Page 37 of Kage

“It is.”

I swallowed hard, his vehemence boosting the terror. “I get it, Kage. I do. There’s just one problem with your analogy. I don’t have a phone any longer so no social media. There’s nothing here. The reception for the television is terrible. There’s no radio. I just wanted to take pictures of your handsome puppy. Aren’t you, boy? Such a good boy.”

“Now, you can tolerate him?”

“He’s a lot nicer than his owner.”

Kage huffed, narrowing his eyes as he’d done so many times, I’d already lost count. “You don’t need me to be nice, Juliette, and we aren’t friends.”

“Yeah, I don’t doubt that, but I don’t have anyone to talk to. You certainly have nothing to say. Tank’s not a bad conversationalist, but it’s a bit one-sided. You won’t allow me to even walk out into the fresh air and as I’d already said, there’s no entertainment. Maybe you like the deathly quiet, but I’m plotting ways of killing people. Short of that, I’m going to beat my head against a wall if I can’t do something creative. Even reading a book, which I’m certain you don’t understand. Plus, my knee is killing me. You wouldn’t happen to have any aspirin, would you? What do you do with your time anyway, sit in a loincloth and clean your weapons, sharpen your knives?”

I was completely out of line and I knew it, but all my anger just seemed to find an easy way of being directed at him.

Bad girl. Very bad.

Yet my lips tipped up in amusement, my head following shortly thereafter as I tried to stifle a nervous laugh. I was quirky that way. When I was nervous, I ran off at the mouth. And this man with all rough and tumble gruffness made me extremely nervous.

I expected to see fire in his eyes, but this time, they were unreadable. Then he did something that shocked the hell out of me, at least more than anything else he’d done.

He burst into laughter.

“It’s not funny and I’d appreciate if you didn’t make fun of me. I’m hungry. Okay? I get cranky when I’m hungry. While I appreciate the junk food, I really do, I haven’t had a decent meal in several days. Would it hurt if we went somewhere for dinner? I’ll take anything at this point. We can even stop and purchase a wig or a hat for me. And big sunglasses. I have money, well,not on me, but I’m good for it. I make a decent living. Well, I did anyway until I was fired, but that’s another story.” I took a breath and stared at him, wincing when I shifted from one foot to the other.

His grin had diminished. When he walked away, I was flabbergasted, opening my mouth twice to bark something hateful. But I couldn’t.

He returned a minute later with a water bottle in one hand.

“What’s that for?” I challenged.

“Open your hand.”

“Why?”

The way he narrowed his eyes brought a smile to my face. I opened my hand and he plopped two pills into my palm.

“Before you go thinking I’m trying to poison you, it’s Tylenol. I get headaches from time to time.”

“Thank you.” I half laughed before tossing the pills into my throat and taking a sip of water.

“Hopefully that will help.”

“You know, you only bought a tiny bag of dogfood for Tank. He’s a growing boy and he eats like a horse. So…” I allowed the words to fall off, tired of hearing myself beg. “I know. It’s ridiculous and unsafe to consider going out.”

Why was he so insufferable and why did he need to look so damn sexy? Even wearing military-style pants and a boring tee shirt, he looked hot. I turned slightly. The boredom was obviously getting to me.

“Get your tennis shoes.” His voice was just as gruff as before.

“Why?”

“Because I’m taking you to dinner. You’re right. We do need dog food and a few other supplies. A good meal wouldn’t hurt either one of us.”

I was so excited I almost jumped into his arms, coming close enough I touched him with one hand. Immediately curling my fingers, I backed away awkwardly.

“But on one condition.” He held up his index finger.

“What?”

“That you follow my instructions to the letter.”

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