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“So, I was thinking that maybe tonight you could…” She meets my stare directly and presses her lips together. “Wecould…” her cheeks plump with her smile. “Goallthe way.”
Everything south of my body tenses and lifts with interest, the rest of me pulls in so tightly my teeth ache. “I’m busy.” It’s out before I can talk myself into manning up. “Told Felix I’d help out at the bar.”
Her smile falls. Her lip pouting out before she sucks it back in. “Oh.” She blinks fast and looks at her feet, then around the room. “Never mind then.”
I’m an ass. A lying ass. My nostrils flare, the whole of me torn between the want to stop the self-conscious wariness creeping over her face and protecting myself from the ripple effects—the knowledge that once I tell her, things will be different. It’s inevitable.
I grab her by the back of her neck before she walks away, tug her back to me and pull her in, my mouth sealing over hers in a quick, hard kiss, my tongue sweeping into her mouth, putting every ounce of the need I feel for her into it. “I want you, Kenzi.” My words come out rough against her lips. “Just—”
“Not yet.” Breathing hard, her confused gaze moves over my face, but she nods and pulls away. “I guess I’ll see you tomorrow then.”
“I’ll knock for you at eleven.”
TWENTY-THREE
Kenzi
Foot on the coffee table, I lean forward to swipe a deep burgundy over my toenails. “So, you all set for tomorrow?” I glance at my cell where it’s propped up on the table beside my foot.
“Yup. All set. Just need Felix home from the bar so I can get this little lady off me.” Laia’s soft laugh is muffled behind Seren’s little head. “She’s taken to only sleeping if she’s on someone.”
I grin into the video. “Surely he can leave early if Mylo is there.” I return my attention to painting my pinky toenail.
“Mylo isn’t in the bar tonight.” Laia shifts the sleeping baby in her arms.
Nail polish brush hovering above my toe, I turn to the phone screen, nearly losing the towel wrapped around my head, replaying my conversation with Mylo from earlier in the restaurant. “I thought he said he was helping out tonight.” He lied? I blink against the hurt. Swallow down the unease. Why would he lie?
Laia scrunches her face at her phone once Seren stops wriggling like she’s thinking hard. “I probably got it wrong. Mom brain is totally a thing.” A smile plays on her lips. “I’m so happy you two are finally together.”
A minute ago, I’d have grinned and maybe even squealed a bit. Now, I glance miserably at the wall that separates our apartments. He lied to get out of sex with me? “We’re something.” I chew on my lip and concentrate on twisting closed the nail polish bottle.
“Kenzi?” She frowns, brushing a stray curl from her face. “I thought you guys were good? Maybe he is in the bar tonight, you’re talking to a woman who put the sugar in the fridge and the milk in the cupboard this morning.”
I paste a wide smile on my face and pray that she doesn’t see through it. “We’re great. Super. Tomorrow we’ll be on our best behavior. Promise.”
He didn’t call.
I didn’t call either, but still. I also didn’t lie to avoid him.
And now I have—I glance down at my cell on the dresser—half an hour before he’s supposed to pick me up. It’s Mylo—Mylo—he’s good and kind and nothing like the wastes of space that came before him. I meet my stare in the mirror and unwind the last curl from the hair tong. Except he lied.
Grabbing the Champagne-colored dress from the back of my wardrobe door, I unhook the spaghetti straps from the hanger, step into it, then pull it up my body. Knee-length, silk. Subtly sexy, but classy too. I’d been excited to wear it for him. I’d been excited to take it off for him too. Now all I can think about is why he felt the need to lie instead of just telling me he didn’t want to see me last night.
I sit on the bed and slide my feet into my gold strappy heels. I should be excited about today, it’s a big deal. I just feel… I sigh hard and shake my head. I won’t do this again—won’t let a man determine how I feel—even if it is Mylo.
I take my time over my makeup. A light foundation with muted bronze eyeshadow and a nude lipstick. It doesn’t make me feel any better. Doesn’t settle the nerves I have over asking him what’s going on either. Maybe he’s changed his mind already. But then why would he kiss me like he kisses me? Why would he say he wants me?
I check my cell again. It’s five past already. He should be here by now.
I lock the screen as I get to my feet. If the mountain won’t come to Mohamed, then I guess Mohamed is going to the mountain.
The silk swishes around my thighs with every step I take towards his door, and my stupid nerves swish too.
Okay, knock. My fist hovers in the air. I roll my eyes, ignore the way my pulse is vibrating in my throat and rap on the door, then press my hand to my chest and I wait… and wait.
He’s not there. Panic stings my eyes and I flip open the top of my clutch to get my cell. There’s no way I’ll make it in time if he’s really not there.
Footsteps sound before I’ve even got his contact up. The door swings open and every single thought evaporates. Dress pants and an open white shirt. A slate gray tie draped over his neck. Hair tied back in a tidy knot. My gaze instantly drops the ridges of his abs and the way they disappear into his pants. I’ve seen him shirtless too many times to count. This is different, though. It’s like he’s been promoted from Surf hotties of the Ocean Weekly to GQ’s Hottest Men Ever to Wear a Suit Edition different.
