She rolled her eyes and leaned back, putting her hands behind her on the rock, staring out at the sky once again. She remained quiet for a minute. Finally she looked at me, raising one eyebrow. "I suppose you think if you keep showing up where I am, eventually I'll fall in love with you."
An amused laugh bubbled up my throat, but I remained serious. Tenleigh constantly surprised me. And I loved it. I nodded. "Very probable."
Or worse, I'll fall in love with you.
She laughed softly, staring back out at the horizon. "I'm sorry to tell you, it won't happen. I've sworn off men."
I made a chuffing sound in the back of my throat. "That's what they all say."
She looked at me, amusement dancing in her eyes, lighting up her face. "Hmm, so how long do you figure I have before I succumb to your mesmerizing charms?"
I pretended to consider. "One of my conquests held out for three weeks once."
"Ah. She sounds like a tough cookie." She cocked an eyebrow and looked at me out of the corner of her eye. "How will you know when I've buckled?"
"It's a look, something in the eyes. I've come to know it well." I gave her my most obnoxious smirk.
She shook her head as if in exasperation, but the small smile remained on her lips.
I cleared my throat. This flirting needed to stop. "No, but really, I'm just making sure you don't require my bobcat-fighting skills. I kinda figure I owe you that, if anything."
She let out a breath and shook her head. "You don't owe me anything. I got myself fired from my job. It wasn't your fault I did what I did."
"Yeah, but you wouldn't have had to do what you did if I hadn't been stealing sandwiches for old drunks."
"Hmm," she hummed, "so then I expect this will be a regular thing? The bobcat protection service? I mean, until I throw myself at your feet and you cast me aside like all the rest of your victims . . . er, conquests?" she finally asked, raising an eyebrow teasingly again.
I shook my head. "Regular? No, no, definitely not. This is the last time I put myself in potential bobcat harm for you." I ran my hand through my hair. "It's just that I usually study at school as late as I can. I walk home about this time every night anyway. This was just a coincidence."
She tilted her head. "Oh, I see. Why do you stay at school to study?"
"It's not so lonely." I didn't know what made the words fall from my mouth. I didn't even realize I'd said them until they were out.
Tenleigh looked at me curiously. "Don't you live with your mama?"
"My mama's not much for conversation."
Tenleigh studied me for a moment. "Hmm . . . well, this really is the last time you'll be protecting me from a possible bobcat threat then. I'm only walking home this late because I was asking about a job at Al's."
"Al's? You're too young to work in a bar."
She shrugged. "Al doesn't seem to mind. My sister works there—he said I could pick up extra shifts. So see," she smiled at me, "you don't have to feel guilty about me getting fired. I've already got a new job. On-call anyway."
I scowled, something strange moving into my chest. Al's was a shithole—and a known pick-up place. Still, it was good she'd gotten a job. Around here, that wasn't easy to do. After a minute, she turned to me. "Quite a view, huh?"
I looked out to the sky. "Best seat in the house."
A look of peace came over Tenleigh's face as she gazed at me, her lips parted, and for just a second, I almost couldn't breathe. Did I think this girl was beautiful? I was wrong. She's stunning.
Some form of panic rose in my chest.
"So, I suppose you want to know my story?" she asked after a moment.
"What?" I asked, snapping back to reality. "No, I don't want to hear your story. I told you . . ."
"Right. You don't want to carry any useless information with you when you leave, but, see, I've got a really interesting one."
I raised one brow at her suspiciously. "There are no interesting stories in these parts, just weary, never-ending tales of tragedy and woe. And toothlessness."
She laughed a short laugh and shook her head, her light green eyes shining. Her skin was aglow in the sunset, glints of gold coming off her brunette hair. When she looked away, I allowed my eyes to roam to her breasts. My dick surged to life in my jeans and I shifted uncomfortably. "Not mine. And really, I shouldn't tell you this, but well . . ." She continued looking out at the horizon and I studied her profile. "In truth, Kyland, my father is a Russian Prince." She raised her eyebrows and looked around as if checking to make sure no one was around. "There's a squabble going on regarding my father's title, and land ownership." She waved her hand through the air. "It's all very complicated and involves all sorts of Russian aristocracy laws that you wouldn't understand, but in the meantime, my father is hiding us here where he believes we're safest until his estate has been settled." She leaned toward me. "I know my trailer looks humble, but it's all a ruse. Inside, although it's small, it's wall-to-wall luxury. And," her eyes widened, "it's where the royal family jewels are hidden." She winked at me and I burst out laughing. She was being ridiculous. And I loved it. How long had it been since I'd just been . . . silly? Her eyes widened as she took in my expression and then she grinned back.