I groan, looking at myself in desperation in the mirror. “Help,” my eyes seem to plead. I haven’t gotten laid in far too long if this is how I react to the first attractive man I come across.
As soon as the thought crosses my mind, I instantly shoot it down. I’m not just drawn to Kane because he’s hot as hell—it has also been unnervingly easy to talk to him.
Based on his appearance alone, I never would have guessed he was this sweet.
Don’t ask me how I can already tell all of this about the man after spending only an hour with him, but I feel like I’ve known him for far longer.
I take a deep breath and grab a paper towel to pat my face dry. He doesn’t need to think I was sweating to death in here or something.
Speaking of which… I need to get back out there or him thinking I was sweating in here for this long will be the least of my worries. He’s far too hot to be contemplating my bathroom activities.
I smile, finding him sitting in the same spot where I left him. As if sensing me, he peeks over his shoulder. The slight tilt of his lips melts a piece of my heart.
I have a feeling he doesn’t give his smiles away freely, so being on the receiving end of one feels special.
“You stayed,” I say, sitting beside him. There’s a hint of surprise in my voice. I guess I half expected him to disappear while I was gone.
“I’m right where I want to be right now.” His eyes stay trained on me while he drains the rest of the whiskey in his glass.
It lands with aclinkagainst the bar top when he sets it down.
“I am too.” My teeth drag across my bottom lip.
His eyes zero in on my mouth, heat blazing in his eyes. He visibly swallows before dragging his eyes up to meet mine. He doesn’t say anything for a minute, and I can tell he’s contemplating something.
His voice is quieter than before when he finally speaks with a note of vulnerability in his words. “I don’t want to be alone tonight.”
It’s my turn to swallow through the tightness in my throat. There’s a softness in his eyes that makes me want to wrap my arms around him and hold him tight in hopes of shoving all his demons away.
He might be twice my size, but the urge to protect him burns inside of me.
“I don’t either.” I reach over, sliding my hand over his. “Come home with me?”
He blinks at me a few times, like he’s shocked I just asked him that. I have a brief moment of panic, thinking I said the wrong thing, before he gives a small nod.
“I want that more than pretty much anything.”
I give his hand a squeeze. “Then, let’s go.”
He pulls out some bills from his wallet and hands them to Benny before I can even attempt to pay for my drinks.
“Thank you.”
He just nods.
Benny grabs one of the disposable coasters and jots something across the back. He hands it over to Kane. “In case you ever need to talk again. I’m a pretty good listener.”
Kane’s eyes dart between the coaster and Benny a few times. “You are.” He slides the cardboard into the back pocket of his jeans. “Thanks, Benny. It was nice to meet you.”
“You too,” Benny says with a knowing look in his eyes.
I don’t know exactly what he knows, but it appears to be something. With that, he turns to make a drink for someone on the far end of the bar.
The cold air smacks me in the face when we step outside. It’s a good thing my house is only a few blocks away.
“We can walk to my place.” I point in the direction we need to go.
He nods, walking beside me. Without missing a step, he drapes his leather coat over my shoulders. “Why aren’t you wearing a fucking coat?” he asks.
