Free The Downfall of a Good Girl by Kimberly Lang Page A

lights of the city looked as lively as ever, even from this distance, and he inhaled the sights and smells of home.
    He made his way toward the back of the boat, away from the windows, lest anyone inside see him outside alone and think he needed company. He threw a glance over his shoulder as he turned the corner and bumped into something. He turned quickly, and feathers hit him in the mouth.
    Vivi jumped, apologizing before she’d fully turned around. When she saw it was him, the words died in an instant. She stepped away and awkwardness settled around her as he felt the tension rise. That wasn’t anger, either. Itwas tension relating to the
other
things that had happened this week. Seemed she wasn’t quite past that yet.
    Oddly, neither was he. It didn’t seem as cold out here now.
    “Show over already?”
    “Should I be insulted that you didn’t stick around to listen?”
    Vivi snorted. “I’m sure no one noticed
my
absence.”
    Like he’d been asking for the additional attention. “Why are you hiding back here?”
    “It’s noisy and hot inside. I needed a break, so I slipped out for a minute.”
    Vivi had a shawl wrapped around her, but it couldn’t be doing much good, hiked up over her wings like it was. It covered her arms, but he could see her shivering. She’d been out here longer than a minute or two.
    “You should go back inside. You’re turning blue.”
    “I’m perfectly fine.” Her chin lifted regally, but her chattering teeth ruined the effect.
    “Seriously, you look like Angel Smurf.”
    Vivi set her shoulders. “Is there a reason you’re out here looking for me? If not, just butt out. I’m a big girl and I’ll go back inside when I’m good and ready.” She’d raised her voice to a near shout, and a door opened behind them and a crew member carrying a box exited to give them a strange look before scurrying away. Vivi cleared her throat and smiled. “Thank you for your concern, but I’m good.”
    In other words Vivi would stand here until she began suffering from exposure just to spite him. And for some reason that pure, completely irrational stubbornness infuriated him. Connor caught the door with his foot before it closed and reached for Vivi’s arm.
    “What the—?” Vivi sputtered as he pulled her inside.
    The door slammed with a satisfying bang. The little storage room was quiet except for the throb of the engines andnominally warmer. Her grinned at her. “At least stand out of the wind.”
    “You are insufferable, Connor Mansfield.” She tried to move past him, but he blocked her. Her eyes narrowed dangerously. “Move, or I will kill you where you stand.”
    “Sorry. I can’t let you be an idiot.”
    “What difference does it make to you?”
    He paused.
Excellent question
. “If you end up in the hospital with pneumonia, you’ll have to forfeit the competition.”
    “That’s ridiculous.”
    “Warm up in here or go back inside. It’s up to you.”
    “Why the hell do you care so much?”
    “Because you’re acting like a two-year-old instead of a grown woman.”
    Her jaw tightened. “But I
am
a grown woman, and therefore able to decide when I’m cold. New Orleans isn’t exactly the Arctic Circle. I think I can survive a few minutes outside without frostbite.”
    Good Lord, were they really fighting about the temperature? He chuckled, and Vivi shot him a look.
    “What’s so funny?”
    “You’d argue the earth was flat just because I said it was round.”
    Vivi’s lips pressed together as the truth and ridiculousness of the situation was clarified for her. She cleared her throat and lifted her chin again. “Possibly. I do like a lively debate.”
    “You just like to try to prove me wrong.”
    She shrugged, but there was a smile tugging at her lips. “That too.”
    This current scene, playing out in all of its ridiculousness, proved that they really couldn’t go on like this. It would make them both crazy, and it held zero appeal. “How about a