She deserves it.
“Oh, this is delicious!” Kat gushes, and that’s all I needed. I make myself move through the room and back up to my room.
Tomorrow is a new day, and I’m going to make the most of it.
I’d hoped to wake early enough to clean the kitchen, but I must have been delusional because even before I make it down to the kitchen, I smell the coffee, and I know she’s already done it.
Walking into the kitchen, I find her sitting in a spotless kitchen, as if I hadn’t destroyed it last night. She has a cup of coffee in front of her, and oh, how did I miss that sweet smell? Taking a breath, I’m almost positive those are chocolate chip muffins. Hers sits in front of her book, forgotten as her eyes fly across the page, so deep in the story that she doesn’t even look up when I walk into the room.
She’s so beautiful that looking at her like this makes my chest ache. I reach up and rub at the spot, feeling the way my heart beats double time, and take a moment to realize what a dumbass I was.
Kat is perfect for us in every way, and I almost gave up my chance with her—to be happy—because of something someone else did to me.
I almost did the same to her because, as much as I tried to ignore it, ignore her, there’s no denying she wants me for some unknown reason, one that I’ll be forever grateful for.
Peeling my eyes open again, I move through the kitchen right up beside her. Moving before I can overthink or talk myself out of this, I stop behind her chair.
“Good morning, Kat.” Her head snaps up so fast I almost laugh, but the shock on her face makes me stop. I always forget how jumpy she is.
Vince’s assessment of Carter pops up, and not for the first time, I worry he might have been more than just a man who threw away a winner for someone easy.
She presses a hand to her chest and sags in the chair.
“Christ, Oli, you scared me half to death,” she says with a laugh that’s full of relief, and I take comfort in the fact that she seems to at least want me around.
I didn’t ruin this.
“Sorry.” I reach up and rub my neck, feeling so out of my element that I fight the urge to simply turn away and make myself a cup of coffee and let her go back to her story.
No! Grow a fucking pair.
Wow, when did my inner voice start sounding so much like Des?
“You were just so into your book. What are you reading?” I ask, peeking over her shoulder to try and get a look.
Her face goes pink, and she quickly turns back around to slam it shut and push it onto her lap. I don’t catch the title, but I see enough of the page to know I interrupted her at a very… intimate part.
Her reaction makes more sense now. But then again, who reads that in the kitchen?
Maybe the woman who is in danger of being fucked in every and any room at any given moment. I’m not sure there’s a safe room other than Addy’s. And that doesn’t just mean here, but the office, the cars, vacation homes, even the fucking jet, I bet.
Thinking about where she might get fucked while standing this close, only me and her this early, knowing damn well she’s quite possibly turned on from her reading…
Terrible idea.
“I just wanted to apologize for the mess.” Her face screws up adorably, and I remember she had no idea it was me. “The kitchen.”
I watch as she puts the pieces together, and it’s now or never.
Leaning in, I press a kiss to her cheek. “Thanks for cleaning it up. I’d planned to come down and do it early, but it looks like you beat me to it.”
Despite the urge to run away like I’m five years old, I stand and move toward the coffee maker, feeling her eyes follow me as I go. She stays quiet, and I swear the silence is going to eat me alive, but I bite my tongue, making my coffee and moving back to pull out the chair next to her while her gaze stays locked on me.
I offer her a smile, and for a second she seems to hesitate before a smile pulls at her lips, and then she’s laughing, dissolving in a fit of giggles so adorable that my cheeks ache from my smile.
I’m not sure how long she laughs for, but once she’s finished and she gets herself under control, I feel better, lighter even, and while I can’t be sure, I’d like to say she looks lighter too.
“Do you want a muffin?” she asks, and while it seems like such a simple question, it feels like more.
