“Ha!”She waved him off.“Hilarious.It’s for a date tonight.Potential soulmate.Or potential terrible kisser.Time will tell.”She frowned.“Chloe claims it’s too much.”
Kayne considered the fabric, or lack thereof, with the weary calm of a man navigating a minefield.He replied diplomatically, “Depends on what you want the poor man to focus on.Conversation or other priorities.”
Danica gasped, delighted.“So youdothink I look hot.”
He pinched the bridge of his nose.“I did not say that.”
“You implied!”Lash flutter.“And I trust your judgment.You look like a man who’s broken hearts in multiple states.”
Kayne prayed for an extraction team.Tactical smoke grenades.A rappel line through the ceiling.Divine intervention.Anything.
“Oh!”She clasped her hands, eyes flashing.“I know why you’re here.”
He froze.“Do you?”
“Obviously.”She leaned in as if she was about to leak classified intel.“Chloe has ...issues.”
His brows slammed together.“Issues.”
“Romantic issues,” she clarified, sweeping her hand dramatically.“She shuts down.Panics.She hasn’t dated in forever.So you,” she waved her arms in an up and down gesture usually reserved for models unveiling luxury vehicles, “are exactly the man she needs to break the curse.”
Kayne opened his mouth.Nothing came out.
Danica plowed ahead, unstoppable.“You’re broody.Buff.Drop-dead gorge.You smolder.”She squinted at his arms.“I mean, look at those.Those aren’t ‘help-me-move-a-couch’ arms.Those are ‘carry-me-over-a-threshold-and-regret-nothing’ arms.”
Kayne considered self-defenestration.Headfirst.
“Danica,” he said tightly, “Chloe and I—”
Chloe stepped into the doorway, eyes ricocheting between them, already bracing for impact.
Danica beamed.“Perfect timing!I was just telling Kayne that he should absolutely sweep you off your feet, figuratively or literally.I’m flexible.”
Chloe’s face went scarlet.“Dani!”
“What?”Danica blinked innocently.“He’s beautiful.You’re beautiful.The world deserves this.”
Kayne cleared his throat.“Not sure that’s how any of this works.”
“Oh, hush.”Danica poked his pectoralis—pokedhim—as if he wasn’t a trained operative who could disassemble someone twice her size in under eight seconds.“You’re clearly into her.”
Kayne inhaled sharply.
Chloe squeaked, “He is not!”
“Mm-hmm,” Danica hummed.“Funny how that washerdenial and not yours.”
Kayne opened his mouth and, for the first time in his adult life, had no earthly idea what to say.Brutal combat?Easy.Armed stalkers?Routine.A meddling half-sister with zero filter and unlimited confidence?
May God have mercy.
Danica clapped once, triumphant.“Anyway!I need you both to look at Option B.”She whipped out another selfie featuring even less dress.“Too much?Or just right?”
Chloe groaned into her hands.
Kayne looked heavenward.Why me?
Danica winked and said to Chloe, “You can text me your thoughts later.”
