Page 61 of Where the Wind Whispers

“Enough to make the place look like you haven’t lived in it?”

“The rooms are large,” Kaz said as if that should explain it all.

It didn’t.

“Who did the shopping?” Violet asked.

Because she knew Kaz sure as hell didn’t.

The man would live off takeout.

He didn’t cook.

“Violet,” Kaz said, his hand on her hip pressing firmly enough to make her turn to face him. “Talk to me, yes?”

“I don’t …”

Kaz cocked a brow, waiting.

Violet sighed. “I don’t know what happened.”

“That makes two of us, krasivaya.” Kaz’s hands came up to cup her cheeks, his palms warm and soothing. She couldn’t stop the smile starting to form as his thumbs stroked her skin softly. Sweet. Familiar. Home. “And I happened to get you back a little sooner than expected, so I’m not going to complain about whatever it is.”

She looked away, taking in the kitchen again. “You haven’t actually used this much, have you?”

“The rooms are large,” he repeated simply, “and they’re much bigger when someone is in them alone.”

Oh.

Well …

Violet met Kaz’s gaze, and she found a million and one questions there. “I’m okay.”

“Not entirely, though.”

“It was going well,” Violet said.

“And then it wasn’t?”

“Caesar had his own plans, I think. I don’t think he’s the type to let others know what those plans are, but it worked.”

Kaz didn’t look pleased at that statement. “Do you think he’s going to be a problem in the future?”

No.

Not at all.

Violet was positive Caesar had gotten everything he wanted and more and was probably already on a plane back to Philly, ready to cause someone else more heartache and trouble. That was just the sort of person he was—he didn’t try to hide it.

“Would you have let him leave when he dropped me off if you truly thought he was a problem?” Violet asked.

Kaz chuckled. “Fair enough. Besides, I don’t want you worrying yourself over those things.”

“I’m not a wilting flower, you know.”

“Excuse me?”

Violet stood straighter, her hands coming up to tighten around Kaz’s wrists. She wanted to hold him in place like that for a moment—to keep him locked there so he could see her, hear her when she spoke.