He grimaces. “Plenty of time alone. Better than starving.”
“And this meal?”
“Chili and cornbread, nothing special.”
“Smells amazing.”
Pride washes over his face for one second. Or maybe it’s something else. All I know is that the next moment, he shuts back down, guarded.
“Wait and see before making a judgment, primrose,” he grumbles.
“Primrose?” I scowl.
“Suits you.”
“How so?”
“Maybe someday I’ll tell you,” he says, grim-faced. But then he winks, and my insides melt. “Now, back to this meal. I can make no guarantees. But I figured you could use a night off.”
“Thank you.” I grin, cocking my head toward him. “And if it’s not good?” I hold up my long neck. “I’ll have another of these to dampen the tastebuds.”
He chuckles, nodding toward the fridge. “Hope you’re well-stocked.”
“You should give yourself more credit. Can’t bethatbad.”
He shrugs, a new vulnerability tugging at the edges of his mouth. Something I haven’t seen before.
“A girl could get used to this, you know.”
His head darts up. “Don’t.” It comes out too firm. Maybe a little panicked.
“Just like my mama always says. A rolling stone gathers no moss.”
“Or complications,” he adds, taking a long drink from his bottle.
I chuckle, smiling from ear to ear now. “Maybe not. But I’d be lying if I didn’t admit you’re the best complication I’ve had in a while.”
His face storms. “That why you watch me from the window in the evenings?”
Oh my God. Never have I begged the ground to swallow me more.
His gaze narrows. “Not that I wouldn’t do the same if you were a little less modest.”
“Oh.” It comes out like a puff of air.
His face darkens, white, straight teeth flashing in a lopsided grin. New, too. “Nothing wrong with curiosity. Staying, though. That’s not part of the proposition. Need to remember that.”
Anger surges. This feels too much like being called out and rejected simultaneously. “What you think you saw, Kael, I don’t know. But you’re reading too much into it.”
He sets the ladle down, putting his hands on his hips. “Not saw,felt.”
The last word is visceral. I can taste it. It presses against my skin, his eyes digging deep, taking me apart.
“It’s too hot in here,” I say, too fast, standing up. “If you don’t need anything else, I’ll be outside.”
His face is granite. He nods once, and I head for the front door, fanning myself.
Outside, I pace, scolding myself under my breath.No more peeping on him. No more flirting. You know better, Eliza.
