Chapter Nineteen
I’m home in the evening, getting ready for an early night, when my phone rings, Kai’s name flashing on the screen.
‘Hello?’ Why I pretend I don’t know it’s him, I’m not sure.
Another of thosereduction-in-intelligence-equally-relating-to-how-hot-he-iskind of things?
‘Kate.’ That one little word delivered in his honeyed tones liquefies my insides. ‘How are you?’ It’s not exactly a stimulating inquiry, but I think he could be reciting the phone book and I’d still have jelly legs. But still, I remember the dinosaur-sized bone I have to pick with him.
‘Confused.’
‘You haven’t been drinking again, have you?’
Despite hearing his smile, I’m not going to allow him to distract me. To reiterate the point, I pick up a pen from the nightstand, printing in large letters on the accompanying pad,Stay strong!
‘Are you off your rocker, Kai?’
‘I beg your pardon?’
‘Come on, who buys a virtual stranger a car?’
‘I think you and I are a little more than that.’ His tone is amused still.
I don’t reply for a moment, trying to weigh his words. ‘I can’t take it,’ I eventually manage, shaking my head.
‘Of course you can.’ Steel now joins amusement in his tone.
‘Okay, I won’t take it, then. You’ll need to sort it with Arwa, because I’ve got no idea what to say to her without making myself sound like a total—’
‘Then say nothing. Except thank you.’
‘I can’t,’ I reply, quiet but emphatic as I perch my bum on the edge of the bed. ‘You must see how this looks?’
‘To whom? Surely, the only persons concerned are on either end of this line. Besides, I haven’t personally bought you a car. It’s part of your employment contract, nothing more.’ I attempt to interject, not getting beyond an intake of breath. ‘It’s now official. To decline would be the same as refusing a promotion or a pay increase, which wouldn’t make sense. I thought you didn’t want to draw attention to our... friendship.’
Friendship.That one word. A bit like disappointed. Better than stranger, I suppose, but still not enough.
‘Consider it a perk of having a friend with influence, rather than assuming I’ll expect fringe benefits between your legs.’ His tone is even, despite the sting in his words.
‘That was a bit harsh.’
‘You think I’m being harsh? That’s rich.’
‘That’s not what I think. I’m saying that’s how itlooks.It makes me feel uncomfortable, Kai.’
‘And you think by hanging onto this discomfort, this fear of what others might say, you’re being strong? Sometimes the greatest strength is in knowing when to let go.’ Why do I feel that he isn’t only talking about the car? ‘Can’t you let me do this one thing?’
‘What kind of car is it?’ My voice is tiny, but I can’t help ask, which makes him laugh. Which in turn, makes me cringe. ‘Don’t,’ I protest. ‘I’ve never had a new car before, that’s all.’ God, I feel so conflicted, as if I wasn’t loaded up enough before.
‘I don’t know, perhaps a small SUV. You’ll just have to wait and see. Are you at home?’
‘What? Yeah, I’m just about ready for bed.’ I perch my butt further on the item in question.
‘I just bet you are.’ This time, his laugh is absolutely indecent and the first indicator that our conversation is turning down Smutty Street.
‘Bad kitty,’ he scolds playfully. ‘Leading me neatly to the point where I just have to ask what you’re wearing.’
My stomach flips again, his words like fingertips playing down my spine. Unsure of how to respond, I laugh, aiming for flirtatious, though I’d settle for anything other than manic right about now. I glance down at my ensemble.Does he really want to know?
