If this is a test, I'm determined not to fail. "The black one feels too sexy for work. Not that I'd complain, just that if you expect me to get anything done and to keep my hands off of you for at least half the day, you should probably wear the other one." I eye the pink number with the big bow at the back and sigh. "Although on second thought, I'd touch you in this one, too."
I realize I failed twice when she storms back into the closet we now share and starts rummaging around for another outfit.
I sent Roger and Anton after her clothing and some other essentials back at her apartment that the police said we could collect. It's not much, but I hope it helps make her feel morecomfortable staying here. There's still the matter of renting her her own space, if she's absolutely firm on that condition, but I don't expect her to spend much time in her new place, when we get it set up. I plan to invite her over as often as I can get away with. I want to have her over here, staying with me, every second of every day. When she wants to go home, I'll convince her to stay. I'll do whatever it takes to show her that she belongs here, with me.
And maybe eventually she'll feel brave enough to tell me she loves me back.
Baby steps.
My phone rings and I answer it slowly, watching her as she walks back out of the closet with more in her arms for me to pass judgement on. "Hello?"
"Oh, great, Kai, just the man I wanted to talk to." It's Arista. "Wanna tell me why you've been avoiding my calls for the past two days?"
"Nope, not particularly," I sass, smiling as I cover the receiver and mouth instructions over to Denali, who is holding up a black and white number that looks very Kennedy-era, and a pantsuit that feels like it's a bit much for the office ad a bit underwhelming at the same time.The black and white one, kara.
"Oh, well that's unfortunate, but I can't twist your arm," she says with a huff in my ear, and I can feel the amusement in her voice as she clears her throat and chuckles. "Well then, why don't you and your new paramour come down to my office today before you go to the interview with DailyPlate?" It's phrased as a question, but it most definitely is not a question. It's a demand.
"Paramour?"
Arista, usually a bubbly jokester, sighs. "Bring Denali with you."
"Denaliandmy paramour?" I'm not making it easy on her, and I know, I justknow,she's going to kick my ass when we get there for it.
"Kai, I'm going to hang up the phone now. And I'll let you interpret thatexactlyhow I mean it, you prick." I can practically see her pinching the bridge of her nose. And then the line goes dead, just as Denali's phone goes off.
"Will you see who that is for me, Kai?" She's still buried in the closet.
It's an unknown number. I hesitate between setting it down and answering it, but my curiosity wins out. If this is that Theo fucker, I'll give him a piece of my mind, let him know he might think himself above the law, but I'll fix that for him.
"Hello?"
I stay quiet so Denali won't hear me answer.
Silence. And then, after a few moments?—
"I knew she was a whore."
I don't say anything, because I don't want to alert Denali, or let him know I'm still here. He knows, though.
"She can't hide forever. And you can't keep her safe from me. When I find her—and I will—she's a dead woman."
The line goes dead.
"Who was it?" Denali says with a frown as she peeks out of the closet.
"Unknown caller," I say, shrugging. "Nothing to worry about. Now come out here and let me see what you're going to torture me with today while I'm trying to work to feed our new love child."
"Love child? Kai, I dunno that we talked about this, but between your condom and my birth control, I think we're pretty protected?—"
"Taco, you goofball."
She blinks, her frown turning to an embarrassed smile. "Oh, right. Him."
We finish sorting out our new morning routine, and in honor of our newly forming relationship, I take her out to breakfast and coffee since our schedule doesn't start until noon.
Which puts us in Arista's office at around ten thirty on the nose.
And she's not thrilled, but she's not mad. Denali, though, looks like she might faint when the woman herself walks in the room and shuts the door.
