“No. I have more important matters to take care of. Would I want to behead someone while I’m at it? Yes,” she says with a crooked smile. “But only you.”

“I’m still special.”

“Laugh all you want, Miller,” she encourages me. “If I were you, I’d be careful. I’m going to squash you.”

“I’ll enjoy watching you try,” I retort, crossing my arms and leaning closer to her balcony. “Just don’t forget to pencil in between crushing and stabbing, dinner at my parents.”

“So,” she says, waving her hand toward my apartment, “aren’t we a little too old to continue lying to your parents, Milo?”

She uses my childhood nickname in her snarkiest tone, and instead of upsetting me, it turns me on. God, no wonder I haven’t been with anyone in such a long time. This woman literarily owns me. One word and I’m hard as granite.

This little, five foot nothing beauty owns all of me.

Claire rises from her seat and walks closer to me. “May I suggest that you man up. Why don’t you start by telling them how much you hate their nickname and end with how much you hate women?”

“Is that what you think? That I lie about you because I’m a womanizer.”

“Do you have a better reason?”

“You’d be surprised,” I offer. “Why don’t you stick around and find out?”

She looks at her wrist, pretending she has a watch and turns to look at me. “I’ve been in town for less than twelve hours, and so far, I’m not amused.”

“Stick around, Princess,” I suggest. “You’ll be shocked.”

“Once an asshole, always an asshole,” she says in a singing tone.

“But, Clarice, I thought we were past that.”

“So I take it you’re still sucking people’s souls for a living?”

I study the small wall between us. It’d be so easy to jump it.

All I want to do is kiss her senseless until she begs me to fuck her. Since I don’t want to spend the night in jail for trespassing or be the victim of a homicide, I storm back into my apartment.

What the fuck am I supposed to do now?

Thirty-Two

Miller

I couldn’t sleep last night.

How could I? Claire Solis is back in town.

Not just back in town, she’s living right next door. So close, and yet, so far. After the gym, I take a shower and get ready for work.

Today is going to be better, I tell myself. Maybe if I’m lucky, Claire is back in town and looking for a job. We’re going to have to compromise. I know what she’s capable of. Also, that she’s volatile. I need employees I can rely on.

If that’s the case, why would that Danielle chick follow her?