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It works.
Of course, I’m also obsessing about last night, and that’s not good.
Hence, the rage.
And the baking.
“Best sex of my damn life,” I mutter, setting the hand mixer aside. I reach for a spatula and get to work scraping the dough off the sides of the bowl. “Of my life. And he’s a stranger. I had sex with a stranger.”
I blink rapidly, wondering what the hell I was thinking. Sure, Kane may be sexy and artsy and charming and kind of mysterious.
Did I mention sexy?
Because I had no idea. If I thought just the glimpse of ink on his arm was hot, it was the treat of the century when he got naked.
Naked Kane is fucking ridiculous.
And he knows what to do with a woman’s body, bless him. Also? Don’t even get me started on that accent. It’s thicker when he’s turned on, and he even said some words I didn’t understand, which only made me wetter and want more.
But it was a one-night stand. And now that I know how good it is, I’m ruined for all time with any other man. Because no one will ever make my body hum the way Kane O’Callaghan did.
If I’m being honest, it’s still humming.
Eight hours later.
I sigh, brush loose strands of hair off my cheek, and shriek when I turn around to find my brother, Archer, standing behind me.
“I knocked,” he says, his hands up in surrender.
“I didn’t hear it.”
“I know. You were too busy muttering things about sex to yourself. Yes, Lia called me, and no, I don’t want details.”
“That means the whole family knows.”
“They do.” He sidles up to my pile of scrap cake and shoves a big piece into his mouth.
“That’s not for you.”
“They’re scraps,” he says with his mouth full, spraying pieces of chocolate cake on my countertop.
“That’s not sanitary.”
“Pretty sure not much of what you did last night is sanitary. But again, I don’t want to know.”
“Why are you here?”
Archer grins. “Because I love you.”
“You love my scraps.”
He chomps happily. Keeping Archer and our cousin, Will, full is an ongoing battle. The two of them eat constantly.
“Wanna talk about him?” Archer asks.
“No. There’s nothing to talk about. It was a one-time thing.”
His face doesn’t change, but I know this isn’t what my overprotective brother wants to hear.
“Did he say that?”
“It was totally implied—and expected—from the beginning.” I pour the batter into a round pan and slide it into the oven. “I left in the middle of the night.”
“So, no goodbye? Or was he awake when you left?”
“He was asleep.” I frown. “I couldn’t sleep, and I didn’t want an awkward goodbye this morning, so I slunk out and did the walk of shame through the lobby.”
“You’re a grown woman who can decide who she chooses to spend her time with. No shame in that.”
I love my big brother. Archer is protective, but he’s not a caveman about it. If I told him that Kane hurt me, which he did not, Archer would kick his ass.
But if I just want to talk without being judged, Archer will do that, too.
“You’re right. And I had a good time.”
“Then why were you muttering and trying to kill the mixing bowl when I walked in?”
I shrug a shoulder and brush my hair out of my eyes again. “Because I feel ridiculous.”
“Well, you should. This scrap pile is puny, and I’m hungry.”
“If I feed you cake all day, that will be my rent money for the month.”
“I don’t ask you to pay me rent, so whatever.”
I laugh and pull a whole cake out of the fridge. The client changed their mind on the flavor of their cake at the last minute, so I have an extra.
I slide it over to Archer with a fork and watch as his stupidly handsome face breaks out into a wide grin.
“For me?”
“For you. Don’t make yourself sick. Also? You’re going to get fat if you keep eating all of this cake.”
“Worth it,” he says and shoves a big bite into his mouth. “Will you still love me if I have a big belly?”
I laugh and take a bite for myself. It’s pretty good. Not dry. And the frosting is so good. I found the perfect recipe for buttercream.
I could eat it by the bucketful.
“So, no future with Mr. Glassman?”
“Uh, no.” I toss my plastic fork into the trash and reach for a clean bowl. “He’s a famous artist, and he found me interesting for five minutes. And I’m busy with cakes. Not to mention, he lives in Ireland part of the year.”
“How horrible. Yes, he’s awful. I can see why you bailed.”
“You’re a pain in my ass.”
He smiles, cake in his teeth, and makes me laugh again. “That’s what brothers are for, remember? Oh, Mom and Dad want to have dinner next weekend. The whole family’s going to be there.”
