“You want me to let you live with me?”

I might as well have asked her to bring me a penguin and three dozen watermelons. I’d have gotten about the same response.

“There's a mutual benefit here,” I said. “I’m up for parole and I’ve got nowhere else to go. You get a live-in bodyguard and I get a happy parole officer. And it gives me a chance to figure out who’s coming after you.”

Her mouth opened, then snapped shut. She reminded me of a deer again, brown eyes wide, elegant nose twitching.

“I don't really see how that could possibly work,” she finally said. “I can't really afford a full-time bodyguard. And, I mean...I live...uh...”

“With a boyfriend?” I suggested. She shook her head, then immediately looked like she wished she could take it back.

“Look, I'd consider food and lodging as partial payment.”

Now, her eyes narrowed. “You seriously expect me to pay you?”

“My parole officer sure as hell will. He’ll be up my ass six ways to Sunday if I don’t have gainful employment.”

“And why the hell would I do that? What kind of bodyguard could you be anyway? It’s not like you have any training.”

“I’ve got the best training there is,” I smirked. “I've survived prison with everything intact.”

She made a noise in her throat that didn't mean anything to me.

“These muscles aren't just for show,” I said, tensing my arms to show how they rippled. Well, that got her eyes wide again. And her lips parting. And her chest moving up and down a little faster than it was before. Ah, the sweet signs of surrender.

“Besides,” I said, leaning forward, knowing she was circling the hook and getting ready to bite. “All those guys who won't talk to you? I think I can get them to talk to me.”

“What makes you think that?” she huffed. “I'm Millions' daughter. Who are you?”

“Someone's son, for one thing. No offense, beautiful, but those guys have some very old-fashioned opinions about what people carry between their legs. And besides, I've got friends on the outside.”

That wasn’t entirely a lie, but it was close.

“Friends who're still active in the scene. The scene you need to be privy to. I can talk the talk and walk the walk. I could be the answer to your prayers.”

“Could be,” she pointed out. “Why the hell would any woman open her home to a con? A stranger?”

“I’m not just any old stranger, sweetheart. You’re here because your old man trusted me,” I said. She flinched. So that was a sweet spot. I'd have to remember that.

“But you've been inside for four years,” she said, sounding less sure. “How do I know you're the same man my father trusted?”

“Well, I guess you don't know that,” I said. “But you also don't know who's threatening you, and your best hope of finding out is sitting right in front of you. I need a bed, a job. Three squares. No funny business. I'll get you out of this whole shit storm in one piece.”

It was a promise I wasn't in the position to make, but she was getting closer. The worm on the end of the line was hypnotizing her. She was opening wide and -

“Fine,” she hissed. Chomped down. “I’ll give you three days. You have three days to prove to me that you're worth this. Once you get out, I mean. And once this whole matter is resolved, you have to find other arrangements. And no drawing this out just to keep yourself employed. And...”

“Why don't you draw up a contract,” I said, glancing at the clock. We were out of time. “If you’re gonna start making demands, lay it all out for me sweetheart.”

“Stop calling me that,” she said.

“Misty-Lee,” I said.

“And that. Just Misty.”

“Misty,” I gave the appearance of caving. Rising, my chair scraped the linoleum and drew some attention. Mostly, hers. She looked up at me with those big, beautiful eyes. One lip under the other, falling prey to her teeth. Her chin sharp but her hair soft. “One last thing.”

She quirked an eyebrow.

“That hug...?”

Now, she grinned. And even laughed a little bit.

“You're not getting the deluxe package,” she said, shaking her head. “Know your budget, and stick to it.”

“And how much would hugs cost me?”

“More than you have in your commissary.”

I had to smile. She was cute when she was feisty. I couldn't tell which of her I liked better. Doe-eyed or shark-toothed. Either way, the buzzer told us it was time to get going, pulling us our separate ways.

“I'll call you with my release date,” I said.

She bit at her cheek now, but she nodded. I filed into the line of cons going back to their bunks, leaving crying kids and wailing lovers behind. Me? I didn't know what I was leaving behind. My new boss, I guess. And my new landlord. And the girl I'd just sworn to protect.

So much for adjusting to life outside of prison. I was gonna have my hands full just adjusting to being around her all the time.