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Striding over to the front door, I’m scowling, already knowing who it is. Opening the door, I growl, “Duke!” I halt. “Kendall?”
Kendall’s clutching the box I sent her in her arms and she’s far too pale for my comfort, her eyes dark and tired. They widen on seeing me in just a towel.
I don’t make any attempt to change when I see her unwillingly check me out. “Come in,” I say, stepping aside.
She wavers. “I just came to return this.” She holds out the box to me, her cheeks flushing prettily at my half-nakedness.
“Come in,” I repeat.
She gives my towel a meaningful look before meeting my gaze and her pupils dilate as she attempts to keep her voice steady. “I don’t think you’re in any state to be receiving guests.”
“Give me a minute and I will be. I want to have a word with you.” I raise a brow,
The command in my voice makes her fidget before she sighs and walks in, her shoulders stiff.
I leave her to her devices to go pull on a pair of jeans. I deliberately forego the shirt.
When I walk back into the living room, she’s still standing, her feet having taken her to the bookshelf and she’s studying the titles. “You have a lot of books on criminal law,” she says, her back to me.
I tuck my hands in the pockets of my jeans and make a small noise of agreement.
She turns around and her eyes narrow when she sees that I’m shirtless.
I silently dare her to comment on it, but she purses her lips together and chooses to ignore it, to my disappointment.
“I can’t accept this.” She points towards the box she’s put down. “Return it.”
I take a few steps towards her and to my utmost delight, she doesn’t back down, raising her chin instead, a defiant look in her eyes.
“I can’t. I removed the tags.” I smile, smugly.
“Well, then.” She gives me a steady look. “You’d better look good in red because I don’t plan on wearing that.”
A bark of laughter is forced from my throat at her deliberate insult.
She looks offended.
“Kendall, wear the dress.”
Her fists clench. “I can buy my own. I don’t need you buying me things.”
My smile slips at that, annoyance replacing amusement, as I demand, “Why the hell not?”
She looks so frustrated. “Because you’re my boss, Caleb! And I’m living in your building rent-free, and you got me an entire wardrobe, which by the way, isn’t commonplace, and now you’re making me go as your date to a very public event.”
I shake my head. “There’s nothing—”
“You’re making me feel cheap!” she cuts me off, the words ripped from her. “Like I’m some sort of kept woman!”
Fury encompasses me at her words, at the insult she tosses at both of us, and without knowing it, I’ve covered the distance between us, as I snarl, “I would never insult you like that!” I’m glaring down at her.
She doesn’t budge. “Well, you’re doing a piss poor job of showing that.”
I have the urge to kiss this frustrating woman, but I hold myself back, fighting with myself to calm down. “You have no idea what’s going on.”
Kendall grinds her teeth. “So, tell me! Tell me why you’re giving me all these things. You’re going over and beyond what you should be doing. This dress is worth more than a thousand dollars. I just checked. And those are real diamonds!” Now, she takes a step back, a flash of vulnerability on her face, her voice uncertain, “Whatever game you’re trying to play, I can’t afford it, Caleb. I have too much at stake.”
My hands curl into fists inside my pockets, and I suddenly want to come clean, to tell her everything but there’s a very good chance she might leave and never come back, and that’s the only thing holding me back. “It’s not what you think, Kendall.” I try to fix this situation, but I can see it isn’t working.
