Page 101 of Unsuitable

I hear him growl again, and then heavy footsteps follow me into the kitchen.

“For fuck’s sake, Daisy! I said I was sorry!”

I spin on the spot. “Oh, well, that’s okay then! Kas says he’s sorry, and everything is right in the world again.” Letting out a hollow laugh, I throw my hands up in the air.

His brows crash together. “Jesus,” he barks. “Just what is it that you want from me?”

“Nothing!” I yell. “I didn’t ask for any of this! You were the one who kissed me—both times! Then, you acted like a total head case afterward! And I told you that I wouldn’t talk about this with you! So, stop following me!”

I stamp my heel, and then I turn and start to walk away. I make it to the utility doorway when his voice stops me.

“I don’t know how to do this.”

It’s not just the words. It’s the way his voice sounded when saying the words—helpless.

It surprises me because helpless is never a word I would have thought in relation to Kas. Arrogant, overly confident, and a giant pain in my arse. But never helpless.

I slowly turn back to him. He looks defenseless and lost. It’s in the pull of his dark brows. In the tightening around his eyes. The downturn of his lips.

It tugs on something inside my chest, curling around my heart.

“You don’t know how to do what?” I ask in a quiet voice.

“This.” He gestures at the space between us.

“I don’t understand.” I gently shake my head.

“Relationships,” he says, frustrated, instantly getting my back up. “I don’t fucking know how to do relationships.”

I let out a disbelieving laugh. “I’m not asking you for a relationship. Jesus Christ! We kissed—twice. You went cold and walked out on me—twice. End of story.”

“I don’t want it to be the end.” His words are soft with meaning, but I can’t feel it right now. I’m too raw.

“I don’t care what you want. Just like you didn’t care what I wanted both times you walked out on me. There’s only so much rejection and humiliation that one person can take, and I’ve reached my fill. At work, we’ll talk when necessary and be cordial. But, aside from that, I’m done, Kas.”

Something that looks a lot like unrest and frustration and hurt enters his gaze.

I ignore his pain and focus on my own.

He wraps his arms around his chest, moving his stance. “If that’s what you want,” he says quietly.

I laugh, and it sounds as empty as I feel.

Yeah, this is what I want. Because I was the one who caused all this—not.

Sighing, I shake my head and pass him to leave the kitchen.

When I reach the door, I stop.

He’s facing away from me.

“Oh, and just so you know, I’m going out with Cooper tonight, just in case you wanted to let the horses out again.”

I see his shoulders tense before I turn and walk out of there.

My feet hit the stairs, and I’m already regretting my parting shot. It was petty and hurtful, and I shouldn’t have said it. But he just gets under my skin like no other. And it’s too late now. It’s not like I’m going to go downstairs and tell him that I am actually canceling my date with Cooper.

But then I’m sure he’ll hear that on the grapevine soon enough.