“Like what, exactly?” He arches a brow, leaning against the wall of the elevator, looking way too casual.
“You know what.” I narrow my eyes, folding my arms across my chest.
He pushes off the wall and crosses the short distance between us. “No, I don’t. Please tell me. What do I look like?”
He’s inches away from my face, fiery intensity, lust, and so much more emanating from him. I’m shifting toward him, drawn as if pulled by a magnetic force. I need to kiss him once more before having to pretend we’re nothing but friends. God, I’m so tired of hiding from everyone.
Especially from myself.
But then the doors open and Kai steps back, a wicked smile on his face. “Guess you’ll have to tell me later.”
“You’re evil,” I hiss, not exactly pleased with the fact that I’m walking into his best friend and sister’s apartment with damp panties. I’m only slightly mollified when I see him reach down to adjust himself before exiting the elevator.
The door to an apartment opens before we even reach it, and Evie hurries down the hall.
“Aww, Gigi, I’m excited to see you, too!” Kai grins and opens his arms wide. Then she shoves past him and comes straight to me.
“Get lost, Kai. I’m excited to see Isabelle.” She hugs me tightly. And I stick my tongue out at Kai over her shoulder.
“Damn. I see how it is. Guess I’ll go find the one person who loves me.”
Evie breaks our hug and calls after her brother who’s disappearing into the apartment. “Rhett would pick me over you and you know it!”
“I meant Ruthie!” he shouts back.
“She’s mine, Kai!”
Evie gives me an apologetic look and hurries after her brother.
“Who’s Ruthie?” I ask the empty hallway, following them both. But my earlier nerves are gone.
I meet Ruthie a second later, when a gigantic, multicoloured dog comes bounding toward me, ears flapping in the wind.
“Ruthie, space.” Rhett’s command has the dog skidding to a stop just in front of me and plopping down into a sitting position.
“You can say hi now,” Rhett says, coming up with a warm smile. “Hey, Isabelle. Sorry ’bout that. Hope Kai warned you we’ve got the Godzilla of dogs over here.”
I drop down on my knees and Ruthie immediately tries to climb in my lap, covering me in wet kisses. “He didn’t, but that’s just fine. I love dogs.”
“And she has no personal space boundaries, as you can see. That’s why we’re working on the space command,” Evie says.
“And whose fault is that?” Rhett asks her, but it’s clear he’s not upset. The love between those two is almost painfully sweet.
“So this is how it’s gonna be, huh? You steal my sister and my niece-dog?” Kai drops down on the floor beside me. Ruthie spares him a look and licks the hand he reaches out, then goes right back to trying to lie down in my lap.
“She likes me better,” I reply with a smirk.
“Who? My sister or the dog?”
“Both!” Evie and I say simultaneously, then burst out laughing.
“Damn, bro, I’m sorry.” Rhett chuckles, moving into the kitchen. “Don’t worry, Yami, I still like you.”
With a huff, Kai climbs off the floor. Shooting me a mock glare, he follows Rhett. “Thanks, man. Bros before hos.” He lifts his fist, but Rhett gives him an unimpressed look.
“How many times do I have to tell you not to call the ladies that.”
Kai throws his hands up as Evie and I continue to giggle at his expense. “I can’t win tonight.”
