Page 18 of Retribution
“Observant.”
“One liners don’t make a conversation, Cobra.” She stuck the bite in her mouth and chewed rapidly. “If I’m going to bunk with you for the next week until I get on my feet, then you’re going to learn how to make small talk or at least act like something other than an AI.”
“AI?” He put down his fork and sat back in the booth, resting one arm along the back of it. “Is that a fuckin’ insult?”
“Artificial intelligence. You act like a robot.”
He grunted and looked down at his plate. Not the worst thing he’d ever been called—far from it, but the kitten had claws. Everything about her was loud, demanding, and it seemed like she was on a mission to keep him in check.What the fuck did I pick up on the side of the road?
“What do you want from me?” He breathed out, somewhat indulgent to her whims. “Because you’re just gonna badger me until you get it.”
“You’re a quick study.” She winked at him and reached across the table for the blueberry muffin.
A sly little pussy cat. She challenged him in a way he hadn’t been in a long time. It was both interesting and irritating as all hell. She ruffled his feathers and he never knew what would come out of her mouth.
“That didn’t answer much,” he commented, going back to the hash browns on his plate.
“I’m getting you to talk more, aren’t I?”
“By cheating, sure.” He finished chewing and caught her eyes with a glance. “No one likes a cheater.”
“I don’t know that I care if you like me or not.” She smiled wickedly.
“If I’m your meal ticket, darlin’, you want me to like you.”
“What I want to know is who I’ll be sharing space with for the foreseeable future. You seem like a nice enough guy, but you could be a closet serial killer. Maybe you like to take your time with your victims.”
“Wouldn’t I be luring you into liking me then if that were my game?”
Dakota frowned and he knew he had her there.
“Okay then … what doesNOMADmean?” she asked.
Cobra leaned back, resigned to answering her questions. He could probably feed her little bits and pieces. Nothing serious, but enough for her to be satisfied.
“A nomad’s a guy who does his own thing within an MC. I still have an affiliation with the Steel Devils, and I like to hang out with my brothers, but I’m not under any obligation. Happy?”
“Pleased as punch.” She shot a sarcastic smile in his direction. “Now, your turn.”
“Huh?”
“Ask me one. That’s how we do this social thing, we ask each other questions.”
“If I’d known helping you out came with speed dating, I would have fuckin’ skipped it. Just be happy with your damn breakfast, and let’s call it a day.”
“So you don’t have any burning questions you’re dying to throw my way? There’s nothing itching in the back of your skull that’s crying out to be answered?” Dakota broke off a piece of muffin and popped it in her mouth.
“It’s sure as hell flattering that you think so much about what I want to know. I don’t usually get that much attention, sweetheart.”
He’d caught Dakota off guard, and her cocky expression faltered a bit around the edges as her shoulders folded in on themselves. Fuck, now he felt a little bit bad. But only a little. She would recover well enough.
“That’s not what I meant.” Dakota kicked his shin under the table.
Fuck, could she get any more adorable? They might as well have been back in fucking middle school.
“What can I do to get you to act like a normal human being?” She teased, taking a sip from her coffee cup. “Work with me here.”
“I’m not aget to know youkind of guy, sweetheart.”
“So adapt.”
She wasn’t giving up. He had to respect that kind of attitude.
Cobra stretched out his legs, pushed back against the seat cushion, and captured her gaze.
This was going to be a long breakfast.
