Page 22 of Crow Me A River

Vin was truly enjoying this conversation. Not only was she beautiful, but she was also intelligent and funny. “No girlfriend.”

Misty looked at him again, and for a second neither of them said anything. Her eyes dropped from his, then quickly went straight ahead. Vin had no idea what the hell was happening between them, but there was definitely something.

Seeing the small rental through the trees, Vin nodded toward it. “That’s it.”

Misty followed his gaze, slowing slightly. “That’s where you’re staying?”

“For now.” Vin walked up the few steps to the porch and unlocked the door, then glanced back when he realized she hadn’t followed. She was still standing in the yard staring at the place. “You coming? Listen, I promise not to lead you into the basement where I have a soundproof room with a mattress, chains and a bucket in the corner.”

“You think you’re funny?” Misty narrowed her eyes at him as she followed him toward the rental.

“Yes,” Vin replied. “Yes, I do.”

Misty just snorted, still looking at the place. “How much is this?”

Vin frowned. “Why?”

“Because if you think I can afford something like this, you have seriously misunderstood how broke I am.” Misty sighed, shaking her head.

“It’s already paid for,” Vin replied, knowing she was going to fight him on this. She was a proud woman, and he knew her admitting she was broke wasn’t easy for her to do.

“That didn’t answer my question.”

Vin sighed, opening the door. “Just come inside and look at it before you start giving me shit.”

“I’m not giving you shit.” Misty walked past him into the house. “Yet.”

Vin closed the door behind them as Misty looked around. The place wasn’t anything special. Small living room, kitchen, two bedrooms and a bathroom. Rafe had found it for him before he came to Assjacket, and Vin had paid for a few weeks because he wasn’t sure how long he planned on staying.

“This is nice.” Misty walked toward the kitchen, looking around. “Really nice.”

“It’s all right.”

She turned slowly, giving him a look. “You’ve seen where I live, right?”

“Yeah.” He smirked at the look she gave him.

“Then this is the fucking Taj Mahal.”

Vin laughed, watching as she continued into the kitchen. When she spotted the coffee pot sitting on the counter, her eyes widened. “You have a coffee pot.”

“I do.”

“With coffee?”

Vin nodded toward the cabinet. “Yes.”

“Okay, I may cry,” Misty said. She even sniffed.

That made him laugh again. “When was the last time you had coffee?”

“Before I got here.” Misty opened the cabinet and actually smiled when she saw the coffee. “Do you have any idea what three weeks without coffee does to a person?”

“Explains a lot.” He teased as he watched her rooting through the cabinet.

“Don’t make me slap you.” Misty shut the cabinet before looking around again. “Where’s the bathroom?”

“Down the hall.”