“Sissy, calm down.”

“I will not calm down,” she was still yelling and she turned her eyes to Luke. “Where were you when this happened, stud?”

Oh no. Sissy was channeling Olivia Newton-John from Grease. It was never good when Sissy channeled Sandy’s Pink Lady from the finale. Sissy didn’t normally lose her temper; usually sweet as pie, totally Sandy. She had not a single thread of Rizzo in her. When Sissy channeled Pink Lady Sandy, the results were disastrous.

I chanced a glance at Luke and he was smiling his sexy half-grin.

Shit.

“Luke, can you get her bags?” I asked and didn’t wait for his response. I pulled Sissy into and through the living room directly to the kitchen.

I stopped and turned to her. “Pull yourself together,” I hissed.

“Pull myself… pull myself…” she stammered, eyes wide. “Pull myself together!” she shouted then, still shouting, she cried, “Last time I talked to you, you were going out on the town, had everything sorted with these shit-hot private eye guys and were sworn off men forever. Hours later, you’ve been kidnapped, Mr. Beefcake’s in there barely clothed and you’re in your pajamas and glasses for God’s sake!” She stopped and looked around in mock confusion. “Have I entered an alternate universe?”

“I haven’t had a chance to call.”

“That’s no excuse.”

“We got home late.”

“We?”

“Sissy!”

She glared at me. Then I watched as her face fell, the anger faded, her eyes started shimmering and Pink Lady Sandy was a memory.

“I got my best friend kidnapped,” she whispered and then burst into tears.

I pulled her into my arms and held on tight. As I absorbed her shaking sobs into my body, I double-vowed revenge against Dominic Fucking Vincetti (rat-bastard).

“Sissy,” I murmured into the top of her hair and that was when I saw Luke leaning against the doorframe between the living and dining rooms. He’d put on a t-shirt, done up his belt, his eyes were on me and I could see the warmth in them from across the room.

Crapity, crap, crap, crap.

“You could have been hurt,” Sissy mumbled.

“I wasn’t,” I said, totally unable to take my eyes from Luke.

“You could have,” Sissy went on.

“I’m fine,” I assured her.

She looked up at me, saw my eyes and followed them to Luke. She realized what she was about, pulled out of my arms and swiped at her face.

“Hey Luke,” Sissy said in belated greeting and I had to press my lips together not to laugh.

“Sissy,” Luke replied.

“Sorry I yelled at you,” she told him.

He did a single shoulder shrug.

“I’m usually not this loud,” she went on.

He did the half-grin. Sissy stared, transfixed at all that was Luke. I rolled my eyes and caught a look at the clock on the roll back.

“Shit!” I shouted. “I’m supposed to meet Riley in twenty minutes!” I made a mad dash out of the kitchen and then halted and whirled. “Have coffee, get settled, I’ll be back in a couple of hours and we’ll talk,” I told Sissy and then whirled again and restarted the dash.

I got four feet and was caught short when Luke threw an arm out as I was about to pass him, so it caught me at my waist.

I let out an “oof” and heard Luke say, “Just a minute,” to Sissy. He grabbed my hand and dragged me through the living room, up the stairs and to the bedroom.

I allowed this mainly because I didn’t want Sissy to hear me struggling and also I was mentally counting to ten.

When he’d closed the door to the bedroom, I turned on him.

Half-grin, Amused Luke was gone, brows drawn, Pissed Off Luke in his place.

“What was that?” I asked, foolishly ignoring Pissed Off Luke.

“I thought I made myself clear about Riley.”

“He’s my personal trainer.”

“He wants to f**k you.”

I looked at the ceiling seeking divine intervention. When none was to be had I looked back at Luke. “He’s a friend.”

“He wants to f**k you,” Luke repeated.

“Okay then, he wants to f**k me. He’s not going to f**k me. No one’s going to f**k me.”

“I’m gonna f**k you.”

I put my hands to my h*ps and leaned forward, yes now Pissed Off Ava.

“Luke, get it through your head. You and me, not… gonna… happen.”

His brows went up. “So tell me, what was that ten minutes ago?”

Hmm. He had a point.

“Temporary insanity,” I answered.

“Because you’ve sworn off men?”

Hell and damnation.

Sissy and her Pink Lady Sandy big mouth.

“Yes,” I snapped.

We stared at each other, Pissed Off Luke vs. Pissed Off Ava, the battle of the century.

Then to my surprise (and discomfort), he grinned. Not a half-grin, a full-fledged one.

I did not take this as a good sign.

“What’s with the grin?” I asked, wary.

“I like this,” he told me.

“What?”

Instead of answering my question, looking very pleased about something he said, “I’m gonna enjoy this.”

“What?” I snapped.

Again he didn’t answer my question, instead he said, “We still haven’t discussed your payment.”

I threw up my hands

Jeez.

I couldn’t take anymore.

“Oh for goodness sakes!” I cried and started to move toward the closet. “I don’t have time for this. I have things to do.”

He caught me and swung me into his body, both his arms locked around my waist and he looked down at me.

“I’ll take you to the gym. After you’re done, I’ll pick you up. I don’t want you going anywhere alone, so whatever you gotta do, wherever you gotta go, either I take you or I’ll arrange for someone to do it. Same with Sissy. Last night you likely pissed off some pretty dangerous people. I’m not f**kin’ around with this.”

“Fine,” I clipped, mainly so he would let me go so I wouldn’t have to think about dangerous people being pissed off at me and so I could get to the gym. It was rude to be late.

“Tonight, we talk about your payment.”

“Fine,” I lied, totally not going to talk about payment or be anywhere near Luke that night.

He shook his head while it dropped to mine and I knew he knew I was lying.