"Rough day?" he asked gently, leaning forward just a little.
Close enough that I could see the faint shadow of stubble along his jaw. It was then his scent hit me, and wrapped around me. I breathed in the smell of warm sugar and a smoky vanilla that I wanted to envelope myself in.
I laughed, but it came out shaky. "You could say that."
He didn't push me and he didn't ask any further questions. With a gentle stride, he moved to the display case, and I watched him closely. The man was so damn graceful for somebody so tall.
He pulled out a cinnamon nest bun from the case and handed it over to me.
It was still fresh and warm.
"I made these about an hour ago," he said, those hazel-green eyes meeting mine again. "Was hoping you'd stop by before I closed up."
You were hoping I'd stop by, I bit at my lip.
The words settled in my chest, warm and achingly sweet.
"Kael, you don't have to…"
"I know," he said, and there was something in his gaze that made my breath catch. Something intense and vulnerable and wanting. "But I want to."
The gold in his eyes seemed brighter now. Or maybe that was just my imagination.
Either way, I couldn't look away. He had me under this thrall and I wanted to drown beneath the waves if it meant spending all my time in his company.
"Thank you," I whispered, taking the plate.
He started making my coffee without me having to ask. I didn't need to ask him if he remembered, I just knew that he would.
I watched his hands as he worked. Large hands, that were strong from kneading dough every morning but still gentle. I'd seen that same gentleness in the way he handled the pastries. Even in the way he'd brushed my fingers when passing me my coffee.
So careful.
"So," he said as he poured, his back to me. Even from behind, he was beautiful. Broad shoulders tapering to a lean waist. The way his shirt stretched across his back when he reached for something. "What made today rough?"
I hesitated because I didn't usually talk about my life with strangers. I found it easier not to let people in.
But this was Kael.
And something about the way he asked, the way he moved, the way his scent wrapped around me like a blanket, made me want to tell him.
"My mother RSVP'd to some gala for me," I said. "Without asking."
He paused, just for a second, his shoulders tensing. Then he continued pouring. "The Solas Valentine Gala?"
I blinked. "How did you know?"
He turned, sliding the coffee across the counter. Those hazel eyes were carefully neutral, but there was something there. Something he wasn't saying.
"It's a big event. Everyone's talking about it."
Duh!
Of course people were talking about it. It was probably the social event of the season for people who cared about that sort of thing. I just wasn't really that type.
"Yeah, that one," I said. "My mom thinks I need to go. Meet some 'nice Alphas.'" I made air quotes around the words, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice.
Kael's jaw tightened, just barely. But I saw it, saw the muscle jump beneath that perfect skin.
