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“My phone? Why?”
“She said she’d rather call you than me if she needed something. She hates the idea of her brother running to her rescue.”
My chest warmed. Well, even if Kit and I weren’t going to last, at least my friendship with Dakota was growing. Against all odds, she trusted me.
I crossed the room to pick up my phone from where it lay charging on my dresser. “No missed calls or texts.”
Kit exhaled. “Good. That’s good.”
“Maybe there’s time for a quick shower before you leave?” I suggested.
He looked tempted, but eventually he shook his head no.
“Better not,” he said. “This is two nights out for Dakota. Even if she makes it home and everything is fine, she might need a little TLC.”
“Does she not usually go out at all, then?” I asked as Kit grabbed his pants from the floor and stepped into each leg.
“Not at night. Not much, no.”
“Oh.” My chest tightened. “So last night, when we went to the drag show, you were just as worried?”
He glanced over his shoulder. “I always worry.”
“You could have checked in with me,” I said. “I was looking after her.”
He huffed. “Or I could have just gone, but Dakota didn’t want me there. And since she was going with you, I couldn’t even come over here. I had to sit around all night, waiting for her like our goddamned golden retriever.”
His lip pushed out slightly in a sulk. My insides fluttered. Was Kit worried about Dakota or just jealous? And if he was jealous, was he jealous that Dakota left him behind or that he’d missed out on time with me?
It was stupid to hope. Kit had told me in no uncertain terms he’d never see me as anything but the man who’d hurt his sister. But my heart ached to be his, and I couldn’t help the tiny flicker that lived inside. The flame that kept going, despite how pointless it seemed.
I was already in love with Kit. Had been from the moment I fell to my knees, begging him to punish me. Maybe I always would be.
CHAPTER 24
KIT
Dakota rolled into the kitchen while I made my coffee, looking a little wrung out. She wore her favorite pair of soft, worn-in sweats and an old Riverton High Cornjerkers T-shirt—ridiculous mascot we had—and her hair was in a sloppy bun.
New Horizons had taken on a last-minute project on a tight timeline—and she’d been checking in on the work site every day, troubleshooting problems, and then going out with dreamy Felipe every evening. She was pushing herself too hard. For the average person, that might mean feeling a little tired or stressed. For Dakota, it could be life-threatening.
“Morning,” I said. “You feeling okay? You might need to slow down on burning the candle at both ends.”
“You would say that,” she muttered.
“You don’t want to get a pressure sore from spending too much time—”
“Kit,” she said sharply. “Don’t you dare lecture me this morning. I swear to god.”
That stung. “I’m just trying to look out for you.”
“And I’m a grown-up,” she said irritably. “I don’t need a keeper.”
Pogo whined, sensing the tension. He nuzzled into Dakota’s lap. She stroked his ears. “It’s okay, sweetie. How about you go outside so Auntie Dakota can have a chat with Uncle Kit? Hm?”
I set down my coffee. “I’ll get the—”
“I got it.” She glared me down, so I raised my hands and stayed put while Dakota rolled over to the sliding kitchen doors and urged Pogo outside.
