He snorted. “Don’t worry, I’ve got a plan.”
Then he pulled me onto his massive muscular chest, draping one heavy arm across my back to secure me against him.
“See?” He sounded terribly smug, but I still couldn't help burying my face in the crook of his neck. “Perfect fit.”
He nuzzled into me, sending a shiver of bliss cascading down my spine. Only when his calloused fingers brushed up and down my back did I realize…
I was in soooo much fucking trouble.
Chapter 19
Tori
Thestackofenvelopeson the kitchen table mocked me.
Property tax renewal.
Water bill.
Electricity “adjustment”(aka legal robbery).
A warning about the roof needing inspection.
They all sat in a tidy, color-coded pile because I preferred my spiraling panic neatly organized.
I dragged a hand down my face. This house had been in our family forever, and lately it felt like it was determined to bankrupt me out of pure spite.
Gran’s social security was barely making a dent in the endless barrage of bills. The recent surge in the cost of living hadn’t helped either, and any extra money I made was earmarked for buying a new car.
“Nah, it’s fine.” I glowered at the water bill. “Who needs electricity anyway? I’ll become a pioneer. I’ll churn my own butter. Whatever. Can’t be that hard.”
I was mid-breakdown, highlighter in hand, when the front door clicked open.
“Tori?” Kai’s warm voice echoed down the hall, sounding a little too chipper given my current state of mind. “Oi, Tori, you home?”
I froze.
Of coursehe’d show up unannounced. By this point, we’d become entirely too used to each other, frequently showing up at each other’s houses and even staying the night. But did it have to be right now, when I was literally sitting in the middle of a financial crime scene?
“Kitchen!” I called, shoving a few papers under my notebook. It was a futile attempt, though, because Kai entered the room two seconds later and caught me in the act of trying — and failing — to hide the stack of envelopes.
Judging by his attire, he must have just finished practice. He was still wearing his gym shorts, the thin fabric straining against his thighs, and a worn tank top.
Damp strands of jet-black hair fell into his forehead as he stood in the door frame, looking like he belonged there. Which was becoming a problem in itself.
Stopping short when he reached the table, he shot me a look. “Whoa. This is a lot of mail.”
“It’s nothing,” I said quickly.
Kai eyed the pile. “That’s not ‘nothing,’ Tori. That’s—,” he leaned closer “—that’s government mail. The bad kind.”
I snorted despite myself. “It’s just taxes.”
“Taxes?” His eyebrows shot up. “For the house?”
“Yep.”
“And they’re due when?”
