“That doesn’t shock me,” he muttered, looking at the computer screen. A scoff flew from my lips and I anchored my hand to my hip.
“Rude.”
“Honest.” He stood up and walked around so that he was in front of me. He was close enough for me to smell faint hints of his expensive cologne but far enough so that I couldn’t reach out and touch him. “I’ll show you how to do a budget. Meet me in the den after Frankie goes to bed. We’ll work through your finances.”
“You’ll help me?”
“Yes. You have my word.” He shook my hand and everything. Our gazes tangled while our palms were pressed together and I felt a surge of something spiky and warm flash through me, buzzing beneath my skin. I was grateful that his phone rang because it gave me a moment to examine the pulse of electricity I got from him. Normally, I got that feeling in my pussy when I wanted to fuck someone but Freeman wasn’t my type and I felt that pulse all over my body.
I was probably excited to work on a budget that I could stick to. I wanted to show Navy and my parents I knew how to be responsible even when it didn’t pertain to playing the harp.
I might have been a royal fuck up when it came to adulting but when it came to my music? I was a drill sergeant. I practiced for nearly ten hours a day sometimes. I practiced until my fingers cramped and ached and my fingertips were flaky and dry from plucking strings.
That’s why the job as Frankie’s nanny was perfect. She was in school for six hours and I could use every hour of that time to practice, then I’d take a break when she got home and pick up again after she went to bed. No matter what, I was going to get my practice hours in.
“I have to get this call. It’s my father.” Mr. Freeman’s attitude when from mellow to uptight again in a matter of seconds. So he didn’t like his father. I wondered what kind of asshole he was? Seemed like he created a pretty anal child, so he was probably overbearing as fuck.
“Okay. I’ll see you this evening and I’ll make sure to have Frankie check in with you when she gets out of school. She told me about that little rule,” I said, holding my finger in the air.
“Good,” he said, holding the phone to his ear. Damn. That smile was killer.
“Hey, wanna grab lunch?” Navy caught me as I came out of Mr. Freeman’s office. I glanced at the giant redwood tree of a man posted outside the door then at my sister.
“Nah, I have to go home and get a practice session in before I have to have Sunshine moved to Mr. Freeman’s house.”
“The harp?” Navy chuckled. “You always talk about that thing like it’s your child.”
“Because she is. Now, I need to get in some hours. Why don’t you ask the giant rock sculpture right here?” I turned to face him and his hazel gaze met mine. He’d definitely killed a few people in his life. Maybe more than a few. “Hey, what’s your name?” I quizzed.
“Xari, he’s on duty he can’t…”
“Girl, please. He can tell me his name. What’s your name?” I asked again, this time putting a hand on my hip.
“Name’s Apollo, Miss Lucas.” He nodded at me and made an expression that I assumed was supposed to be a smile.
“Ooh, I like that. It’s sexy.” When I giggled, Navy rolled her eyes but Apollo cracked another attempt at a smile. He was sexy in a rugged killer kind of way. Not my style though. He was too hard. I only liked that kind of harshness in the bedroom. “So, Apollo, I know you’re on duty but you have to get a lunch break, right?” I batted my lashes at him and he regarded me with an expression made of granite. I knew how to work my way around stubborn men though. I didn’t spend years wrapping Daddy around my finger for sport. I was a pro at that shit.
“Yes,” he said, stiffening his shoulders. His suit wasn’t tailored like Mr. Freeman’s but he still wore it as nicely as you could wear an off-the-rack suit.
“So you get to leave and all that good stuff?” My eyes darted between Apollo and Navy. They obviously liked each other and it was fucking adorable.
“Yes.”
“Good. Then you can take Navy out for lunch.” When I smiled at him, I saw a crack in his guard. I had that effect on men.
“She wants your company. Not mine, ma’am.”
“Oh, she wants your company, Apollo. Trust me. I know her. I grew up with her. I know all about how she acts when she wants something and…”
“Xari!” Navy hissed then grabbed my arm and tugged me over to her desk. “Can you not?”
“What? I’m trying to hook you up. He’s cute in a gruff kind of way. Like he’d defend your honor and shit.”
“Stop it.” Her cheeks turned a soft shade of crimson that made my smile blossom even more. “Oh god, you’re doing the dimples thing. I hate the dimples thing, Xari.”
“Go out with him, Navy. Just for lunch. You can even make me out to be the pushy, bratty sister who forced you to.”
“And that’s different from reality, how?”
“Yeah, yeah. Whatever. You’re not going to deflect from the fact that you like this man and I totally get why.”
“You don’t know anything, Xari. Cut it out.”
“You like the take-charge kind of guy, right?” I sat on her desk and crossed my legs. “Because you’re the oldest sibling and god knows you had your hands full with me as your sister. So you want to be the one who’s controlled sometimes.” The revelation made me burst with excitement.
“Okay, Xari. You can stop psychoanalyzing me now.”
“Why? It’s fun. I feel like I cracked a code. Navy likes being controlled. Ooh.” I wiggled my fingers at her and she sighed, staring up at the ceiling like she needed a personal meeting with God.
“Why don’t you go play your harp?”
“I’m leaving just give me a minute.” I hopped off her desk and made my way back to Apollo. “Ask her out,” I said, poking his chest. “At least for lunch. If you don’t, I’m going to bother you every chance I get, and trust me, I can be super annoying.”
“I’ve gathered.” He stood up fully and tilted his head down to look at me. “Don’t make it a habit of bothering me with civilian problems when I’m on duty.”
“I’ll make my habits as I please, Apollo. Now, go ask my sister out. Go.” I shooed him in her direction and he ambled over begrudgingly while trying not to glare at me.
“Would you like to grab lunch, Navy?” I wondered if she could tell his voice thawed about a half-degree when he spoke to her? I heard it.
“Um, sure, Apollo. I’m sorry my sister is crazy.”
Good. She used me as the common ground.
“Understatement.”
“I know a restaurant down the block if you like Chinese food.” Navy’s smile was so gorgeous. Seemed like Apollo noticed too.
“Sure.” His conversational skills needed work. Bad.
I made a mental note to help him out when he wasn’t on duty.
…
When I got back to my apartment, I lit candles and pulled in a deeply relaxing breath before sitting in front of my harp. My hands tingled and throbbed from my proximity to Sunshine. I sank my fingers into the strings and plucked out the scales going up then back down over and over until my body hummed and the fine hairs on my arm stood on end.