AllFreeNovel
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Maybe you just like bossy, protective men.
“I can’t take a bath. I have to get those cupcakes to Kiesha. And I was going to bake another dozen.”
“You’re finished baking cupcakes.”
She crossed her arms over her chest, giving him a fierce look. “No one tells Isa when to get out of the kitchen.”
Okay.
“And now, apparently, I talk about myself in the third person. This is all Kiesha’s fault.”
“I think it’s . . .cute.” He placed a special emphasis on ‘cute’.
She wrinkled her nose. “I’m not cute. I’m tough. I’m strong.”
“You don’t think you can be cute as well as tough and strong?” he asked quietly.
You couldn’t, right?
It was some sort of trick question.
Toughen up, Isabelle.
It’s about time you grew up.
Stop sniveling like a girl.
You’ve got to be stronger than this to survive.
“Isabelle? Hey.”
She blinked, seeing that he was crouching in front of her again. “Um, hey.”
“Where did you just go?”
There was more concern in his face and he had a warm hand on her leg.
“Nowhere.” She bit her lip. “You really think you can be into cute, soft things, and strong at the same time?” She wasn’t sure whether she was making any sense and expected him to ask her to explain.
But she wasn’t sure that she could. Not without giving away more than she wanted to about herself. And she wasn’t ready for that. Not yet.
“Know plenty of people who like things that are considered soft, cuddly, cute,” he said. “They’re still strong. You should like what you want to like. Be who you want to be.”
She took a deep breath. “Sounds nice. But sometimes things can . . . hold people back.”
“True. Sometimes, you have to let go.”
She nodded, her head throbbing. She rubbed at her chest, then her neck.
“Bath,” he said. “Then a massage.”
“I can’t . . . Kiesha is expecting the cupcakes.” She knew she didn’t have it in her to bake and ice another batch. But she really needed to get these cupcakes down to her friend for tomorrow.
“How are you planning on getting them to her?” he asked.
“I’m going to drive . . . oh. Oh, shit.” She grimaced. “I’ll have to use Loki’s truck.”
“You don’t seem too enthused. Won’t he like that?”
