“Well…” Shelby looked down at his bowl and played with the last of his Pho, full after having a big bowl of the soup. “When I was young, there was a boy next door I hung out with a lot. Cops and robbers mostly. But there was a lot of Old West stuff with sheriffs and bandits. His grandma’s favorite TV channel played old westerns all day long.”
“And you were the robber?” His pink cheeks were adorable but I loved the way he sighed and shrugged. “It makes sense.”
In a Shelby kind of way.
“He’s a very straightlaced cop now and has four kids.” Shelby’s cocked head and confused frown said he just couldn’t figure out how the guy had gotten there. “People are weird.”
I wasn’t sure how his mind had connected the two sentences together, but he wasn’t wrong. “They really are. I mean, look at you. You wouldn’t let me handle the situation when you got fired. I think that’s very weird.”
His dramatic huff made me want to smile. “Because that’s just life. Some people suck.”
That didn’t mean I shouldn’t be able to fix it.
“I’ll figure something else out.” Sitting up straighter, Shelby forced a smile. “You made sure I have a good savings account, so I’m not worried.”
Neither was I because there was no way I would let him get too desperate. I didn’t like him worrying at all, so he was crazy if he thought I wouldn’t step in at some point.
“You’ll figure something out, and if you need help, I’m here for you.” His smile and his suspicious stare had me rolling my eyes. “Not that kind of help. Legitimate, ‘let’s have a conversation about your options’ help.”
Helping him get a job in my preferred method would just create problems in the long run. Shelby wasn’t the type of person I could plop down in a big company and make everyone think he’d always been there.
He was too chatty and people would legitimately notice he was new.
“Oh.” He didn’t look sheepish about his assumption but we both knew why. “Okay. That might be a good idea because I don’t know what I’m doing.”
Hmm.
“So the searches last week and the updated resume?”
He shrugged. “Were just for your benefit so you wouldn’t worry.”
For fuck’s sake.
I was going to have to keep a closer eye on my naughty robber over there.
“Then this weekend, once I’ve had a chance to thoroughly wear you out, we’re going to sit down and make a plan.” Shelby went through a dozen different reactions from drama to pouting in about ten seconds before he settled on slumping over and sighing.
I’d won.
“Thoroughly worn out?” When I nodded, he pouted again. “Okay. I guess I just thought I’d have another week or two to worry about it before we got to this point.”
“Online friend would’ve waited that long, you’re right. In-person boyfriend, no.” That changed the rules significantly. “But I’m still going to start keeping a closer eye on you. No more manipulating me.”
At the very least he was going to have to try harder.
Shelby’s face scrunched up before he leaned back against the bench. “I’m supposed to be nervous about that threat, right?”
He was just turned on.
“I clearly need to work on being more romantic and less threatening.” That had him wincing. “I thought that would get through to you better.”
He was a naughty cutie and a brat in training.
“But no one ever gets tied up in the romantic books. It’s all slow burn this and careful that.” His adorable pout made him look like he should be hanging out with the littles. “I was promised regular restraints and orgasms.”
“That doesn’t mean I can’t be slow and romantic in between sessions.” Cocking my head, I pretended to frown. “I don’t think we actually set a schedule.”
Groaning, he plopped his elbows on the table. “You’re evil.”
