“I’m a pretty vague person.” Dakota tried for a smile. “Mystery and intrigue, you know?”
“Uh-huh.” Kivani didn’t push, but something in his expression said he understood more than Dakota was saying. “Well, for what it’s worth, I’m glad you ended up here.”
Dakota’s heart did that fluttering thing again. He looked down at the fries, at his abandoned salad, anywhere but at Kivani’s face. “Thanks. Me too. I think.”
They finished eating in comfortable quiet, and when Jace brought the check, Kivani grabbed it before Dakota could reach for it.
“I invited you,” Kivani said. “My treat.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“I know I don’t have to. I want to.” Kivani pulled out his wallet and left cash on the table. “Come on.”
Outside, the temperature had dropped further. Dakota’s breath came out in small clouds, and he stuffed his hands in his pockets. They walked back toward the taffy shop, their footsteps echoing on the empty sidewalk.
They reached the building too quickly. Kivani held the door open, and Dakota slipped past him into the hallway. The taffy shop was dark, closed for the night. Their footsteps echoed on the stairs.
At Dakota’s door, they both stopped. Dakota pulled out his keys and turned them over in his hands. “Thanks for dinner.”
“Anytime.” Kivani had his hands in his pockets, shoulders relaxed. “And hey, if that guy keeps bothering you, let me know.”
“What, you’ll beat him up for me?” Dakota tried to make it sound teasing, but it came out too soft.
“I was thinking more like we could block his number. But I’m flexible.”
Dakota laughed despite himself. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Good.” Kivani took a step back. “See you around, Dakota.”
“Yeah. See you.” He let himself into his apartment and leaned against the closed door, his hands still shaking slightly.
The apartment felt too quiet. He kicked off his shoes and went to the window, looking out at the dark street below. A couple walked past, holding hands. The bookstore next to the diner was still lit up, someone moving around inside.
He thought about Kivani’s smile across the table. The way he’d eaten his burger without any self-consciousness, sauce on his fingers and complete comfort in his own skin. The way he’d given Dakota space after that phone call, hadn’t pried or pushed or demanded explanations.
Pressing his forehead against the cool glass, he prayed Bennett left him alone.
Chapter Three
The sound came from below, muffled noises that cut through the silence of his apartment. Dakota sat up in bed, his heart already racing. He grabbed his phone from the nightstand and checked the time. Two forty-three in the morning.
Another sound, louder this time. Something heavy hitting the floor.
Dakota swung his legs out of bed and stood there for a moment, listening. The building was old, and sounds traveled through the walls and floors easily enough that he’d learned to tune most of them out. But this was different. This was coming from the taffy shop.
He pulled on his jeans from earlier, not bothering with a belt, and crept toward the door in his socks. His phone went into his front pocket. The hallway was dark when he opened the door, just the faint glow of an exit sign at the far end casting everything in red.
The stairs creaked under his weight no matter how carefully he tried to step. Dakota winced at each sound, his pulse hammering in his ears. Maybe it was just Kivani. Maybe he was working late. But why would he be making so much noise?
At the bottom of the stairs, Dakota paused at the door that led into the shop. Light spilled out from under it, golden and warm. He pressed his ear against the wood and heard movement inside, footsteps, something scraping across the floor.
He should go back upstairs. Call someone. Let someone else deal with whatever this was.
But his hand was already on the doorknob, already turning it slowly. The door opened with barely a whisper, and Dakota slipped inside.
The shop looked like a tornado had torn through it. Display cases stood open, their contents scattered across the floor. Boxes of taffy were stacked haphazardly on the counter, some tipped over with wrapped candies spilling out. The copper pulling machine sat at an odd angle, like someone had moved it and not bothered to put it back properly.
Dakota’s eyes tracked the mess, his mind trying to make sense of it. Then he saw Kivani.
