As I looked over the menu, I took notice of Cassandra staring at me from under her eyelashes. She probably thought she was being subtle, but it was obvious she was checking me out. I smirked, feeling my ego inflate. She could try and deny me all she wanted, but it was clear that deep down, she wanted me.

This could definitely work to my advantage.

“What are you getting?” I asked, my voice deep and husky. At the sound of my drawl, she tensed up ever so slightly, her cheeks turning a soft shade of pink. It was cute.

“Um…”

“Cat got your tongue?” I tilted my head, feigning innocence as I grabbed her hand, squeezing it gently.

Her fingers twitched for a moment, as if yearning to lock with mine, before she hastily pulled away, her eyes narrowing. “What the hell are you doing?”

“Your hands looked cold. Thought I would warm them for you.”

“Well, they aren’t,” she snapped.

“No need to be so feisty.”

“Just keep your hands to yourself.”

I chuckled. “Are you sure that’s what you want, Cassandra?”

She bit the inside of her lip. God, she was sexy. At that moment, all I wanted to do was jump across the table and pounce on her. I’d do her right there in the booth if I needed to – tangle my fingers in her hair – tug on it until her back arched – and make her scream. I could almost hear those sweet, sweet sounds of lust even now. In reaction, my cock came to life inside my pants, straining against my jeans.

Just then, the waitress arrived. “What can I get for you?” she asked, looking at me with bedroom eyes.

I flashed her a charming smile. “How about your number?”

She giggled. “Oh…”

Cassandra turned bright red. “Shut up. We’ll have two rodeo burgers. Make them meals.”

The girl frowned, scribbled something down on her notepad, and quickly placed it in my hand before scurrying away.

“Seems like I still got it,” I boasted, lifting the collar of my jacket, acting like I was on the set of a Greaser movie.

“You’re a pig, you know that?”

“Ladies seem to like it.”

“Well, I don’t,” she said, snatching the paper out of my hand and tearing it to pieces.

“Is that why you’re getting so jealous right now?”

“I’m not getting jealous.” Her cheeks turned a shade darker. “What the hell are you talking about?”

I just smiled knowingly, which seemed to piss her off even more.

We didn’t speak as we waited for our food, but it was obvious that Cassandra was seething. She kept fidgeting in her seat and picking at the faux leather of the booth.

Eventually, our meals arrived. I winked at the waitress, much to Cassandra’s irritation. It was so much fun to tease her like this.

Maybe being a VanGuard prisoner wouldn’t be such a bad thing after all.

* * *

“Now, before we go inside, we need to lay down some ground rules,” Cassandra started. “I’ve agreed to let you stay in my home for the duration of your training. But if you do anything to damage my property, I’ll make you regret it. Also, I have a four-year-old daughter named Kimmy. You hurt her, and I won’t hesitate to kill you. Got that?”

“A daughter, huh?” I asked. Great, now I had to deal with some bratty, snot-nosed little kid. That was exactly what I wanted.

“Yes.”

“I’m surprised.”

“Why?”

“You look young.”

“I am.”

“Where’s the father?”

“Doesn’t matter. I’m not having this conversation with you,” she said, slipping out of the car just as soon as she was done.

I sighed, following after her, my hands in my pockets as I waited for her to open the door.

Clank.

Her keys fell to the ground.

Instinctually, I bent down to pick them up. Our heads collided together. I reached forward and grabbed her, cradling her to my chest to break her fall. She landed on top of me, our faces inches apart. For a moment, our eyes were locked together. I could feel the beating of her heart and the heat rolling from her cheeks. In that brief second, it was as if the world had stopped. We were the only two people left, our histories erased and our future unwritten.

But before anything could happen, the door flew open. “Mommy!” a high-pitched voice cried out. The little girl was about to rush forward when she stopped in her tracks, tilting her head in confusion. “Mommy?”

Quickly, Cassandra scrambled to her feet. “Hey, pumpkin.”

“Who’s that, Mommy?” she asked, pointing to me.

Cassandra looked back at me, her chest heaving as she took a deep breath. “He’s a… friend. He’ll be staying here for a little while, alright?”

“You mean, like a slumber party?” she asked in a fit of giggles. Suddenly, she dashed toward me, grabbed my hand, and hoisted me to my feet. “Come on, mister!” She dragged me into the house.

I stumbled after her, surprised by her strength. She seemed to take after her mother.

As Kimmy held me hostage in her bedroom, making me sit down at the tea party table, I could hear Cassandra talking to the babysitter, trying to get rid of her. I assumed she didn’t like the fact that I was alone with her daughter.

“What’s your name?” Kimmy asked, placing a crown on the top of my head.

“Emil.”

“Emil,” she repeated in her cute little voice. “I like you.”

“Thank you.” I smiled. “Can you convince your mommy to do the same?”

“Mommy doesn’t like you?” she asked, tilting her head, her pigtails flopping around.

“Nope.”

“Why?”

“Erm.” I didn’t really know how to answer her. It’s not like I could tell her the truth. “I don’t know.”

“Did you try asking her?”

“No.”

“Ask her!” she exclaimed. “But first, we need to have a tea party!” She handed me a tiny pink cup and filled it with a bit of water.

Playing along, I lifted my pinky and took a tiny sip.

Just then, Cassandra walked in. “What the hell are you doing?”