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“Hang up. You can stay in my place. Free. Much more economical.”
“Right, so you can fuck her in peace.”
I leaned back on the counter. “Just so you know, I’d do that with you on the other side of the wall. I’m thinking of you, dude, not me.” When Magnus locked his jaw, I rotated my neck and tried to dial back my aggression. This was Kitty’s friend and business partner. She was important to him, and from what I’d heard, she hadn’t had been put in that position often enough from the men in her life. Or from people, period.
This wasn’t about me.
“Look, I know every bit of this has been awkward. You care about her, and she deserves that and more. I don’t want to mess with your friendship. I’m being a jealous fucker and there’s no room for that here.”
“Because you know you and your abs have it all sewn up, right?” He cast a look of disgust toward the book with my cover on the coffee table, where Kitty had tossed it during my posturing.
“No. You know as well as I do that there is no such thing as all sewn up with Kitty.”
His lips curved slightly. “First smart thing you’ve said.”
“I think we both want what’s best for her. And I know she thinks very highly of you.”
“Are you trying to twist the knife or does your hand just keep slipping?” Magnus shook his head. “I mean, yeah, it’s on me that I didn’t spell it out. But I sent her a vibrator, for God’s sake. How could she not get my meaning?”
“She doesn’t always get subtext.”But I sure did.
He laughed. “No kidding.”
“I didn’t realize how dangerously low I was until she came into my life. The career I’ve chosen is hard, physically and mentally, and if I hadn’t had her in those moments…” I exhaled. “She saved me in a very real way from the first night.”
“And you probably saved her.” Magnus unzipped his coat and tossed it onto the couch behind him, nearly clocking Lucky, who glared at him in the feline equivalent of the middle finger.
“Kismet,” I said lightly as Magnus narrowed his eyes.
“Damn romance novels. I manage not to read them as I format and do covers but it’s hard. Christ, did I ever put you on a cover?”
I jerked a shoulder. “No idea. A lot of authors stockpile old stock photos, so any of mine that haven’t been used are probably still circulating.”
Magnus sat down heavily on the sofa beside Lucky, who had already made himself at home on his jacket and peeked out from his sleeve. “I shouldn’t have come. I just thought if we spoke in person, she’d realize that rushing into something with a stranger is the last thing she should be doing. It’s been so long since she could get out and meet someone…”
“Why?” I sat beside him, a careful distance away.
“She didn’t tell you?” He shook his head. “Not my story to tell. Just…be careful with her, okay?”
“I will.”
He forced out a breath. “Look, maybe we got off on the wrong foot. I know I acted like a possessive jerk, but I really care about her. To be honest, I took it for granted that maybe we could make a go of it. Once she realized my intentions, anyway.” One side of his mouth lifted. “We’re so compatible. On paper, we’re perfect.”
“And the field was wide open.”
“Not so much.” He scratched the back of his neck. “She’s absolutely incredible. If you hurt her, I’m not responsible for my actions, just saying.”
Before I could respond, he jerked to his feet. “I’m gonna go. She can text me if she wants to talk, but this isn’t my place to be here. She’s made her choice.”
Lucky crawled away from Magnus’s jacket and spread out on a couch cushion.
“Magnus, wait. I’m serious about you staying at my place. I’ve been here a lot lately and there’s more room for you there. We can keep Lucky here so you won’t even have to feed this rugrat.”
Lucky let out a human-sounding snore and rolled over then promptly dozed again.
“Why would you do that? I called you a gigolo.”
“I’ve been called worse.” I laughed drily. “Like I said, you’re important to Kitty. Besides, now that you’re here, you have to come to Thanksgiving.”
