The packet I’d been struggling with tore right through the middle, and noodles flew through the air. I whirled.
It wasn’t Izzy standing in the entrance of my kitchen.
“Look, Kate.” Millie happily bounced into the room. “Tristan’s here.”
He sure was. Dressed in the same powder-blue dress shirt, dark tie, and equally dark slacks he’d had on when I stomped out of his office this morning. Did he come over straight after work?
Why did that thought make my traitorous heart skip a beat?
“And he brought pizza.” Millie’s happy voice broke through the fogginess in my brain.
On cue, he lifted the box higher. “Peace offering.”
“What’s a peace offering?” Millie asked before I could even think about opening my mouth.
Hisgaze stayed glued on me for a few beats then Millie was the sole focus of his attention. “Well, princess, I kinda did something to upset Kate at work so the pizza is my way of saying sorry and, hopefully, making things right.”
That explanation was enough for her. With another “’kay” and a shrug, she bounded to the living room. Loud music filtered through the house not even a minute later.
“You need to leave,” I said through gritted teeth. “Now.”
Dropping to my haunches, I started scraping together as much of the scattered noodles as I could reach. The tips of his shoes filled my vision right before those big hands of his covered mine.
“Kate.” The way he said my name sent goosebumps skittering over my skin. “I’m sorry.”
Despite my better judgment, I met his gaze. Even if he hadn’t voiced the apology, I would’ve needed to be blind not to see it in those dark irises.
I didn’t say anything. I couldn’t.
Slipping my hand from under his, I got to my feet and grabbed the broom to clean up the mess. Again, he was right there.
“Let me help.”
Without giving me a chance to say no, he took the handle out of my hands and started sweeping. Once everything was in a neat pile, I lowered onto my knees and held the dustpan for him to sweep the noodles on.
He didn’t move. I looked up to see what the hell was going on then realized my face was in front of his crotch. He was right freaking there. If I moved forward a couple of inches, I’d probably bop him with my nose.
Shit, I could see the faint outline of his dick.
My mouthturned into a desert while the lower half of my body had the opposite result. It was embarrassing. A faint outline of anything shouldn’t be enough to turn me on.
And yet, I couldn’t deny the rush of fire bursting through my veins or the dull ache between my legs.
“Get up.”
The low gravel of his voice stoked the flames hotter and higher. Instead of doing what he demanded, my gaze shot to his. And holy shit, I could’ve sworn I saw the same heat in those eyes I felt coursing through my body.
“Fuck.”
With a growl, he dropped the broom and hooked his fingers under my arms. One hard tug and I was on my feet. He didn’t let go. Instead, he moved us backward until I had the counter at my back and his big body at my front.
I didn’t speak, didn’t even move. His Adam’s apple bobbed then slowly lifted my gaze to see his tongue snake along his bottom lip. As if caught in a trance, I mimicked the movement.
The sound that came from that man’s throat should have been illegal.
Goosebumps popped up everywhere, and that dull ache turned into a persistent throb. I had to squeeze my thighs together to get some sort of relief.
He wasn’t touching me anymore. He’d planted his hands on the counter behind me, and since we were standing so close, the heat of his body enveloped me.
