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Wow. I guess I didn’t even imagine that Kane ever did something that important in the army. I mean…I guess I don’t really know anything about the differences between military branches anyway. It explains why he is the way he is though, and it suits him perfectly. Now I’m just imagining him in a uniform, bossing people around…

“What you smiling like that for?” His deep voice tears me out of my fun daydream and I shake my head.

“Nothing! I just think it’s really awesome. You’ve done a lot.”

“Yeah, I guess,” he says, pulling the first steak off the heat. “You two go sit down already, you’re talking my ear off while I concentrate.”

The sudden dinner was delicious, but I know Kane was staring daggers into Mason because of how much we talked. He’s a super nice and outgoing guy, and he’s easy to talk to. I’m surprised Kane would be so close to someone like that because he seems like he prefers the quiet, and Mason is very…opposite of quiet.

I feel like I finally got to learn more about him tonight, though. I wish I could ask a million more questions, but I’m trying not to act too crazy since he only just agreed today to let me come around and text him whenever.

Okay…he didn’t say I could text him whenever. But he gave me his number, and he can tell I like to talk a lot, right? So he must expect it.

“It’s late, I’m gonna drive you back to your place,” he says, standing up and grabbing my empty plate for me.

“Oh, you don’t have t⁠—”

“I didn’t ask, did I?”

I slowly shake my head, and Mason whistles. “Well, I’m gonna go take a shower finally. It was nice to meet you, Layla, I’m sure I’ll see you again real soon.”

“You, too!” I smile. I stand up and grab my purse but when I try to turn, Kane appears behind me and holds me still with my back pressed against him.

“You two are getting awfully cozy.”

Oh.

My.

God.

Is he jealous? Like actually jealous? Like he likes me, and he’s upset because he thinks I could like someone else?

Breathe, Layla.

“O-oh? I don’t think so. I’m just being nice.”

“Didn’t your daddy ever teach you not to be too nice to men you don’t know?”

“Um, well, he wasn’t around so…” Nice reply. Now he’s going to think you’re deranged because you have daddy issues.

Wait. Am I deranged because I have daddy issues?

“Then I’m going to tell you. Don’t be nice to men you don’t know. And if you’re going to a club this weekend, you better remember that. Got it?”

Yes daddy.

“You’ve got to stop doing that to me,” he growls in my ear.

Oh crap! Did I say that out loud?

“Come on.” He steps back and slaps my ass as if to tell me to get going, causing a small yelp from me.

And I’d be damned if I didn’t secretly have the biggest smile on my face.

“I don’t know, I thought about it, and I guess it wouldn’t be too bad,” I say loudly, hoping Crystal can hear me on speaker as I’m far from my phone trying to clean up my living room.

“Yay! This is so exciting! Okay, in that case, maybe I’ll meet you at your place since you’re already near downtown? Then we can just get ready together. Oh! Your gift is totally late too, so I doubt it’ll come in time for this weekend.”