He’d since been cleared of the crime he’d been framed for committing by two dirty cops who had killed another cop.

But still, not a good guy.

In my living room.

“I’m irate with you,” he announced.

Okay…

Did I run?

I mean, he didn’t have any henchmen with guns trained on me this time.

So that was good.

But he didn’t even say “Hi” before he told me he was irate with me.

And he was nefarious, what with having henchmen and kidnapping women and all. I didn’t know what he did to make a living, but I didn’t think it was running an animal shelter.

“Um…” I started when he said no more and also didn’t move. “Why are you irate with me?”

“Because I saw that first dance. And the second one. Also the last. And Axl Pantera saw that first dance. And the second one. Also the last. I also saw the man nearly come out of his skin, beating back the need to charge you on the dance floor, carry you to his Jeep, take you to his house, and tie you down until you swore you’d never leave him, and here I am.” He extended an arm out to indicate my place while I fought to catch my breath after what he said. “Alone in your house with you, after you visited that waste of a space you call a dad. And where is Pantera?”

He leaned toward me.

I didn’t move.

“Not here.”

“Uh…he has a girlfriend,” I shared, deciding to get into that and not the information he knew I’d just come from my father’s, which freaked me out.

“He’s seein’ a woman. There’s a big difference.”

“I’m not sure after all this time she’d define it as that.”

“All this time…what? A few weeks?”

“More like a few months.”

He shook his head. “You women have way too many scruples.”

Yup.

Nefarious.

I took a chance and stepped another step into the room because I was less afraid of doing that than taking one the other way.

“Can I ask…I mean, no offense, truly, but it’s a little weird…so can I ask why you’re here talking to me about this?”

“Because you’re my girl and I gotta whip you women into shape.”

Erm.

What?

“I’m your girl?” I whispered.

His brows shot up. “Didn’t Ryn tell you?”

“Uh—”

“Yeah, you’re avoiding your friends. What is up with that?”

Okay.

Now, how did he know that?

“How much do you know about me?” I queried.

And, yup.

Still whispering.

“I look after what’s mine.”

“I’m not really yours.”

“Well, see, this is how it goes.”

He stopped talking, took his feet from my beanbag and stood.

I went completely still.

He crossed his arms on his chest.