9 Birdie #2
Shit, why is the thought of running from this man turning me on right now? I quickly blink away the mental image. “Yeah, if my boss suddenly and mysteriously commands me to run from him, I’ll probably do it.”
“If I told you not to touch something? Or not to speak to someone? If I told you to immediately leave and not ask questions why?”
I shrug. “Honestly, all of those sound pretty reasonable . . . if a little lacking in context.”
“So, we’re agreed? You’ll accept my rule to follow my commands?”
Okay, so is this all super weird? Obviously.
But even if I had other options, I have this strange feeling that I can trust Jasper Prescott.
And I definitely trust Phoebe. She wouldn’t have put me up for a job that involved threat of accidental dismemberment.
Holding his gaze, I nod. “Fine, we’re agreed.
Whether or not I think the command is reasonable, I’ll trust your judgment while in your shop and heed you.
” I can’t help but smile as I use his word.
He misses nothing, his frown deepening. “Good. Then rule number two—”
“Wait, pause.” I hold up a hand again. “How many rules are there?”
“Just one more after this.”
I sigh, dropping my hand. “Okay, proceed.”
The silence stretches between us. Finally, he curses under his breath before saying, “If you see a raven on the island, but especially if you see one anywhere near the shop, I need you to tell me immediately.”
This has me leaning back in my chair. “Are ravens bad or something?”
“They’re invasive,” he growls, his eyes flashing with unreserved malice. “And destructive. They’re a scourge on this island.”
“Jeez. Hates ravens,” I mutter. “Hey, quick question. Is this usually when your dates get tripped up too? Like, do they disappear to the bathroom for the rest of the night and then not return your calls?”
This earns me an eye roll. Maybe I’ll start taking a daily tally? When I get to ten, he’ll owe me a prize. We’ll call it a team-building exercise.
“I’m on the board of the Burr Island Ecological Foundation,” he explains, his tone clipped and formal, like he regularly has to explain his eccentric hatred for ravens.
“We’re currently monitoring all raven activity on the island with an aim to control the population.
So, if you see one, you must tell me immediately. ”
“Sure. No ravens. Got it. Last rule?”
“Rule number three is never take off Pickles’s collar.”
A whole ten seconds of silence pass before I laugh again. “Is it weird that I’m a little disappointed?”
“Why?”
“Well, compared to the others, rule three is almost boring.”
Unfazed by the weirdness of these requests, Jasper launches into another explanation. “Pickles likes to wander. But he always minds his own business. Problem is, a few of the other shop owners don’t like all the roaming cats on the island. They’ve had animal control pick him up a few times.”
My gut twists tight. “Oh god. Like they want him put down or something? Just for roaming around? That’s barbaric.”
“Welcome to Burr Island,” he mutters. “Luckily, I have a good relationship with Tony and Jeb over at animal control. They know Pickles well. That collar lets other people know he belongs here. So just never take it off, okay?”
“Yeah, okay. Easy peasy.” Pushing back from the table, I stand.
He mirrors my movements. “So, do we shake on it, boss? You hire me as your new shop girl for the summer, I live up here rent free, and so long as I follow your rules, I get to keep this job until I return to the mainland in the fall. Agreed?”
Slowly, he steps around the table. I know the no sex thing is wrapped up somewhere in our new rules, but my god if this man doesn’t have shoulders even Atlas would envy. Those are some serious world-lifting shoulders. I bet he could toss me around this apartment like a rag doll.
Something must show on my traitorous face because he groans. I know the sound well. It’s the groan of frustration and self-denial, of wanting things you can’t have. “Birdie?”
“Hmm?”
He looks down at me. Gone is his mask of irritation and impatience.
I swear, I’ll never forgive Phoebe for not warning me that her uncle looks like this.
His grey eyes almost glow with heat as I feel his gaze trail over my face, counting all my piercings.
Most of the time, I forget they’re even there.
With Jasper’s eyes on me, each one starts to twinge.
Sighing, he shakes his head. “This is a mistake, isn’t it?”
“Huge,” I whisper. “At this rate, I doubt we both survive the summer.”
“I’m adding a fourth rule.”
I nod, letting his voice lure me in closer. “Well, that just makes sense. You know, in many cultures, the number four is a sacred sign of stability. And we wouldn’t want anything between us to be unstable . . .”
His fingertips brush over my lips as he silences my nervous chatter.
Oh god, he’s going to kiss me.
And I’m going to let him.
Awesome. Well done, Birdie. You lasted ten minutes.
“What’s your fourth rule?”
His gaze heats as his face starts to lower. I’m on autopilot, head tipping back. This is so happening. I’ll feel bad about it later. His lips part as he hesitates, and I swear I’m about to climb him like a tree.
“What’s your fourth rule?” I say again.
His fingers brush featherlight along the column of my neck, sending shivers down my arms.
“Jasper . . .”
“Birdie.” He traces the line of my sternum with his fingertips, his heated gaze following their path down. “Such a pretty name.”
“What’s your fourth—ah—” I gasp with surprise as his other hand slips behind my neck and he grabs a fistful of my hair. Jerking tight, he pulls me in close against the solid wall of his chest. The sting in my scalp hits me like a bolt of lightning, zigging and zagging through my entire being.
“Birdie,” he growls, his voice setting me on fire. “I—”
“Helloooo! Birds, you up here?”
We only have a few seconds’ warning as Phoebe stomps her way up the stairs of the rickety fire escape.
I launch myself away from Jasper, hitting my hip on one of the chairs as I put a good arm-swinging length of space between us.
Trying to control the blush I’m sure must be flaming on my face, I spin around just as Phoebe appears in the open doorway.
Smiling wide, she holds up two coffees. “As promised! Girl, you have no idea the epic struggle it was to get these. The lines today are bananas. And since when did flirting not result in line cuts?”
I rush to her side, accepting my cup with a quickly muttered, “Thanks.”
She looks to Jasper. “I didn’t get you any coffee because you’re too annoying.”
He says nothing, his gaze still lingering on me.
Phoebe turns to me, still all smiles. “So, he showed you the apartment. That’s a good sign, right?” She looks to Jasper, sipping her iced latte. “Did you give her the job then?”
“I did,” he replies. “She starts Monday.”
Phoebe squeals with delight, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. “Oh god, thank you goddess! Honestly, Birds, I wasn’t sure if you could close the deal. But you did and now I don’t have to feel guilty when I go to Germany!”
I laugh. “I’m glad I could ease your guilty conscience.”
She’s shameless in her joy. “Well, now that all our summer plans are settled, Birds, we gotta go! Jasper has a line of people waiting downstairs, and the queue for the ferry is already stacking up.”
At this, Jasper’s frown deepens with obvious disappointment. “You’re leaving?”
“Well, yeah,” she replies. “Lots to do before I fly out on Monday. I’ve got my Jeep here. I figured we’ll take it back to Winthrop and I’ll help Birdie get packed.”
Eyes narrowed, he points a finger at her. “You promised Hortie a proper goodbye. Bail on her dinner and I’ll never hear the end of it.”
“Don’t worry,” she calls, pushing me ahead of her out the door. “Tell Hortie we’ll both be back tonight. Thanks, Jas! Love you!”
I glance over my shoulder just in time to see him roll his eyes again.
But that one was meant for her, not me, so it doesn’t count on my daily tally.
Jasper stands in the middle of the kitchen, looking too large for the space, those wide shoulders at odds with the narrowing of the walls up to the ceiling.
And because I’m a total glutton for punishment, I let my gaze trail over his shoulders and down his flannel-covered arm, stopping at the hand that was just fisted tight in my hair. I know he doesn’t miss a thing when he flexes his damn fingers.
Oh, fuck me.
Jasper’s right, this is a terrible mistake.