She turned back to the sink, rinsing her bowl unnecessarily.“Thanks for helping me show Robin around the gym today,” she said.
He leaned against the counter, arms crossing over his chest, muscles flexing slightly under the soft lighting.“That wasn’t helping,cher.That was my job.”
“No,” she said, glancing back at him.“What you’ve been doing goes way beyond a job.”
His eyes softened.“Maybe.”
She dried her hands on a towel, suddenly aware of every inch of space between them and how badly she wanted it gone.
“I keep thinking I’m handling things,” she murmured, “and then something else happens, and I’m right back to being afraid.Gosh, I hate that.I might not show it, but Iamstrong and independent.”
Kayne stepped toward her, slow and certain.“I know you are.Being afraid doesn’t make you weak.”
“I hate needing anyone.”
“I know that too,” he said gently.“And I hate that somebody’s making you feel alone in this.”
He reached for her hand.She didn’t pull away.His fingers brushed hers, warm and careful.“Chloe,” he said softly, “you’re allowed to lean on me.”
Her pulse fluttered.His voice did that to her.It made safety sound like temptation.
She inhaled.“About earlier with Danica.She was being Danica.I know she made things awkward.”
His jaw flexed once.“Cher, your sister flirting with me is like a Chihuahua barking at a freight train.Loud, persistent, and entirely ignorable.”
Chloe snorted, surprised laughter bubbling up.“You’re terrible.”
“I’m honest.”
Silence drifted between them again, edged with something electric.
She lifted her eyes to his.“We should talk about the kiss yesterday.”
His expression sharpened with intent.“Do you regret it?”he asked.
“No.”The word came out before she could second-guess it.
Kayne stepped in until the heat of him swirled around her, until she could smell faint cedar and the day’s adrenaline still clinging to him.“Good,” he murmured.
Her breath hitched because he was close, but he wasn’t touching her.She desperately wanted him to.
He lifted his hand slowly, giving her every chance to back away, and ran his fingers down her cheek.“I’ve been tryin’ real hard to be respectful,” he said, his voice a low velvet rumble.“But every time you look at me like you’re lookin’ right now ...”
Her heart stuttered.
“...it gets a whole lot harder.”
She wasn’t sure who moved first, maybe both of them simultaneously, but suddenly his mouth brushed hers, soft and tentative, a kiss that asked a question instead of taking an answer.
Her fingers tightened into his shirt.
His hand slid to her jaw.
The kiss deepened in a slow, aching sweep.Heat bloomed under her skin, fear dissolving beneath something far more dangerous.Something she wanted too badly to name.
He pulled back just enough to breathe against her lips.“Tell me to stop if you want me to.”
She didn’t.
