“Uh, no.”
“Why not?”
She rolled her eyes. “For starters, you’re a jerk.”
I nodded. “I can be.” Not going to disagree with that.
“And I’m not spending time with a guy who’s being forced to do it by his sister. I’m not desperate.”
“You’re not?”
Anger flashed across her face, and again, it transformed her features. “Get off my porch.”
Completely committed to my plan, I pretended to consider it. “No.”
“What? What do you mean, no?”
“I’m not leaving until you agree to go swimming with me.”
She was so going to blow a fuse. “Fine. You can sit there, because I’d rather eat glass than spend time with you.”
I was genuinely amused by that statement. “That sounds drastic.”
“Not nearly.” She started up the steps.
I twisted at the waist and caught her ankle. Damn, her skin was incredibly soft. Fragile. I kept my grip loose. Her gaze lowered to mine, and I forced a smile that had gotten me excused from many school assignments. “I’ll sit here all day and night. I’ll camp out on your porch. And I won’t leave. We have all week, Kitten. Either get it over with tomorrow and be done with me, or I’ll be right here until you do agree. You won’t be able to leave the house.”
She gaped. “You can’t be serious.”
“Oh, I am.”
“Just tell her we went and that I had a great time. Lie.”
When she tried to pull her leg free, I held on. “She’ll know if I’m lying. We’re twins. We know these things.” I paused, thoroughly enjoying myself. “Or are you too shy to go swimming with me? Does the idea of getting almost naked around me make you uncomfortable?”
“I’m from Florida, idiot.” Grabbing ahold of the railing, she pulled her leg and got nowhere. “I’ve spent half my life in a bathing suit.”
“What’s the big deal?” Warmth built under my hand, surrounding her ankle.
“I don’t like you.” She drew in a deep breath, causing her chest to rise. “Let go of my ankle.”
“I’m not leaving, Kitten.” Holding her glare, I lifted my fingers, one by one. Screw the whole keeping an eye on her thing. Now this was pure principal. A challenge. “You’re going to do this.”
Her lips curled back, and I waited, barely able to contain a grin, because I knew she was seconds from laying into me. Maybe even kicking me. But the door opened, stopping her.
I glanced up and saw her mom. There were…bunnies on her pajamas.
“You live next door?” her mom asked.
Seeing my end, I twisted around and smiled broadly. “My name is Daemon Black.”
“Kellie Swartz. Nice to meet you.” She glanced at her daughter. “You two can come inside if you want. You don’t have to sit outside in the heat.”
“That’s really nice of you.” I stood, knocking my elbow into her. “Maybe we should go inside and finish talking about our plans.”
“No,” she replied immediately. “That won’t be necessary.”
“What plans?” her mom asked. “I support plans.”
I liked her mom.
“I’m trying to get your lovely daughter to go swimming with me tomorrow, but I think she’s worried you wouldn’t like the idea.” I gave her a little love tap on the arm, biting down on my lip when she moved half a foot. “And I think she’s shy.”
“What? I have no problem with her going swimming with you. I think it’s a great idea. I’ve been telling her she needs to get out. Hanging out with your sister is great, but—”
“Mom,” Katy gasped. “That’s not really—”
“I was just telling Katy here the same thing.” Unable to stop myself, I draped my arm over her shoulders. She stiffened. “My sister is out of town for the next week, so I thought I’d hang with Katy.”
Ms. Swartz smiled and her eyes got all big. “That is so sweet of you.”
Katy wrapped her arm around my waist and surprise flicked through me. Then I felt it. Her tiny fingers digging into my side. “Yeah, that’s sweet of you, Daemon.”
Her little nails were freaking sharp. “You know what they say about boys next door…”
“Well, I know Katy doesn’t have plans tomorrow,” her mom said. “She’s free to go swimming.”
She dropped her hand and squirmed her way out from under my arm. “Mom…”
“It’s okay, honey.” Her mom turned, winking at me. “It was nice to finally meet you.”
“You, too.” I braced myself.
Her mom closed the door, and in a nanosecond, she whirled around and shoved her hands into my chest. I didn’t budge. “You jerk.”
Knowing when to retreat helped win the war. I backed down the steps. “I’ll see you at noon, Kitten.”
“I hate you,” she spat.
“The feeling’s mutual.” Pausing, I looked over my shoulder. “Twenty bucks says you wear a one-piece swimsuit.”
Katy let out an outraged shriek.
I sort of hoped I would be out twenty bucks tomorrow.
Chapter 5
U want company today?
Glancing down at my cell as I tugged a pair of jeans on over the swim trunks, I was at once grateful that Ash knew better than to just show up at our house announced. If she found me heading off to the lake with Katy, she’d go off like a nuclear rocket.