I mustered up a smile and opened the door. He just cocked his head to the side and barged right in.
“This is where you live?” he sounded flabbergasted. “You don’t even have a doorman. Anyone could just come right up here.”
“What, you mean like you?” I rolled my eyes. “What are you even doing here, Kane? It’s Sunday, remember…my day off?”
“Since when have you ever been bothered by spending time with me?” he smirked.
It was a joke, but one that I didn’t find particularly humorous. I crossed my arms and his eyes trailed over my clothes as though he were just now noticing them.
“What are you wearing?”
I didn’t get a chance to answer, because a moment later, his eyes found the paintings behind me. I swallowed the lump in my throat as he walked over and inspected them.
“I didn’t know you painted.”
His voice held a hint of awe, and it socked me right in that place inside of my heart I’d reserved for him. The one I was trying so desperately to close off.
“Why would you? You’re too busy working me to death,” I retorted. The usual snark was missing from my voice, and he didn’t miss it.
He turned around and stared at me again, like he was really seeing me for the first time. A beat passed, and I had to tear my gaze away. I couldn’t look at him.
He was too damn beautiful. Too perfect.
The phrase tall, dark, and handsome was created in his honor. Black hair, olive skin, and chocolate eyes. The eyes that melted all of my common sense and cracked my resolve every last time.
“Aspen, I…”
He stuttered over his words, and it caught me off guard. Kane Stryker never stuttered. He never looked uncertain. But here in my apartment, next to my sad paintings and meager belongings, it was clear I had thrown him for a loop.
“Do you need a doctor or something?” he asked.
“What?” I blinked. Did he think I had gone mental?
“You said you were sick the night of the charity ball,” he explained. “And ever since then… you’ve been acting a little strange. I was just wondering if…” He cleared his throat. “You needed a doctor or something.”
I couldn’t help it. I laughed. This was Kane’s version of trying to be helpful. He had no clue when it came to women, but then again, he didn’t need to. He had women falling all over themselves to get into his bed, and I was quite certain he probably took them up on those offers frequently.
“I’m fine, Kane.” I shrugged.
“Okay.” He didn’t look convinced. “I just can’t believe you missed it. It’s your favorite event of the year.”
“It is,” I agreed. “But you had someone else to accompany you anyway, so it wasn’t like it mattered. I didn’t put you out, did I?”
I was going for casual indifference, but my voice was still icy. Kane could tell.
“It was just a business arrangement,” he said. “Alayna’s publicist set it up months ago, and I wasn’t thinking clearly when I agreed to it.”
“Kane, why don’t you just tell me what you need,” I suggested. I couldn’t have this conversation.
“Do I have to need something?” he pouted.
We both laughed then. “You wouldn’t be here if you didn’t.”
“Alright,” he admitted. “You’re right. As always. I need you to come Christmas shopping with me.”
“Now?” I asked in disbelief. “Christmas is in four days. Are you crazy?”
“So I’m a little late to the party.” He shrugged. “I could just ask you to do it yourself. It does fall under your job description.”
