“I’m not leaving without my girl, so I’m staying.”
“Kash! Stop it.” Mila scowls at me. Glancing back at the tyrant, she softens her expression. “I apologize for my boyfriend, Lucile. He sometimes lacks a filter,” she adds while giving me a pointed look.
Tyrant Lucile looks from Mila to me, then crosses her arms. “Both of you, out of my kitchen.”
Mila’s jaw drops open, and I swear I hear Cora laugh before she covers the sound with a cough.
“Why do I have to leave?” Mila looks at her incredulously.
“He’s trouble and you excuse it. You can leave as well.”
I can feel the stare of the other two couples who are suffering through this with us. I don’t know them personally, but I think we’re all about to be bonded forever.
Mila stares at Lucile, then shakes her head. “Fine,troubleand I are leaving. But just so you know Lucile, it’s dough 101 that you use cold butter. No one uses anything that’s room temperature.” She turns to look at me. “As a professional, I can show you theproperway to do it at home.”
Mila grabs my hand, then drags me behind her, muttering as she goes. For having such little legs, she moves fast. I only catch a word or two, butunbelievableandpunishmentregister in my brain. I’m hard as a rock as we walk back toward my car. There is crusted flour and butter on the apron that I’m still wearing. I guess I’ll be keeping that as a souvenir.
The whole time Mila is going off, all I can do is stare at her ass as she angrily walks toward my SUV. I think Atlas might be onto something about being defective. The only thing I can think of as she ripsopen the car door, then shuts it before I can, is that I can’t wait to get home.
My body tingles in anticipation as I climb into my seat and start the car. Feeling her gaze, I turn toward her.
“If you think your punishment is over, you’re so wrong, Casanova. Home. Now.”
Pulling out onto the street, I barely contain the grin threatening to break free.
I’m in so much trouble.
Chapter Forty-Eight
Mila
“As soon as my apartment is done, I’m moving back.” Tossing my keys onto the entry table, I whirl around and glare at Kash. What was supposed to be a fun evening for us turned into a nightmare. I don’t think I’ve ever been so embarrassed and angry at the same time. Kash wasn’t behaving that badly, but that woman was over-the-top. It felt like a tame punishment, but I figured if Kash saw just how much work goes into making things for people from scratch, he would back off a bit and maybe not act so crazed. It doesn’t matter who is in the kitchen, or who orders from me, I’m always going to have to talk to someone else.
“Okay, it’ll be a bit cramped for us, but I’m sure we can make it work.”
“No. I’m moving back to be by myself. I wanted one night out, maybe try something new, and you promised to behave.”
“First, I did behave.”Mostly. “Second, Atlas was making fun of my doughy ball; plus, that woman was mean.” Kash huffs, crossing his arms over his chest, a dark look marring his face. “And third, there was no way in hell you or Cora was going to work with some other guy.”
“You are seriously deranged. Did you know that?”
“Of course I do.” He stalks toward me, his steps slow but purposeful. “I knew from the moment I met you that I would keep everyone else away, no matter the cost or what I would have to do. You have no idea the things I’ve imagined doing to people I see looking at you. If you think I’m deranged like this, be glad you can’t read my mind.”
For every step he takes, I take one back. “I can’t let anythinghappen to you, Mila. You have no idea what it would do to me to lose you.”
Softening at his words, I stop. I’m still mad at him, embarrassed really, but sometimes I forget that Kash didn’t grow up like I did. His dad was taken from him and his mom just left. I think he’s either waiting for something to happen to me, or for someone to try and take me away. “Kash, nothing is going to happen to me.”
“You don’t know that.” Kash tugs me into an embrace, tucking me tightly against his chest, and his arms wrap around me in a giant hug. Sliding my arms around his waist, I rest my head against him, trying to let go of my frustration and anger. I need to know that I can rely on him to be reasonable and open.
“We can’t function like this, Casanova.”
Kissing the top of my head, Kash pulls back to meet my gaze. “I’m sorry I upset you, Sunshine. It wasn’t my intention, but that woman hated me from the start.”
“I want to do couple things with you, but not if this is how it’s going to go.”
“We can do all the couple things you want, my sweet Sunshine. In fact, let me make it up to you. Let me show you how sorry I am.” Kash grabs me around the waist and then suddenly I’m airborne.
“Put me down, you lunatic!” Smacking at his back, I try to move myself upright, but his palm lands against my backside. “Ow!”
