Page 88 of Toxic Temptation
Luka barely speaks to me because he’s over the moon to be reunited with Vesper again. The two of them chatter nonstop during the drive to school, their easy rapport like a taunt in my face.
After I drop him off, the car falls silent. Vesper stares out the window, suspiciously quiet.
“Have you called your friend?” I ask. “The one with the stupid name?”
She whips around to glare at me. “Actually, yeah, I already spoke to him.”
“When?”
“When you were in the shower this morning. He’s not willing to accept the position until he meets you first.”
Unbelievable. This son of a bitch is already trying to call the shots. “Did you stress to him the need for discretion?”
“Of course. I explained about Luka and?—”
“What about us?” I interrupt. “What does he know about us?”
“I thought it would be simpler if we stuck to the party line.” She clears her throat. “As far as he’s concerned, you and I are dating.”
I have to suppress my smile. “Good. What did he think of that?”
She frowns. “I’ll admit, he wasn’t thrilled.”
I almost miss my turn. “Why not?”
“He’s always been protective of me.”
The words hit me wrong, all wrong. I don’t want this guy on my payroll, no matter how qualified he may or may not be. But I have to meet him. Have to see what I’m dealing with.
“Lunch today at twelve. Set it up.” I pull to a stop outside of St. Raphael’s.
“Today?”
“He doesn’t have a job, right? Surely he can make the time.”
Her face scrunches with uncertainty. She looks nervous now, like she’s gotten herself into something she’s not sure she wants to be part of. “Okay, I’ll set it up.”
“Good. I’ll make reservations at La Luna’s.”
“I’ll see you there.” She reaches for the door handle.
I hit the lock before she can escape. “You’re joining us?”
She yanks at the door handle like a frustrated child. “Oh my God, did you just actually lock me in?”
“Are you?”
She twists to face me, eyes blazing. “Yes, I will be. I made the suggestion, so I should be there to make the introduction.”
“Is that the only reason you want to be there?”
“No, as a matter of fact, it’s not. I want to be there to make sure you don’t read Waylen the riot act. I know how you are. He’s important to me and I won’t have you treating him like shit or trying to intimidate him the way you do everyone else who’s unfortunate enough to cross your path.” She folds her arms across her chest and fixes me with a feisty glare.
My blood pressure spikes. Part of me wants to tell her to cancel the damn appointment. I have no desire to meet her little boy toy if she’s going to be this defensive about him.
“He’s important to you, is he? And yet this is the first I’m hearing of him.”
“Maybe because I don’t share every aspect of my life with you, Kovan,” she says. “I mean, let’s face it: It’s not like we’re friends or anything. We’re not close. We don’t share each other’s confidences. You scratch my back and I scratch yours and that’s all. That’s the nature of our deal, remember?”
