een a pain in my ass ever since she cut off all the hair on my Barbies. She was only three, and I was too old for Barbies, but they were mine. Couldn't

ring as I searched my purse, finally finding my checkbook. But of course, I still had

eck, and then I looked up at Steel. "Alright, how much does she owe you?" I asked, feeling quite

ing a scary expression. Instead, he was looking at me like he

he entirety of him - the hair, tattoos, and that sculpted body. All I craved w

snapped im

casually, causing my jaw to drop in utter shock. His quick flash of a white smile, framed by the dar

mured, feeling com

when he glanced down at my checkbook. "Think yo

the situation feeling alm

ut I instinctively took a step back, closed my lips tight

two million dollars?" I

l replied n

?" I repeated, just to ma

Steel c

ting mistake?" I asked, trying

inst his tanned skin. Then he crossed his imposing, ta

ike pesos?" I suggested, trying to come up with a

ting any hope of it being

of money," I informed

hat," he responded, complimenting my jacket

em to turn him off. However, the grim reality remain

kind of cash," I explained, and then added

said, still grinning so widely that if he b

ping shut my checkbook, and stuffing both back

there's a specific reason for it, and that reason

h you and shares makeup secrets? Or how about a sister who stumbles upon a great sale and immediately calls you to let you in on it? And even better, she scours the racks, stashing great deals that she knows would look hot on you, so you get the chance to grab them before anyone else does.

ered, and I could almost see the concern etched on his face as

to pawn it to buy pot. And let's not forget how she got drunk and stuck her hand down my boyfriend's pants during Thanksgiving dinner. He was a straight-laced guy, went to church and all, but after Payton's antics – and that hand down the pants was just the cli

immediately swung toward him, realizing

ck and snapped out

eck, pulling me closer as he leaned

vating blue eyes, and strangely enough, his

barely above a whisper, my body

a smile, and yet anothe

running through my body. His fingers tightened slightly, and something in his eyes shift

as time to

o, um, can I just leave my sister to deal with this?" I asked politely, eager to es

rm you because of Pay

d, feeling reass

e, for that ma

initely didn't want anyone causing harm to me, whether it's because of Pay

ly so I was almost on my toes, and his face came closer

speaking softly. "If this Payton situation escalates, and you com

ping two million dollars, and let me tell you, there weren't many things that cou

t you,' then no, I don't get you," I answered him honestly be

f in a tricky situation, just mention my name. That means protect

ng to comprehend it all. "But why would

walked in here with no clue about any of it. So don't blunder into another situation, because o

ful that I didn't follow my initial plan of calling my father or hopping on

replied, flashing a grin b

was getting

you?" I press

o your rescue, and we'll discuss the de

to muster confidence and saying a short praye

grew ev

uched me and I wasn't entirely sure how I'd react if he did so again. One thing was certain - I had a strong inkling that jumping his bones would be high up on the list of possibilities. I also realized that he could e

ped it open, pressed some buttons, and then closed it before placing i

use it. And even if you don't need it, but still want to

lder and nodded in agreement. I under

, I managed to whisper, "N

" I turned to find Tank grinning

like he'd genuinely see me again later, which i

m smiling, I couldn't help but find this scarier than their usual

simple "Later, darlin'," I wasted no ti