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“What exactly do you plan to do?”
“Call my sister, of course.” He hadn’t seemed that thick, but perhaps Kai had misjudged him.
“No.” Bas inspected the phone as though he’d never seen one. “You plan to fight with her.”
“That’s up to her.” If Melissa wanted to be irrational, Kai couldn’t stop that. “Besides, I really don’t think it’s any of your business.”
“You’re probably right. Still, I don’t see what that has to do with your need to control your sister.”
“I’m not controlling her.” No one could control Melissa, not even her parade of lovers. “You wouldn’t get it.”
“You’re probably right about that, too.” A long, uncomfortable silence stretched between them, but eventually, Bas sighed as he passed the phone back. “Try to get some rest and stay off that foot for a few days.”
“You’re leaving?” He had been ready for him to leave twenty minutes ago, but this didn’t feel right.
“It was a pleasure rescuing you, Kai London.” Leaning over the bed, he brushed a lock of hair away from Kai’s face and pressed a gentle, chaste kiss to his forehead. “You are unlike anyone I’ve ever met.”
He stood straight but continued to stare down at him for a long time, as if he wanted to say more, but no words ever came. Eventually, he shook his head and turned to leave.
“Bas,” he called when he reached the doorway.
He didn’t know why he’d stopped him or what he’d meant to say. He just knew he wasn’t ready for him to leave.
Straddling the threshold, Bas looked over his shoulder and smiled. “Goodbye, Kai.”
four
Standing on the welcome mat in front of Kai’s apartment, Bas lifted his hand for the third time but stopped once again before knocking.
The guy probably didn’t want to see him, especially after he’d forced his way into Kai’s personal matters. He wouldn’t blame him, but for three days, he’d done nothing but eat, sleep, work, and think about that gorgeous, pigheaded man.
He really needed to get a grip. Sucking in a deep breath, he held it for a heartbeat, then exhaled through his nose. If his hand trembled slightly when he knocked, at least there was no one there to witness it. Damn, it had been a long time since anyone had twisted him up in so many knots.
The door swung open almost immediately, and Melissa London looked up at him with a devilish grin. “Well, well, well. Back for more? I didn’t think there’d be anything left once Kai finished with you.”
Ignoring the attitude, Bas tucked his hands into the pockets of his jacket and smiled. “Speaking of your brother, is he around?”
“Of course. He never goes anywhere or does anything. Ever.” Opening the door a little wider, she stepped to the side, clearing a path into the living room. “Come on in.” She pointed down the short corridor that led to Kai’s bedroom. “He’s in his room. I’m sure you remember the way.”
Clearly, the pair hadn’t made amends since the last time he’d seen them. “Yeah, I remember. Thank you.”
“I’m meeting a friend for lunch. Maybe you can keep the Ice Prince occupied so he doesn’t have a coronary that I left.”
“Have a nice lunch.” No way was he getting in the middle of that.
“I’m a grown woman.” Melissa spun toward him, making the skirt of her pink sundress flare out around her. “I have to be me, you know? I have to live my own life.” Her bright blue eyes flashed with a mixture of ire and dejection. “He’s such a control freak, and he thinks I can’t blow my nose without his supervision. Who acts like that?”
Pulling double duty at the club as a bouncer and a bartender, Bas had broken up a number of disputes and listened to countless drunken rants. Melissa felt suffocated and misunderstood. Kai felt unappreciated. Unless they learned to bend, they were both going to end up miserable.
“He just loves you and wants to protect you. That’s not such a bad thing.”
Clearly, that wasn’t the answer Melissa wanted to hear. With a dissatisfied snort, she snatched her purse off the counter and stalked past him, slamming the door on her way out with enough force to rattle the wall.
“Nice to see you again,” Bas muttered to the empty room.
“Melissa?” Footsteps shuffled down the hallway, and a moment later, Kai limped into view. “Bas? What are you doing here?”
“I thought I’d drop by and see how you’re feeling.” Lame. “I mean, I was already in the neighborhood.” Lamer. Bas carded his fingers through his hair and chuckled. “I was thinking about you, and I wanted to see you.”
