“Thanks.” I got to my feet.
His smirk returned. “Gonna need to order a property vest?”
I didn’t hesitate, meeting his gaze head-on. “Yeah.”
Edge chuckled, twirling his knife once more. “Fuck me. Never thought I’d see you drop your guard this fast.”
I shook my head, turning to the door before he could needle me further. “See you later, brother.”
I ignored the satisfied laughter in Edge’s voice as I stepped out into the hall, leaving him chuckling softly behind me.
8
CAGE
By the time I got home, the scent of something rich and savory drifted from the kitchen, wrapping around me the moment I stepped through the front door. It was warm and inviting as I moved quietly through the entry to the kitchen, stopping short in the doorway when I spotted Hadley. She sat at the table, her legs crossed beneath her and eyes focused intently on the laptop in front of her.
Her hair partially hid her face as she absently tucked a strand behind her ear. She still wore my sweats and my old T-shirt that hung loose around her slender frame. Fucking hell, I didn’t think seeing her wrapped in my clothes was ever gonna fail to light me up. My cock instantly strained against my jeans in a painful surge of possessive heat.
I cleared my throat softly, not wanting to startle her, but Hadley still jumped a little as her gaze jerked toward me. A bright blush immediately tinted her cheeks, spreading down her neck as she closed the laptop and offered me a shy smile. “Hey, you’re back.”
“Yeah.” I stepped fully into the kitchen, drawn closer as if by a magnetic force. I sniffed the air again, and my mouth watered.I didn’t even realize how hungry I was, having forgotten to eat lunch. Leaning down to brush my lips lightly over hers, I asked, “You making something?”
She bit her bottom lip, her blush deepening as she gestured to the oven. “Lasagna. I wanted to do something to thank you for taking care of me last night.” Her voice trailed off into a softer tone, embarrassment shading her beautiful green eyes. “I hope you don’t mind—I raided your kitchen. It felt like the least I could do.”
Warmth practically exploded in my chest at the thought of her cooking dinner like she belonged here. Which she did, even if she hadn’t realized it yet.
“You didn’t have to do that, baby. But it smells fucking amazing.”
She brightened instantly, her tension fading as she giggled. “Good. I figured I owed you at least one home-cooked meal for all the trouble.”
“You’re no trouble, Hadley.”
She licked her lips, and I debated whether to kiss her again when the oven beeped. I sat at the table and watched her move swiftly to the appliance, her curvy hips swaying alluringly. She donned a pair of mitts before opening the door and taking out the heavenly smelling dish. My stomach growled at the sight of the bubbling cheese on top, causing Hadley to burst into laughter.
“You made that from scratch?” I queried, impressed.
Hadley shrugged as she set the lasagna on a cooling pad. “I’ve always enjoyed cooking. Spatula?” I pointed her to the right drawer, and she continued. “My mother approved of the hobby since it would appeal to prospective husbands. Especially if they have to entertain at home.”
I frowned at the flat tone in her voice. She sounded like she’d memorized a brochure…or the description of an itembeing auctioned off. Which was probably more accurate than she realized. My hands clenched on my lap beneath the table, and I tried not to picture them around her mother’s neck.
She padded back to the table and started to clear her things, reaching carefully to gather her laptop and a scattering of notebooks and pens. My gaze caught briefly on the pages—notes from an online course she must’ve been studying for. But my eyes quickly drifted back to her, tracking every graceful movement of her body.
She dropped a pencil on the floor and bent to pick it up. When she straightened, she wobbled a little and put a hand to her head, her eyes clouded with pain.
“Easy,” I warned as I stepped closer, my hand brushing the small of her back to steady her movements. She looked up at me, something soft flickering in her eyes as I took everything from her grasp. “Don’t push yourself yet. You’re still healing.”
She sighed, looking a little sheepish. “Right. I keep forgetting because it only bothers me when my head moves quickly or I stand up too fast.”
“Give it a few days,” I murmured as I slid one hand around to cup the back of her head. I tugged lightly on her hair so I could take a closer look at her wound. “It’s looking good, though. Already a little less red than last night.”
“Does that mean I’m okay to drive?”
My mouth curved down at the edges as I dropped my gaze to meet hers. “Why?”
Hadley’s lips formed a cute little pout for a second before she wiped it away, and her mask fell neatly into place. “I have a thing tonight. A function my parents expect me to attend.”
The mention of her parents dragging her to some function made my blood run cold, my jaw clenching hard at the reminder that they treated her like a fucking show pony. Except ponies usually got a rubdown and treats after an event. I was willingto bet that most of the time, all Hadley got was a lecture on everything she could have done better.
