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“I’ll admit I am,” Kendra said.
When his gaze connected with hers, she was further confused by the hint of devilment dancing in his green eyes. Her stomach flipped. But he just gave the boys a long stare before turning back to the stove. “How’s your juice?”
Noah elbowed Cody. “Your turn,” he whispered.
Cody took a sip, then a swallow. “It’s good,” he said in a normal voice.
Kendra reached for a second pancake when Colton took a seat kitty-corner from her. Their knees bumped. A flash of awareness shot through her and she shifted away. Eyes downcast, she finished about the same time as the boys and followed them to the kitchen sink with her plate.
“Don’t forget to thank Colton for breakfast,” she reminded.
“Thank you,” they said in unison.
“Your welcome—hey, rinse the syrup off those plates.”
“I got ‘em.” Kendra reached for the faucet. “You guys can—”
Water shot from the sprayer, hitting her square in the chest. She shrieked and leapt backward, drenched by ice cold water. Colton rushed to the sink to shut off the taps, but Kendra’s pajama top was already soaked, as were the bottoms where the water dripped down. Colton’s gaze fixed on her chest and she followed it to see her chilled nipples standing out against the thin, wet fabric of her top. A rush of humiliation seared her cheeks even as she shivered in front of him.
Noah and Cody snickered behind her just as Colton lifted his gaze. A guilty smile tugged the corners of his mouth, confirming he was responsible for the prank. She backed away, hands over her chest, giving him a glare colder than the water she’d been doused with before sweeping from the room.
No wonder the jerk had been so nice this morning; he’d been planning juvenile revenge after what happened last night. Kendra swung the bedroom door shut, stormed into the bathroom for a towel, then returned to the bed. Still fuming, she stripped off her top and grabbed the towel to dry her chilled skin.
“I’m sor—”
At the sight of Colton in the doorway, Kendra clutched the towel tight to her chest. “Get out!”
He strode into the room as if she hadn’t spoken. She glared at him. “Of all the mean things to do in front of them—”
“That wasn’t meant for you.”
“—you’re such a jerk! Can’t talk to me like an adult. Oh, nooo. You have to pull a…a—”
He took two swift strides forward and laid his hands on her bare arms. The warmth of his hands brought out goose bumps on her chilled skin.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to get you—it was for Cody and Noah. That’s why I told them to rinse their plates.”
Kendra eyed him with suspicion. It s
eemed a likely excuse, but he’d still gotten his retaliation, hadn’t he? Trying to ignore the heat of his touch, she asked, “Why them?”
“Because I brushed my teeth with Tabasco sauce last night, right before I discovered shaving cream on my pillow…with my face.”
The picture formed in her mind and she couldn’t resist an upward tug of her lips. “Oh.” Now she felt a little silly for her reaction to the water. She let her smile free and he returned it.
“Yeah.” His hands glided up her arms to rest on her bare shoulders. “I’m sorry you got wet.”
His smile faded as his attention drifted down to his hands, the towel… It snapped back. “And, as long as I’m here, I want to apologize for last night, too.”
Heat rose in her cheeks as she thought back on her uninhibited response. “Please, don’t apologize for proving me right.”
One corner of his mouth lifted briefly. “I had no right to get angry. All I can say in my defense is any man would’ve responded to your challenge the same way. You’re a beautiful woman, Kendra, and these pajamas you wear…” His voice dropped a notch. “They’re sexy as hell.”
“I—” She cleared her throat. “I don’t…”
His eyes darkened to an amazing emerald color, and his fingers tightened on her shoulders. He applied enough pressure to pull her toward him, but not so much that she couldn’t resist. Not that she wanted to. Her lips parted, and her head tilted back as his head descended. Where the previous kiss had been explosive, this was slow, soft, exploratory and completely bone-melting. His quiet gentleness turned the kiss into a surprising heartfelt apology. Kendra felt as if they were the last two people on earth.
“Ken?”
