Dumb struck Dumb luck

“What?!” Joey choked out.

She stared at him, then rolled her eyes. “Did I get transported to the future, or did people just get dumber? Does English not mean the same thing anymore?” she snapped. “I said your Burger Chef ass just pulled off something with odds so stupid they might as well not exist. You found one of the *two* fangs I’ve ever lost… and then you said the exact nursery rhyme that binds me to you.”

“Binds…” Joey echoed, his brain struggling to keep up.

She sighed, dragging a hand down her face. “You know—*binds*. As in we’re stuck together. Joined at the hip. Till **** do us part. I don’t get to just walk away.” She planted her hands on her hips, emphasizing every curve of her figure. “Any of this landing yet?”

Joey nodded slowly… though his eyes had very clearly stopped somewhere south of her face.

“Hey.” Her voice sharpened. “Eyes up here, genius.”

He blinked, snapping back. “Wait—did you say ******?”

Her expression shifted into something halfway between amusement and warning. “Easy there, burger boy. Don’t get ahead of yourself.” She took a step closer, her smile turning just a little dangerous. “I’m compelled to follow your commands—*technically*. Genie rules, more or less.”

Joey’s grin started to creep in.

She raised a finger. “But—and this is the important part—I don’t have to *like it*.” She circled him slowly as she spoke, her voice dropping, smoother now. “I feel whatever I want about what you ask. So if you’re smart? You treat me well… and things go very, very nicely for both of us.”

She stopped in front of him again, her gaze locking onto his.

“And if you’re not…” Her smile sharpened. “If you start thinking I’m just here to entertain your worst impulses?” She made a quick, dismissive gesture with her hand. “Then I’ll follow your orders in ways that make you regret ever opening your mouth.”

She tilted her head. “Got it?”

“Yes, ma’am,” Joey said quickly—then couldn’t help the grin that followed.

“Okay,” he added, a little more cautiously. “I, uh… have a few questions. Is that allowed?”

She gave a loose shrug—again drawing the eye whether she meant to or not—then smirked.

“Your wish is my command,” she said, wiggling her eyebrows just enough to make it unclear whether she was joking… or testing him.