, and I’m hungry as fuck. If I die, I die.”

“Which you won’t. I don’t want to harm you,” I informed her. “The food is from Aria’s.”

I pressed my weight into the opposite counter to give her some space to enjoy her food in peace. She ate like a homeless person who hadn’t been lucky enough to have a meal in days.

“Got damn, little lady. Maybe I should’ve gotten you two dinners.”

“Ha, ha,” she said in a flat tone before flipping me off.

“You love doing that. Let me find out what you really want is some dick.”

She paused her eating to pin me in place with a death stare.

“You wish.” She rolled her eyes then went back to stuffing her face. “You got anything to drink up in here? I’m a little thirsty too.”

Going into the fridge, I pulled out another soda for her.

“Hm, never had this before. What does it taste like?”

I shrugged. “Taste it and find out.”

She gave me that pensive stare again, but she did as I said. The expression on her face said she liked it even if she wouldn’t openly admit the words.

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